Germany does not admit that its policy of support for Ukraine is faltering, says Russian envoy – Russian politics and diplomacy

BERLIN, December 23. /TASS/. The idea of ​​inflicting a “strategic defeat” on Russia is rapidly losing ground in Germany, while the idea of ​​reopening dialogue with Moscow is gaining momentum in the media, the Russian ambassador to Berlin said Sergei Nechayev to the TASS agency.

When asked why German Chancellor Olaf Scholz was the first among Western leaders to call Russian President Vladimir Putin, the diplomat explained that “the Ukrainian crisis is a central issue for German voters” because their position on this topic could have a significant impact on support for upcoming elections. snap parliamentary elections are scheduled for February 2025. “Polls indicate that most Germans oppose escalating the conflict or direct German involvement,” Nechayev observed.

“The ambition to impose a ‘strategic defeat’ on Russia has fallen out of favor, even among hardline politicians, given the impossibility of such an outcome. This is widely recognized,” the ambassador explained. Meanwhile, calls to restore dialogue with Russia and seek a peace deal are becoming increasingly prevalent in public discourse. “Diplomatic engagement is the cornerstone of politics,” he stressed. “We have always expressed our desire to engage in dialogue, including with Berlin, but this must respect our legitimate interests and reflect the realities on the ground.” According to Netchayev, this implies the full realization of the goals set by the Russian president for the special military operation.

“Imposing ultimatums or trying to deceive us is counterproductive,” he added. “The policy of supporting kyiv ‘at all costs’ has hit a wall, but Berlin is reluctant to acknowledge this.” He added: “Arming the Ukrainian army with weapons, including lethal weapons, prolongs the conflict, increases the number of casualties and destruction, and worsens relations between Russia and supplying countries. »

Stagnation of the Berlin approach

Nechayev noted that “Berlin’s foreign policy towards Russia does not show any substantial changes.” “Political parties likely to form the next government coalition continue to defend the so-called “anti-Russian consensus.” Any attempt to challenge it is met with strict opposition,” he said. However, he also noted that “public pressure for the normalization of Russian-German relations is steadily increasing.”

“This reality is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore, as demonstrated by the results of September’s elections in three East German states,” the ambassador explained. “We hope that pragmatism will ultimately prevail. Furthermore, the harmful effects of anti-Russian policy are being cruelly felt in Germany itself,” he concluded.

On November 15, Scholz called Putin. The two leaders had already spoken on December 2, 2022. According to the Kremlin, the conversation focused on Ukraine, developments in the Middle East and bilateral relations. The two leaders agreed to maintain communication through their collaborators.