German Defense Minister: Putin only earns time and is not ready for discounts
The conversation between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin has once again shown that Moscow is not yet ready to make discounts, said German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius on Tuesday, quoted by DPA.
Putin talks about the cessation of fire, but only under his conditions, which include Kiev’s refusal from NATO membership, retreating occupied territories, and many others, the German minister said, arriving at a meeting of EU defense ministers in Brussels. « Vladimir Putin is obviously continuing to win time, » Pistorius said.
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« Putin still does not seem seriously interested in peace, by ending fire. At least not under conditions that are acceptable to others, » he added. Recent Russian attacks on Ukraine were proof of this, the minister added. « Attacks with approximately 270 drones talk about themselves. Several people in Ukraine were killed and very injured. And I think this speaks louder than the empty words we have heard so far. »
As a result of recent events, Pistorius believes that the EU should further expand its military support for Ukraine and increase the pressure of sanctions. « The most effective sanction is the additional interruption of cash flows, the revenue from energy sales for Russia. In this respect, we have to go further, » Pistorius said.
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Before the Tuesday’s meeting, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Baro accused Putin of hypocrisy, Reuters said. « I believe that when Vladimir Putin continues to continue his hypocritical speaking, everyone realizes that he will continue his colonial war to the end if we do not stop it. Let us insist on Vladimir Putin put an end to his imperialist fantasy by accepting sanctions (to the EU) that are truly deterrent. »
EU foreign policy representative Kaya Kalas said the United States should join the block in boosting pressure on Russia. « We all agreed and said … that if they did not agree on unconditional termination of the fire, as Ukraine agreed more than 60 days ago, there will be decisive action, » Callas said before the meeting.
« And this is what we want to see from all countries that have said they will act in accordance with that, » she added.
