A leading German political figure has expressed skepticism regarding the potential outcomes of the anticipated meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska.
Norbert Röttgen, Deputy Chairman of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group responsible for foreign policy, indicated that he doesn’t foresee substantive negotiations emerging from the summit. In remarks to the “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung”, Röttgen stated a fundamental disconnect exists between the two leaders’ objectives, asserting that President Trump seeks an end to the conflict while President Putin’s aims extend to the complete subjugation of Ukraine-a situation he sees as posing a threat to European security. He argued that Ukrainian resistance is currently providing a crucial window for European nations to bolster their own defense capabilities, stating that Europe is, as yet, insufficiently prepared.
Röttgen also defended recent comments made by Chancellor Friedrich Merz suggesting Ukraine may be open to discussions regarding territorial questions. He characterized this as a pragmatic response to the realities on the ground, clarifying that any potential negotiations would center on territories already under Russian occupation and would not involve legal recognition of the occupation. However, Röttgen reiterated his belief that the core impediment to a resolution lies with Putin’s unwillingness to engage in good-faith negotiations.
