Hope for negotiations in the Ukraine war germinated at the Munich Siko.
But there are obstacles.
The news ticker.
Chance for peace in Ukraine?
China surprises with its own initiative in the Ukraine war
Allegations from the USA:
Kamala Harris accuses Beijing of supporting Russia
Opportunity for negotiations?
All news and developments on negotiations in the Ukraine conflict in our news ticker
+++ 7.08 a.m .:
The chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Bundestag, Michael Roth, is skeptical about the peace initiative announced by China for the Ukraine war.
"In principle, it is to be welcomed if China commits to international law and wants to play a constructive role in ending the war," he told the editorial network Germany.
In fact, however, China supports the Russian regime politically and economically.
"I am therefore skeptical as to whether China, which is ambivalent about the Russian war of aggression, also understands a just peace as meaning that the aggressor Russia must not be rewarded."
Ulraine Negotiations: Aid talks
Update from Monday, February 20, 6:37 a.m .:
The foreign ministers of the EU countries want to discuss new sanctions against Russia and military aid for Ukraine today in Brussels.
With what is now the tenth package of sanctions against Russia since the start of the war of aggression against Ukraine, the EU wants to introduce new trade restrictions for electronics, special vehicles and machine parts.
Tougher action should be taken to circumvent sanctions.
In addition, the ministers want to discuss the delivery of further weapons and ammunition to Ukraine.
Negotiations in the Ukraine war: Blinken threatens China and warns of a "new cold war"
+++ 9:25 p.m .:
The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has spoken of a “new cold war” in connection with the arms deliveries being considered by China, reports the news magazine
The Daily Beast
.
Blinken didn't want to talk about what kind of weapons the deliveries might be.
What is certain, however, is that it would be “deadly help”.
He also pointed out that there is no clear separation between government and business in the Chinese economic system.
It is possible, therefore possible, that arms deliveries from Chinese companies were commissioned by the government itself.
+
Wang Yi (left) and Antony Blinken in Bali in 2022.
(archive photo)
© Stefani Reynolds/afp
According to his own statement, Blinken spoke “rather bluntly” with the top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi on Saturday about supporting Russia.
He emphasized the importance of not crossing this line and warned the Beijing politician of serious consequences.
+++ 18:25:
China should consider supplying weapons to Russia.
This was announced by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in an interview with
NBC
.
Blinken spoke of "various types of deadly aid [...] including weapons" that China is promising to Russia.
The US politician referred to "information that will soon become public".
Blinken warned that any arms shipments to Moscow would pose "serious problems".
He also criticized Beijing's stance on the Ukraine war, saying China was trying to "sit on two chairs."
The day before, China had announced that it was preparing a peace plan for the anniversary of the Ukraine war.
Putin's circle of power in the Kremlin - the confidants of the Russian President
Putin's circle of power in the Kremlin - the confidants of the Russian President
Negotiations in the Ukraine war: EU wants to procure ammunition together
+++ 16.10 p.m .:
In order to be able to better support Ukraine in the fight against Russia, the European Union is working on a procedure for joint procurement of ammunition for Ukraine.
This was confirmed by EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell at the Munich Security Conference on Sunday (February 19).
Borrell called on the EU countries to also give up their own stocks of ammunition and to deliver weapons more quickly - because the war cannot be won without heavy weapons, according to Borrell.
Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas joined the demands.
In order to expand production capacities quickly, EU states would have to make money available with which large-scale orders can be placed with the armaments industry via the EU.
+++ 1:57 p.m .:
Mikhail Khodorkovsky, a former political prisoner and now one of the leading critics of Putin, also takes part in the Munich Security Conference and talks about the Ukraine war.
He was critical of possible peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia: Premature negotiations in which the West pressured Ukraine to make concessions would play into Putin's hands, Khodorkovsky said.
Negotiations in the Ukraine war: Macron advocates peace negotiations
+++ 12.00 p.m .:
After China’s surprising announcement of a peace initiative, the Munich Security Conference is entering its final round.
One of the main speakers on Sunday (February 19) will be Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko.
During the event, he was critical of Western hesitation in supplying arms to Ukraine and called for quick decisions.
He has not yet commented on China's peace plans.
French President Emmanuel Macron supports negotiations between Russia and Ukraine – this is the only way the war can come to an end.
