Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, during his visit to New Delhi, reaffirmed Berlin’s strong commitment, alongside the wider European Union, to push for a negotiated settlement to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. Speaking to reporters, Wadephul emphasised that Europe’s strategy has been centred on the imposition of sanctions on Moscow rather than tariffs, with the primary objective of weakening Russia’s ability to sustain its war efforts and compelling President Vladimir Putin to engage in dialogue. He underlined that Europe is determined “to do whatever we can to make President Putin sit down at the negotiating table,” pointing out that Kyiv has already expressed readiness to talk, provided that hostilities cease. According to him, the sole precondition for initiating meaningful negotiations is the silencing of weapons, which he described as both reasonable and necessary.
Wadephul elaborated that from the beginning of the conflict, Germany and its European allies have pursued policies designed to create conditions for dialogue between Moscow and Kyiv. Yet, despite what he described as “enormous efforts” by the American president, Russia has consistently resisted negotiations, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has openly signalled his willingness to engage. In this context, he stressed that the European strategy of using sanctions rather than tariffs was specifically aimed at creating economic pressure on Russia without deepening global trade frictions.
The German minister’s remarks come amid escalating disputes over trade, particularly after the United States doubled tariffs on Indian goods in response to New Delhi’s continued purchases of Russian crude oil. India has pushed back against these measures, accusing Washington of unfairly targeting its energy imports and questioning the consistency of its trade policies. Against this backdrop, Wadephul’s insistence on sanctions rather than tariffs underscores Berlin’s effort to strike a balance between exerting pressure on Moscow and maintaining stability in global markets.
Looking ahead, Germany is expected to step up its diplomatic efforts to facilitate negotiations. Chancellor Friedrich Merz is preparing to propose Geneva as a venue for potential ceasefire talks at an upcoming meeting of nearly thirty countries. Kyiv, meanwhile, continues to press for concrete security guarantees from international partners, arguing that such assurances are essential to prevent any repeat of Russian aggression in the future.
During his official engagements in India, Wadephul also held discussions with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. Their talks highlighted areas of convergence and concern in bilateral and multilateral ties. Jaishankar urged greater momentum in the long-delayed India-EU free trade agreement, which has remained stalled for years due to disagreements over tariffs, environmental standards, and labour regulations. Stressing India’s interest in doubling trade with Germany, especially in defence and security sectors, he conveyed New Delhi’s desire for stronger economic collaboration. Wadephul responded positively, stating he was optimistic that the free trade agreement could be concluded “in the coming months,” signalling fresh hope for advancing India-EU relations.
Through these remarks and engagements, Wadephul reinforced Germany’s dual focus: pushing for a peaceful resolution to Europe’s most devastating conflict since World War II while simultaneously strengthening its strategic and economic ties with key partners like India.
