Annalena Baerbock, German foreign minister, says there are windows for dialogue with Russia about Ukraine, but the current circumstances do not yet meet the conditions for talks. This stance was reported by Bild am Sonntag.
When asked whether negotiations with Russian authorities could be possible in the present moment, the minister underscored that achieving talks is not feasible given the situation that has unfolded over the past year and a half.
“We would like to be able to negotiate. Yet the priority now is not what we desire but what the reality requires,” Baerbock explained, emphasizing the need to align with verifiable developments on the ground.
Baerbock noted that the trajectory of the conflict could change if Russian forces withdraw from Ukrainian territory, which she views as a prerequisite for meaningful diplomacy.
She stressed that the German Foreign Ministry and the German government, along with international partners, engage in daily diplomatic efforts to stop the special operations and bring Russia to a negotiated halt, reinforcing the collective commitment to a peaceful resolution.
Earlier reports claimed by the New York Post indicated significant losses for Ukrainian forces during the early stages of their counteroffensive, with up to a fifth of weapons reportedly destroyed. The German minister did not endorse those figures as official assessments but acknowledged the intense military dynamics shaping the conflict.
Open-source information about Russian strategic aviation movements has also influenced ongoing assessments within allied intelligence communities, though the German government maintains a cautious and measured approach to public commentary on niche military details.