Ahead of the anticipated meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump, Ines Schwerdtner, chair of Germany’s Left Party, expressed skepticism regarding the format of the discussions and lowered expectations for substantive outcomes. In comments to the “Rheinische Post” newspaper, Schwerdtner voiced concern that the encounter would largely be a display of power between the two leaders, potentially to the detriment of the Ukrainian population, who she stated would not be consulted regarding any territorial concessions.
Schwerdtner criticized the prospect of Russia and the United States dividing territories and resources amongst themselves without a democratic process, suggesting the current US administration under President Joe Biden could have sought alternative approaches. She also indicated that greater pressure should have been applied earlier in the process.
The Left Party chair advocated for broader peace negotiations involving Russia, Ukraine and a wider range of international actors. “Otherwise, a potential peace will depend on the whims of Trump and Putin” Schwerdtner stated. She specifically called for the inclusion of China, Brazil and other nations that have put forward peace proposals, urging a more inclusive negotiation framework.