"I want Russia's defeat in Ukraine and I want Ukraine to be able to defend its position, but I am convinced that in the end it will not be completed militarily," Macron told French media.
Update from February 19, 2023, 6:23 a.m .:
The People’s Republic of China’s peace initiative for the Ukraine war has so far been the most surprising development at the Munich Security Conference.
The former head of Siko, Wolfgang Ischinger, dampened expectations of Beijing's plan.
"It would be a big surprise if China would bring itself to (...) present a complete roadmap to peace," said Ischinger in an interview with ARD.
According to his assessment, this is "rather not" very realistic.
Negotiations in the Ukraine war: USA attack China
+++ 10 p.m.:
US officials are said to have found information about “worrying” tendencies about Chinese support for the Russian military.
This is reported
by CNN
with reference to internal sources.
Allegedly, there are signs that Beijing is trying to sneak up on the limits of military aid to Russia without getting caught.
The indications of recent changes in China's stance were so disturbing that US officials briefed their allies at the Munich Security Conference.
US Vice President Kamala Harris also alluded to the Russian-Chinese relationship in her speech: "We are also concerned that Beijing has deepened its relations with Moscow since the beginning of the war," Harris said on Saturday.
"Looking ahead, any move by China to provide lethal support to Russia would only reward aggression, continue the killing, and further undermine a rules-based order."
According to CNN, the US is watching as China attempts to publicly present itself as a supporter of peace and maintaining ties with Europe, while quietly supporting Russia's war effort and considering providing military assistance.
On Saturday evening, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese diplomat Wang Yi withdrew to a secret location on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference for talks.
This was announced by a high-ranking US representative.
Pistorius at the Munich Security Conference: "Ukraine must win this war"
+++ 9.30 p.m .:
Germany’s Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) declared Western military aid to Ukraine on Saturday evening as part of the deterrence against the Russian attack.
Russia is waging a "brutal war of aggression and conquest," according to Pistorius.
If "Vladimir Putin got his way, that would only be the beginning," he warned at the security conference in Munich.
Because neither diplomacy nor tough economic sanctions have changed Putin's direction, "our show of strength is the right answer."
Negotiations in the Ukraine war: Netherlands expels Russian diplomats from the country
+++ 8.35 p.m .:
The Russian Foreign Ministry wants to react shortly to the decision of the Netherlands to limit the number of diplomats in the Russian Embassy in The Hague.
Sky News
informed about this
.
The Dutch government announced on Saturday that it would expel around ten Russian diplomats.
+++ 7 p.m.:
Dutch Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra has accused Russia of “trying to smuggle secret service agents into the Netherlands under the guise of diplomacy”.
Sky News
reports on this
on Saturday evening.
"We cannot and will not allow that," Hoekstra is quoted as saying.
The Dutch government announced on Saturday that it would limit the number of Russian diplomats in the Russian embassy in The Hague.
According to the foreign minister, there must be a numerical balance of diplomats.
Hoekstra was unable to say exactly how many Russians had to be expelled.
The Russian trade office in Amsterdam must also close.
At the same time, the Netherlands would close its consulate general in Saint Petersburg, the foreign minister told the TV channel
NOS
.
Negotiations in the Ukraine war: G7 announce tougher sanctions against Russia
+++ 6.20 p.m .:
The foreign ministers of the G7 countries announced in Munich tougher sanctions against Russia and against states that support Russia’s “illegal war against Ukraine” materially.
Third countries are expected not to undermine the sanctions against Moscow.
Aid to the Russian army would follow "high costs," according to a released statement by Japan's G7 leader.
States also condemned the Kremlin's threats of nuclear attack: "Russia's irresponsible nuclear rhetoric is unacceptable and any use of chemical, biological or nuclear weapons or similar agents would be met with severe consequences."
In addition, China has now announced that it will present a peace initiative on the first anniversary of the Ukraine war on February 24th.
This was announced by the top Chinese foreign politician, Wan Yi, at the Munich Security Conference.
Beijing wants to play a supporting role in the peace talks.
Negotiations in the Ukraine war: Ukraine hopes for a quick offer to join NATO
+++ 5.15 p.m .:
According to Parliament President Ruslan Stefantschuk, Ukraine is hoping for an offer to join NATO in the summer.
