The German government stated that it does not intend to utilize former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder (SPD) as a key negotiator in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Speaking to the dpa news agency on Monday, government spokesperson Stefan Kornelius maintained that Europe possesses a “clearly defined mediation environment” adding that if Russia is genuinely interested in negotiating, the appropriate contacts on the European side are already well-known to Moscow. While the spokesperson declined to name specific individuals, he assured the public that the German federal government remains committed to all ongoing mediation efforts.
According to Kornelius, Europe expects a role in any potential peace process, and it is up to Russia to accept this European participation. He stressed that the necessary conditions for a ceasefire have been “sufficiently outlined” publicly. Therefore, Germany is now awaiting “substantive signals from Moscow” that indicate a desire to negotiate based on the facts that have been available knowledge for weeks.
