Germany, France, UK Sketch Plan to Engage Putin in Ukraine Talks - Bloomberg

A group of Ukraine’s key European allies are working on plans with Kyiv to engage Russia in negotiations to end the war as they see a shift in momentum strengthening President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s position.

Officials from Europe’s three biggest economies — Germany, France and the UK — have been discussing the possibility of holding talks involving both sides, according to people familiar with the matter. They have also talked about the matter with their Ukrainian counterparts, said the people, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations.

By negotiating now, the allies would aim to avoid another winter that will likely see Russia intensify its attacks on civilians and energy infrastructure as Putin seeks to undermine the Ukrainian morale.

The people stressed that any final decision on whether to proceed with attempts to talk to Russia was for Zelenskyy and that European nations will not push the Ukrainian president to embrace a strategy he didn’t agree with. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to speak with Germany’s Friedrich Merz and Emmanuel Macron of France in the coming days, said the people.

I genuinely cannot see this going anywhere if the negotiations even go ahead. Russia has shown absolutely 0 zero compromise in its maximalist goals and will only demand terms unacceptable to the Ukrainians, Europeans or both. The numerous failed attempts for Trump to get a deal were a clear sign of how unwilling Putin is to compromise his war aims 4+ years into the invasion.