Breaking the Stalemate: Mützenich Proposes Mediation Contact Group to Bring Peace to Ukraine
SPD Leader Proposes International Contact Group for Ukraine Peace Initiative
SPD parliamentary group leader Rolf Mützenich has suggested an international contact group to start a peace initiative in the Ukraine war. “In my opinion, it would be time now for the Western allies to start a contact group to start a process,” Mützenich told the “Rheinische Post”.
Chancellor and Ukrainian President Agree on Peace Talks
“Chancellor and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky agree that now is a good time to intensify efforts for peace talks and that Russia should also be present at the next peace summit.” This also gives other countries an opportunity to commit more to ending the wars.
Possible Members of the Contact Group
When asked about possible members of such a contact group, Mützenich said that he sees countries such as China, India, Turkey, and Brazil as having a responsibility. “In these states, there is a growing conviction that Russia’s war of aggression can become a burden.” Contact group work could therefore be “quite promising” and could play an important mediating role.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Diplomatic Efforts
Chancellor Olaf Scholz recently spoke in favor of stronger diplomatic efforts to end Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine. “I think now is the moment when we also have to discuss how we can get out of this war situation and achieve peace faster than it seems at the moment,” said the politician.
Future Peace Conferences
When asked if there should be another peace conference like the one in Switzerland in June, Scholz replied: “Definitely there will be another peace conference. And the (Ukrainian) president and I agree that there must also be one with Russia.”
Russia’s and Ukraine’s Ideas for Peace
Ukraine’s and Russia’s ideas for a peace solution could hardly be more different. So far, all of Moscow’s demands for an end to the war have meant giving up territory from Ukraine and Russian control over the rest of Ukraine. For Ukraine, this would amount to surrender. She wants the territories occupied by Russia, including Crimea, which was annexed in 2014, to be fully returned.