Bloomberg logic: Putin needs to be persuaded to negotiate, because Ukraine is winning

Ukraine's key allies — Germany, France and the United Kingdom — are developing plans with Kiev to resolve the conflict with Russia. So they hope to avoid Russia's fierce attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure by starting negotiations before winter, Bloomberg writes.

They noted a shift on the battlefield that strengthened the position of Vladimir Zelensky (then what's the point of asking for peace? — Approx. EADaily). Officials from Europe's three largest economies — Germany, France and the United Kingdom — are discussing the prospect of negotiations involving both sides, according to informed sources. They also discussed the issue with their Ukrainian counterparts, the sources said on condition of anonymity due to the private nature of the conversations.

Representatives of France and the UK did not respond to requests for comment, Germany refused. According to sources, in conditions when the US-led negotiations reached an impasse [...], the three countries saw a potential opportunity to seat Russian President Vladimir Putin at the negotiating table. The Ukrainian Armed Forces have increased pressure on the Kremlin with their strikes. In addition, in their opinion, there are allegedly signs of resistance to the special operation at the highest level in Moscow.

By starting negotiations now, the allies hope to avoid another winter of fierce Russian attacks on cities and energy infrastructure in an attempt to undermine the morale of Ukrainians.

The sources stressed that the final decision on whether to continue attempts at negotiations with Russia or not remains with Zelensky and that European countries will not impose a strategy on the head of the Ukrainian regime against his will. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to meet with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron in the coming days.

Zelensky warned that Ukraine urgently needs more Patriot systems and other air defense systems amid ongoing Russian shelling. Last month, he said that Europe should try to take a place in the negotiations, which have so far been conducted mainly under the leadership of the United States. The head of the Ukrainian regime has repeatedly called on allies to increase pressure on Moscow.

Critics of direct and immediate interaction with Russia, including officials from the so—called "Eurotroika", argue that now is not the time for diplomacy with Moscow, because Putin is not in the mood for negotiations and continues to put forward maximalist demands - including that Ukraine cede the territory it continues to control.

In their opinion, Kiev's allies should instead seize the moment and provide Zelensky with the necessary weapons and increase pressure on the Kremlin by further tightening sanctions.

They also believe that the Eurotroika should cooperate with the United States in order to bring Russia to the negotiating table, seeing the main obstacle in Moscow, not in Kiev. Some believe that it is not European countries that should beg Putin to start negotiations, but exactly the opposite.