But sanctions work
Ambassador in Moscow: Putin “not willing to negotiate at all”
December 23, 2023, 6:12 a.m
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Ukraine is far from a victory against the Russian attackers. But negotiations with Moscow are not an option for Kiev. According to the German ambassador to Russia, they would be completely hopeless: Putin is sticking to his war goals. But he is slowly sensing a longing for normality among the population.
The German ambassador in Moscow, Alexander Graf Lambsdorff, currently sees no change in Russian President Vladimir Putin’s attitude towards the Ukraine war. “Putin has just reaffirmed his war goals, he is not willing to negotiate at all,” Lambsdorff told the Germany editorial network.
There is also no indication that Putin will change his stance after the presidential election in March 2024. From the diplomat’s point of view, there is nothing to indicate a possible replacement for Putin. Putin’s re-election is to be expected, said Lambsdorff. He “currently does not recognize” any fault lines in Putin’s system. He also “didn’t see any indication” that the Kremlin boss “could not be doing well” in terms of health.
The German ambassador considers further tightened EU sanctions against Moscow to be effective. Sanctions are “not a light switch,” said Lambsdorff. “You don’t activate a sanction and at the same time change the behavior of the sanctioned side.” Sanctions are there to “increase the costs of a certain behavior. And that’s proven to happen.”
War makes everyday life more difficult for Russians
Lambsdorff noticed a cautious move away from war among the Russian population. “In the normal population there is more of a diffuse longing for peace,” said the German diplomat. Surveys show that “the desire for a return to normality is very strong.” Many people were bothered by inflation and the restricted travel options due to the sanctions.
The former FDP foreign politician Lambsdorff took office in August. The ambassadorial post in Moscow is currently one of the most difficult that the Foreign Office has to offer. After the Russian attack on Ukraine, Russia and Germany expelled each other’s diplomatic staff several times. Diplomatic relations between the two countries are at a low point.