Thomas Röwekamp, the Chairman of the Defence Committee of the Bundestag (CDU), believes that a breakthrough in the Ukraine negotiations currently taking place in Abu Dhabi is unlikely. He told the news outlet “Welt” that he does not see any new strategic positioning from Russia, and he maintained that an agreement is impossible without Europe involved.
Röwekamp stated that based on Russia’s previous behavior, there is no indication that Moscow is currently ready for a potential ceasefire or a final peace settlement. He pointed out that until recently, Russia had insisted on the complete subjugation and occupation of Ukraine. While acknowledging that Russia is always willing to engage in discussions, the German politician stressed the value of the current setup, noting that it is beneficial that the Ukraine is participating alongside the United States and Russia.
However, he reiterated that no successful resolution can be found without the input of European players, arguing that the security interests of Europe are fundamentally involved. For this reason, Röwekamp insisted that any agreement must include European representation. Currently, Russia continues to reject the participation of European delegates. The talks, as requested by Moscow, are taking place in a trilateral format involving delegations from Russia, Ukraine, and the United States.
