Ukraine needs to accept loss of territories for peace, German politician says. Ukraine's MFA responds

This is reported by Spiegel.

According to the German politician, the German government should "not only supply Ukraine with weapons, but also take diplomatic initiatives," and the allies "should try to influence Putin and make a ceasefire possible.”

"It is possible that for a ceasefire, Ukraine will first need to accept the temporary loss of control over some territories. Not a single square meter of Ukrainian territory has become Russian. But, as in other major wars, the time has come for a final decision," said the Saxon prime minister.

He criticized the German government, saying that it wants to give weapons but doesn't want to negotiate. According to the politician, it is necessary to change the policy towards Russia.

"The idea of weakening Russia militarily, politically and economically so that it can no longer pose a threat to us is an attitude that goes back to the 19th century. It lays the groundwork for further conflicts," Kretschmer said.

Kyiv's response

Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Oleh Nikolenko said that if Ukraine accepts the temporary loss of territory, Russian troops will move closer to Germany, and Saxony in particular.

"Concessions of territories will certainly lead to greater Russian aggression, which will undoubtedly go beyond Ukraine. Peace in Europe lies in Moscow's defeat. We urge the German politicians to face the truth: first Chancellor Angela Merkel and then Chancellor Olaf Scholz made enormous political efforts to convince Putin to stop the war. This did not work. Nor will any other concessions. His goal is to destroy Ukraine and destabilize the whole of Europe. The only "reversal" in Germany's policy towards Russia can be even greater support for Ukraine," he wrote.

• On October 9, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that there are currently no prerequisites for negotiations with Russia, and that any territorial concessions are impossible.