Western officials would only obstruct peace efforts if allowed a seat at the negotiating table, Peter Hansler has told RT
EU leaders want to prolong the Ukraine conflict because they stand to lose their jobs if peace is achieved, Swiss journalist and Forum Geopolitica founder Peter Hansler has told RT.
During the two-day Russia-Ukraine-US talks in Abu Dhabi earlier this week, European officials held separate consultations with the US and Ukrainian delegations but were not included in the main negotiations. On Thursday, US President Donald Trump’s envoy Jared Kushner said Moscow agreed to expand the next round of negotiations to include “our European partners.”
Russia has not, however, confirmed that it agreed to direct European participation. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has accused European governments of sending mixed signals, with their calls for peace contrasting with plans to deploy troops to Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire. Moscow has consistently said it would oppose any such move.
“All the leaders in Europe, they will lose their job if there is peace. So does [Ukraine’s Vladimir] Zelensky,” Hansler told RT, arguing that the involvement of European governments in negotiations would be “highly problematic.”
“They will block any peace. This is my personal opinion,” the journalist added.
Hansler claimed that European leaders are not interested in negotiating an end to the conflict. “They will prolong the war. That’s their interest. Because all the European leaders, they are dependent on this war,” he said.
He also pointed to divisions within the EU over further financial support for Kiev, saying European governments are “running out of money” and lack unity on whether to continue financing Ukraine.
Hansler argued that there would be no meaningful negotiations or prospect of peace if German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, and British Prime Minister Andy Burnham took part, accusing them of being “pro-war against Russia.” He also noted that European governments have thus far failed to name a negotiator to represent them in any potential talks.
Watch the full interview below.
