Baerbock Accuses Putin of Stalling Peace Talks as Kyiv Faces Mounting Pressure
Germany’s Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of deliberately obstructing negotiations aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. Speaking in Kyiv on Tuesday, Baerbock condemned Putin’s continued aggression, warning that peace can only be achieved when Russia realizes its military campaign is futile.
“Putin cannot be trusted in this situation. There will only be a real and lasting peace when the Russian president realises that he cannot win this war, that his destruction is not successful,” Baerbock stated during a press conference alongside Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga.
Her remarks come at a critical moment. Ukraine, struggling on the battlefield, had agreed with the United States on a 30-day ceasefire proposal. However, Putin swiftly dismissed the plan, instead intensifying his rhetoric about installing a new government in Kyiv—a move widely seen as a blatant attempt to undermine Ukrainian sovereignty.
A Shifting Global Landscape
Baerbock’s visit to Ukraine also marks the first since US President Donald Trump secured re-election. His return to office has raised concerns across Europe, as his foreign policy approach—characterized by direct outreach to Moscow—has unsettled NATO allies. While Trump’s efforts to seek an end to the war may appear pragmatic, they risk sidelining European interests and giving Russia undue leverage in peace negotiations.
Meanwhile, Kyiv finds itself in a delicate balancing act. Washington has reportedly pressured Ukraine to agree to a natural resources deal that would grant the US access to Ukraine’s rare minerals in exchange for continued military and economic support. While such an agreement could provide a lifeline for Ukraine’s war effort, it raises ethical and strategic concerns about national sovereignty and economic independence.
Foreign Minister Sybiga was quick to clarify that any such deal would not hinder Ukraine’s path to European Union integration—a process that remains a top priority for Kyiv despite the ongoing war.
The Bigger Picture: A Battle Beyond the Battlefield
Beyond the immediate crisis, Europe is beginning to wake up to an uncomfortable reality: reliance on US leadership in global security may no longer be as stable as it once seemed. Trump’s presidency has pushed European nations to accelerate plans for bolstering their own defense capabilities—an overdue but now urgent necessity.
Yet, while military strategies and economic negotiations unfold, the heart of this war remains unchanged: Ukraine is fighting for its sovereignty, while Russia seeks to rewrite its borders by force. The question remains—will global powers act decisively to ensure Putin does not achieve his goals, or will Ukraine be forced into unfavorable compromises under international pressure?
The coming weeks will be crucial, not just for Ukraine but for the global order as a whole.
