BILD: Germany and the United States are forcing Ukraine to negotiate with Russia

Behind closed doors in Berlin and Washington, undisclosed plans are allegedly in motion to compel Ukraine into negotiations with Russia, seeking to freeze the ongoing conflict along its current front lines, reported German newspaper BILD on November 24. Lithuania's Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis voiced concerns over these alleged plans, according to Bloomberg.

BILD claims that the German federal government has identified its primary objective as strategically positioning Ukraine for negotiations with the Russian regime led by President Vladimir Putin. The intention is for Ukraine to engage in discussions concerning its "sovereignty and territorial integrity." Government sources disclosed to BILD that the White House and the German Chancellery are coordinating efforts toward this goal.

However, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and U.S. President Joe Biden reportedly prefer not to directly request Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to negotiate on the future status of Russian-occupied territories. Instead, as Ukraine's primary arms suppliers, Germany, and the United States aim to pressure Kyiv into talks by restricting the quality and quantity of their arms deliveries, leveraging their unique position among Western nations.

If limiting weapons supplies does not bring Ukraine to the negotiating table, BILD alleges that Washington and Berlin have a Plan B. According to a source in the German government, the alternative involves striving for a frozen conflict without an agreement between the conflicting parties. This would result in the solidification and closure of the line of contact, effectively creating a new quasi-border between Ukraine and Russia, akin to the Minsk agreement but without the formalities.

German CDU party MP Roderich Kiesewetter, a former Bundeswehr General Staff officer, concurs with the notion that a frozen conflict might be part of the plans by the United States and Germany. Kiesewetter suggests that the arms package sent to Ukraine symbolizes a lack of support, pushing Ukraine into negotiations akin to a "Minsk 3."

Military expert and "ECFR" researcher Gustav Gressel, however, dismisses the efficacy of such plans. He argues that pressuring Zelenskyy into negotiations will not lead to serious discussions as Putin's objective is to win the war, not negotiate. Gressel emphasizes that keeping Ukraine weak invites Putin to believe in victory and work toward it. He contends that for negotiations to occur, Ukraine must achieve success on the battlefield.

When approached for comments, the German Federal Chancellery denied pursuing independent goals with its support for Ukraine, asserting that Ukraine determines its military and political goals in its defensive fight against Russian aggression. The Chancellery affirmed its unwavering support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity and stated ongoing communication with international partners.

Kiesewetter remains skeptical, suggesting that the federal government is intentionally limiting essential support for Ukraine's liberation efforts, focusing solely on defending a reduced territory.