Berlin's ambassador in Moscow: Putin is "not at all willing to negotiate"
In the diplomat's view, there is also no indication that Putin could be replaced. Putin's re-election is to be expected, said Lambsdorff. He does not "currently recognize any fault lines in the Putin system". Nor had he been able to "recognize any indication" that the Kremlin leader's health "might not be good".
The German ambassador considers further tightened EU sanctions against Moscow to be "demonstrably" effective. Sanctions are "not a light switch", said Lambsdorff. "You don't turn on a sanction and change the behavior of the sanctioned side at the same time." Sanctions are there to "drive up the costs of certain behavior. And that has been proven to happen".
Lambsdorff noted a cautious move away from war among the Russian population. "There is more of a diffuse longing for peace among the normal population," said the German diplomat. Surveys show "that the desire for a return to normality is very strong". Many people were bothered by the inflation and the limited travel opportunities due to the sanctions.
Former FDP foreign policy expert Lambsdorff took up his post in August. The ambassador's post in Moscow is currently considered one of the most difficult that the Federal Foreign Office has to fill. Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Russia and Germany expelled each other's diplomatic staff on several occasions. Diplomatic relations between the two countries are at a low point.
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Lambsdorff, the German ambassador to Moscow, asserts that Putin is "not at all willing to negotiate" with the EU. Despite this, Lambsdorff believes that Putin's re-election in the upcoming presidential election is inevitable. Despite the diplomat's view, he has not recognized any signs of weakness or fault lines in the Putin system or any indications of Putin's health issues.
Lambsdorff argues that further tightened EU sanctions against Moscow are "demonstrably" effective, but suggests that they are not a "light switch" that can instantly change behavior. He believes that the purpose of sanctions is to drive up the costs of certain behavior, and this has been proven to happen.
Lambsdorff notes a growing desire for peace among the Russian population, citing surveys showing a strong longing for a return to normality, with many people concerned about inflation and travel restrictions due to sanctions. Despite this, Lambsdorff acknowledges that diplomatic relations between Germany and Russia are at a low point, following several expulsions of diplomatic staff after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Despite the challenges, Ambassador Lambsdorff has taken up his post in Moscow, considered one of the most difficult for the Federal Foreign Office to fill. The ambassador's post has been impacted by the tensions between the two countries, with both Russia and Germany expelling each other's diplomats on multiple occasions.
Recently, there have been developments related to Germany and its relations with other countries, such as discussions surrounding changes in December, attacks on ships in the Red Sea, and Houthi rebels' continued attacks despite an international coalition.
Alexander Graf Lambsdorff, as former FDP foreign policy expert, has taken on a significant challenge in his role as Germany's ambassador to Moscow. The Editorial Network Germany, based in Berlin, has been covering these developments and providing insights into the complex and evolving relationships between countries worldwide.
Source: www.stern.de
