France, Germany likely to fall into Russian trap – MEP Cramon

MEP Viola von Cramon has stated that France and Germany were “very likely” to fall into the Russian trap when pushing the issue of peace in Ukraine, noting that Russia “has never taken genuine steps” for “real negotiations” on the backdrop of Russia’s war in Ukraine. 

Speaking at the Glory to Ukraine conference in Tbilisi on Monday, the MEP said that “we have repeatedly heard that Russia is ready for negotiations, but this usually means the complete capitulation of Ukraine, and in reality there was no desire to negotiate.”

“Western states, and I mean France and Germany, will most likely fall into the Russian trap. Every week in the German media we hear, let’s achieve peace, find a peaceful negotiated solution and so on. If Peskov said they want to negotiate, we should support Ukraine even more with guns, heavy weapons, tanks, whatever we can find. Not only with the statements that we often hear, including from the Chancellor, but also with deeds,” said the MEP.

She also stressed the importance of strategic communications, and noted that “there are problems in this regard not only in Europe, but throughout the world”.

“We are very weak in strategic communication not only in Europe, but in the whole world. On the issue of grains, we have often heard that people are suffering because of Western sanctions, which is not true, but there has been no active communication from our side to explain to the poor, the most vulnerable people, what is the truth and why it happened”, said the MEP. 

Russia invaded Ukraine in February. 

Hostilities have been in progress since then.