Security Expert: Peace in Ukraine Still Far Off as Russia Sees Few Incentives to Compromise

In the Security Sunday edition of Politico's German-language podcast Berlin Playbook, host Rixa Fürsen spoke with security expert Claudia Major of the German Marshall Fund, a transatlantic policy think tank. They discussed diplomatic efforts to end Russia's war in Ukraine and asked how realistic peace is when the sides' red lines on the central issues are directly opposed.

What the Abu Dhabi talks achieved

The two assessed the outcome of the talks held in Abu Dhabi. These led to a large prisoner exchange, but the parties did not agree on ceasefires to protect energy infrastructure or on shipping in the Black Sea.

Russia's incentives and Europe's leverage

The podcast asks why Russia currently sees few reasons to compromise, and what levers Europe actually has.

Winter and the Coalition of the Willing

The episode also covers what Ukraine needs to get through the winter. The conversation took place shortly before a meeting in Berlin of the Coalition of the Willing, a group of countries discussing support for Ukraine.

The source gives only a short episode description, so further details of the discussion are not available.