Ukraine holds quiet talks with Russia to explore compromise — Die Zeit
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Where possible, Ukrainian representatives confidentially hold periodic talks with officials from Russia, the aggressor nation, according to an column by Alisa Botha, political editor at German publication Die Zeit.
Botha pointed to a Financial Times report stating that Ukrainian and Russian representatives, with Qatar acting as a mediator, discussed halting strikes on each other’s energy infrastructure. These talks were reportedly interrupted in August 2024 by a Ukrainian offensive in Russia’s Kursk region.
Qatar has also served as an intermediary in talks aimed at securing the return of thousands of Ukrainian children whom Russian forces systematically relocated from occupied Ukrainian territories to Russia.
Botha highlighted a recent prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia, facilitated by the United Arab Emirates, and a grain export agreement allowing shipments from ports in Odesa Oblast across the Black Sea to the global market. The grain deal, in place for a year, was another outcome of such diplomatic efforts.
Security advisors for G7 leaders and Ukraine have met multiple times in Copenhagen, Kyiv, Malta, Davos, and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, with China’s delegation present at these gatherings. Following these talks, an international conference convened with representatives from 42 countries, including South Africa, Brazil, and India—nations that hadn’t previously aligned with a pro-Ukraine stance.
“Diplomacy is most effective when conducted in secrecy. There’s also second-track diplomacy, aimed at testing the boundaries for compromise. What is Ukraine willing to accept? Can the question of Crimea’s future be delayed for now? In what areas might Russia be open to concessions?” Botha wrote.
These issues are discussed privately and not at the highest levels, she noted.
“Imagine the reaction in Ukraine if it were suddenly announced that President Zelenskyy was prepared to cede territory. But when Ukrainian and Russian officials, political advisors, and analysts discuss this confidentially, the other side learns where there’s room to negotiate and where there isn’t,” Botha explained.
According to Botha, German officials advocating for a peaceful resolution, as opposed to military action, understand these ongoing processes. However, when they talk about peace, “they mean Ukraine’s surrender.”
“The question isn’t if talks will happen, but when and how they’ll take place. One crucial factor remains: Vladimir Putin must be ready for it,” Botha concluded.
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