"We expect that Ukraine will receive an invitation to the Vilnius summit and begin its path to the alliance," Stefanchuk said on Ukrainian television on Saturday.
A year ago, the Kremlin cited Ukraine's possible NATO membership, which Russia perceived as a security risk, as one of the reasons for its war of aggression against the neighboring country.
Negotiations in the Ukraine war: Sunak announces further weapons aid
+++ 4.20 p.m .:
While China is planning a peace initiative for Ukraine, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced further weapon aid for Ukraine in the war against Russia at the Munich Security Conference.
"Now is the moment to step up our military support," Sunak said on Saturday (February 18).
“Together we must help Ukraine protect its cities from Russian bombs and Iranian drones.
And that is why Britain will be the first country to provide Ukraine with longer-range weapons.” He did not give details.
The only way to end the suffering caused by Russia and bring about peace is for Ukraine to win the war.
For this they need tanks, anti-aircraft defense and artillery.
Negotiations in the Ukraine war: China announces peace initiative for Ukraine
+++ 15:11:
China is planning a peace initiative for the Ukraine war.
At the Munich Security Conference on Saturday (February 18), China's top foreign policy leader, Wang Yi, held out the prospect of his country's proposals for an end to the war.
"We'll come up with something.
Namely the Chinese position on the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis,” according to Wang Yi, according to the official translation.
"We will stand firm on the side of peace and dialogue."
The chief diplomat criticized forces that only pursued geopolitical interests when intervening in the Ukraine war – they would give less importance to the suffering of the people in Ukraine.
It was unclear whether Wang Yi was referring to the military support of Western countries.
Annalena Baerbock praised China's announced peace initiative: "Every chance" for peace must be used.
However, a just peace is only possible if "the one who violated territorial integrity, namely Russia, withdraws its troops from the occupied country," emphasized the Greens politician at the Munich Security Conference.
"World peace is based precisely on our recognizing the territorial integrity and sovereignty of each country."
Negotiations in the Ukraine war: Biden with a clear message
Update from Saturday, February 18, 2:16 p.m .:
Biden wants to send Putin a clear message on his trip to Poland on the anniversary of the Ukraine war: In a speech on Tuesday (February 21) he wanted to make it clear that “the United States continues will stand by Ukraine's side for as long as it takes," National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters.
The US President has not yet commented on Lukashenko's invitation to talks in Belarus.
Putin's vassal invites Biden to Belarus to 'end the war'
First report from Saturday, February 18:
Minsk – Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has invited US President Joe Biden and Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin to a meeting in Minsk to “end the war”.
The invitation came after Biden announced he would travel to Poland on February 20-22 to mark the anniversary of the Ukraine war.
“Why is Biden going to Poland?
Why Poland?” Lukashenko said, according to the Belarusian news agency
BelTA
.
He accused Poland of being significantly involved in the escalation of the war.
He urged the US President to also travel to Belarus.
"We are ready to receive him in Minsk and have a serious talk if he wants peace in Ukraine," Lukashenko continued.
"Even Putin will fly to Minsk for the meeting."
Negotiations in the Ukraine War: Invitation to Belarus
He will ensure Biden's "safety, security and comfort" and promised that he will not regret the meeting for negotiations in the Ukraine war.
"The three of us will sit down and solve the problem," Lukashenko claimed.
He even suggested inviting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the planned talks – “if Biden is ready”.
Lukashenko is not confident that Biden will accept the invitation.
He believes Biden "will not come," but stressed that "he should come to end the war and prevent more casualties."
Belarus is considered a loyal ally of the Kremlin.
Russia used the country to launch its invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022.
Even before the war began, Russian troops were allowed to conduct exercises on Belarusian territory - Russia is "legally, morally and politically an ally," as Lukashenko emphasized again.
This is one of the reasons why the Belarusian ruler wants to present himself as a mediator for negotiations in the Ukraine war.
Negotiations in the Ukraine war: what is Belarus doing?
So far, however, Belarus has not actively intervened in the ongoing Ukraine war.
But if the country is attacked, it will join the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Lukashenko warned.
According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), these threats are just part of a long-running Russian information campaign.
"We continue to assess that it is extremely unlikely that Belarusian forces will invade Ukraine." (tt)
List of rubrics: © Stefani Reynolds/afp