German FM Annalena Baerbock says negotiating with Russia no longer viable option

Four and a half months into Moscow's invasion of Ukraine and Germany's Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock does t see negotiations with Russia as an option. Baerbock also rejected calls for an immediate ceasefire and talks me by a group of high-profile Germans in a recent open letter.

In an interview with Germany's magazine Stern, Baerbock stated, "What can you negotiate about with someone who is t even rey to agree with  International Committee of Red Cross to let civilians flee?" She furr ded, "If I were a Ukrainian, I would find that letter naive, disturbing and arrogant."

Since start of conflict, according to Baerbock, she has t spoken with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov directly. "Come on, Sergey, let's talk about peace," she wished she could say to him, according to Stern. She questioned extent of Lavrov's current authority within government, though.

It is worth mentioning here that both Lavrov and Baerbock were present at G20 foreign ministers' meeting last week in Bali. However, Russian foreign minister left right after speaking, without waiting to hear his German counterpart's reply. Earlier on July 8, Russian President Vlimir Putin stated that his country is willing to eng in peace talks, but that negotiations with Ukraine will become more difficult as time passes.

Putin stated, "We do t refuse peace negotiations, but those who refuse should kw that more time y waste, more difficult it will be for m to negotiate with us."

Turkey to host meeting over grain with Russia, Ukraine and UN

Meanwhile, military delegations from Turkey, Russia, and Ukraine will meet with UN representatives on July 13 to discuss safe export of Ukrainian grain. talks take place at a time when global food prices are at an all-time high, as conflict in Ukraine, world's largest grain supplier, has fueled concerns about food security.

Turkey has played a key role in discussions between United Nations, Russia, and Ukraine about a potential Black Sea corridor for grain exports from Ukraine. war-torn nation has struggled to export goods because many of its ports have been closed due to war on its sourn coast. According to official data, grain accounts for nearly one-fifth of all exports.

Im: AP