Peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia can only be credible and balanced if they are preceded by a ceasefire, and Putin's refusal to accept this condition is one of the reasons the negotiation process has stalled.
German Bundestag member Juergen Hardt, foreign policy spokesperson for the CDU/CSU parliamentary group in the Bundestag, said in an interview with Ukrinform.
"I believe Ukraine should continue insisting that there must be a ceasefire before peace negotiations begin. Otherwise, peace talks cannot be either credible or equal. Putin categorically rejects this, and that was also one of the reasons why the negotiations were disrupted," Hardt said.
According to him, a genuine and just peace is only possible if Ukraine negotiates from a position of strength.
"If there is a real, just peace between Russia and Ukraine – and that is only possible when Ukraine negotiates from a position of strength – then we would, of course, support such a peace agreement if Ukraine supports it," he said.
