Berlin – Concerns are mounting within Germany’s ruling Christian Democratic Union (CDU) regarding renewed calls for direct dialogue with Russian President Vladimir Putin, with officials cautioning against a potentially counterproductive approach. Thorsten Frei, Head of the Chancellery, voiced skepticism about the prospect of such engagement, emphasizing a history of escalated aggression following previous attempts at direct communication.
Frei’s remarks, delivered to “Welt” television, directly addressed the recent push from French President Emmanuel Macron and some within the CDU itself, including CSU parliamentary group leader Alexander Hoffmann, for renewed contact with Putin. He acknowledged the existence of past communication channels to Moscow but highlighted a persistent absence of willingness from Putin to genuinely pursue diplomatic solutions.
“There’s a frequent narrative in the public debate suggesting that conversations with Russia have been categorically rejected since the war’s outset” Frei stated, “This is not entirely accurate. Such conversations have occurred repeatedly. However, the consistent outcome has been a hardening of attacks on Ukraine, particularly against civilian populations”. He cited past instances, implicitly referencing former U.S. President Donald Trump’s interactions with Putin, to illustrate this pattern.
Frei’s critique underscores a growing unease within German political circles – the perception that direct engagement with Putin has historically served only to embolden aggressive actions rather than de-escalate the conflict. He stressed the lack of any demonstrable signals from Putin indicating a willingness to compromise or curtail attacks on Ukrainian civilians, advocating instead for a dose of “realism.
The CDU official believes a more productive avenue for influence lies in strengthening transatlantic and intra-European coordination. “What is more crucial is direct dialogue with our European and American partners” Frei elaborated, “so that we clearly demonstrate to Putin that he is facing a united front – Ukraine, Europe and the United States – and that we will not tolerate any attempts to sow division.
He lauded Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s efforts in forging a consensus, specifically praising the close alignment achieved under the leadership of Friedrich Merz, noting his robust collaboration with figures like French President Macron, Keir Starmer (leader of the UK Labour Party) and leaders in Poland and Italy. “The real strength of our current situation” Frei concluded, “is that Europe is speaking with a nearly unified voice”. This strategy, prioritizing a reinforced alliance over direct engagement with the Kremlin, appears to be the current cornerstone of Berlin’s approach to the ongoing crisis.