On March 14, the spokesperson of the German Foreign Ministry assessed Vladimir Putin's response to the proposal for a ceasefire between the US and Ukraine as undoubtedly complex and questionable. German officials believe that while focusing on the Russian president's proposal, he is very cautious in achieving his goal and is prolonging his position until the expected results.
The German Foreign Ministry spokesperson noted that if Putin enters with a tactic of delaying the ceasefire proposal, he is merely trying to give instructions and is either stopping the process or attempting to avoid changing or implementing the conditions. Additionally, German officials express doubts about Putin's serious interest in ceasefire and negotiations, as he has yet to consider the peace process and continues to follow a strategy that aligns with his interests.
Germany's Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock criticized Putin for closing the door on peace negotiations following the G7 meeting held in Saudi Arabia. According to Baerbock, Putin has not accepted any peace negotiations as acceptable so far and has not made any progress in this process. She also emphasized that the agreement on a ceasefire between the US and Ukraine in Saudi Arabia is considered a "significant step" and its implementation depends on Putin.
Another event that has affected these issues is the exclusion of US special envoy Kit Kellogg from negotiations on Ukraine at Russia's request. According to NBC News, at the direction of Donald Trump, Kellogg was considered very "pro-Ukrainian" by Russia due to his connections with Ukraine. This decision may have further deepened the already significant relations between the US and Russia.
In this situation, it remains unclear to what extent Germany and the US's efforts will hold Putin accountable for his personal and political responsibilities. Meanwhile, how the peace process in Ukraine develops, along with the debates and disagreements among its supporters and opponents, will play a decisive role in future negotiations.
