Geneva – German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has declared a significant breakthrough in efforts to forge a peace plan aimed at ending the conflict in Ukraine. Wadephul stated that all issues pertaining to Europe and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) have been removed from the original draft of the plan.
Speaking to the German broadcaster Deutschlandfunk on Monday, Wadephul said, “This is a decisive success we achieved yesterday,” referring to the discussions held in Geneva between representatives from the United States and Ukraine.
Wadephul emphasized that any agreement must not come “at the expense of Europeans or Ukrainians,” stressing the need to guarantee Ukraine’s sovereignty and its sole right to decide when and what concessions are made. He highlighted the issue of territorial concessions as particularly problematic, asserting that the current frontline should serve as a starting point for negotiations, not their conclusion.
The German Foreign Minister added that any agreement must be acceptable to both warring parties, but also affirmed that Russia must “fundamentally bear the consequences” of its actions. He described the Geneva talks as a “huge success” for Europeans, noting the removal of all points related to Europe, including those concerning NATO, from the proposed plan. “It was clear from the beginning, as we have repeatedly stated, that no agreement should be concluded without the consent of the Europeans and Ukrainians,” Wadephul stated.
Negotiators from Germany, France, Britain, Italy, the European Union, Ukraine, and the United States convened in Geneva on Sunday to discuss various versions of the 28-point American peace plan. A revised draft was prepared by the United States and Ukraine. Following the meeting, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the progress made as “tremendous,” adding that the remaining sticking points are “not insurmountable obstacles,” without elaborating on the specific contentious issues.
DZWatch will continue to provide updates on this developing story.
