Germany sees Russia-Ukraine deal progress next week ‘at the earliest’

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said on Wednesday he expects initial agreements between Russia and Ukraine in the ongoing peace efforts “next week at the earliest.”

Speaking after a foreign affairs committee meeting in Berlin, Wadephul emphasized that the negotiations are in their first stage.

He said the negotiations must follow a structured process so Ukraine can negotiate “the concessions it is prepared to make, if any.” Kiev can only do this from a position of relative strength, he added.

Wadephul said Germany is working at the European level to unlock frozen Russian assets for Ukraine.

Germany and Ukraine’s other European allies expect to join the negotiations at a later date, the minister said. “We are now in a framework where there are talks between Russia and Ukraine, and at a later stage the Europeans will be involved.”