Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul stated in London that Russia must agree to a ceasefire before peace negotiations with Ukraine can begin in Turkey.
“It has been clearly stated that a ceasefire must come first. Ukraine is ready for this. Germany now expects Russia to agree to a truce and then be prepared to engage in negotiations,” Wadephul said during his visit to the British capital, where he met with foreign ministers from France, Poland, Spain, Italy, the United Kingdom, and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas.
Wadephul warned that if Russia obstructs progress toward peace, further sanctions will be imposed. According to him, the U.S. Senate is already prepared to introduce additional restrictions.
The German minister emphasized that Russia’s war against Ukraine has demonstrated Europe’s unity—and that in the absence of a ceasefire, Europe stands ready to adopt further defense aid packages.
On Saturday, the leaders of Ukraine, Poland, France, Germany, and the UK issued a joint call for Russia to accept a 30-day unconditional ceasefire, warning that failure to do so could lead to sanctions targeting Russia’s energy and banking sectors. The proposal was backed by U.S. President Donald Trump.
In response, Russian President Vladimir Putin offered a counterproposal: to begin direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine this Thursday in Turkey. He said Moscow was seeking direct talks to “address the root causes of the conflict.”
European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, stressed that a ceasefire is a prerequisite for any talks. Meanwhile, President Trump wrote on social media Sunday that Ukraine should accept Russia’s offer to meet in Turkey.
Later that evening, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he expects Russia to implement a ceasefire starting Monday and confirmed he would be waiting for Putin in Turkey on Thursday.