Zagreb [Croatia], August 26: German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul on Monday called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to engage in swift negotiations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, while also threatening further sanctions against Moscow.
"If President Putin thinks he can play for time, he will have miscalculated," Wadephul said during a meeting with his Croatian counterpart, Gordan Grlic Radman, in the capital Zagreb.
Wadephul emphasized that pressure must continue to be applied to Russia, adding that the European Union is preparing its 19th sanctions package against the country.
It is now up to Putin to prove that he is genuinely willing to work towards a just peace, Wadephul said.
"Based on everything we see, there are significant doubts about this." He noted that Ukraine has already made a concession by being willing to negotiate without further preconditions. At the same time, Wadephul stressed that "it is clear that there will be no negotiations over the heads of Ukrainians. That is our shared European promise."He assured Ukraine that "we will continue to support them politically, economically and militarily."
Radman also pledged continued European support for Ukraine on its path to a just and lasting peace, without any changes to its borders through violence. "We know that any other scenario would have negative consequences for the security of South-East Europe and particularly the Western Balkans." Croatia understands that only a just peace can be enduring.
"Other solutions that reward the aggressor carry the potential for further expansionist tendencies and instability, both in Europe and globally," Radman said.
The background to these remarks likely stems from Croatia's experiences during the war with Serbia from 1991-95.
At that time, the Yugoslav People's Army, directed by Belgrade, along with local Serbian militias, waged war against Croatia, which had just declared independence. Around 30% of Croatian territory was occupied by Serbian forces until the newly organized Croatian army, with limited Western support, liberated these areas.
Source: Qatar Tribune
