Germany's Wadephul insists Europe must be involved in Ukraine talks

Ukraine and Europe must be involved in decisions on Ukraine's future, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said on Friday as he left Berlin for Warsaw to meet counterparts from the Council of the Baltic Sea States.

Germany stood by "an unwavering principle: Decisions about Ukraine's future must not be made without Ukraine; And decisions about Europe's security must not be made without Europe," Wadephul said ahead of talks between Kiev, Moscow and Washington in Abu Dhabi next week.

The most recent negotiations in the trilateral format involving the United States, Russia and Ukraine took place in Geneva in February. Before that, two rounds of talks were held in the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Wadephul added that the results of the US midterm elections also highlighted the importance of continuing to support Ukraine with the necessary determination.

Only by doing so, he said, would it be possible to achieve a lasting peace settlement for Ukraine and security for Europe. "That is why we must stand together and present a united front towards Russia as a trans-Atlantic alliance, as Europeans and Americans," he said.

Wadephul said the German government remained "closely aligned with the US administration as well as with the US Congress," describing the trans-Atlantic partnership as a "unifying element across party lines."

The Council of the Baltic Sea States was established in 1992 on the initiative of Germany and Denmark to support political and economic transformation in the region. Its members include Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland and Sweden, as well as Iceland, Norway and the European Union.

Following the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Russia's membership was suspended in March 2022. Russia withdrew from the council in May that year.