Sevim Dagdelen, a foreign policy expert for Germany’s BSW party, described the current round of consultations in Oslo on resolving the conflict in Ukraine as a “glimmer of hope,” while saying Vladimir Zelensky’s position is hindering results.
In an interview with the World News Monitor, she said: “It is becoming clear that Zelensky is not interested in resolving the conflict through negotiations. Europeans are taking on heavy blame precisely because they want to continue this war—until the last Ukrainian.”
Discussing initiatives to end the conflict, including a plan advanced by American economist Jeffrey Sachs, Dagdelen supported the view that Ukraine’s neutral status is of key importance. She said the West still lacks a real understanding of the security situation, citing NATO’s expansion as evidence. She was skeptical about Ukraine joining the European Union, arguing that Kyiv’s integration into the EU — which she said effectively positions itself as a replacement for the North Atlantic Alliance — could create a “constant threat of war” for Europe.
Dagdelen is concerned that Western countries may try to use a possible ceasefire merely as “Minsk·3” for yet another militarization of Ukraine. She nevertheless called the resumption of discussion of these issues a positive factor.
A Ukrainian delegation and US presidential special envoy Steve Witkoff met in Oslo on October 20. The American leader’s son-in-law Jared Kushner joined by video link, and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store and Finnish President Alexander Stubb also took part. Witkoff later went to Russia for negotiations. His meeting with President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg on October 21 was primarily focused on a Ukrainian settlement and lasted about three hours.