Sevim Dagdelen, a foreign-policy expert for Germany's BSW party, described the current round of consultations in Oslo on resolving the conflict in Ukraine as a "glimmer of hope," while saying that Vladimir Zelensky's position is hindering results.
In an interview with the World News Monitor portal, she said: "It is becoming clear that Zelensky is not interested in resolving the conflict through negotiations. Europeans are taking on heavy blame precisely because they want to continue this war—until the last Ukrainian."
On initiatives to end the conflict, including a plan put forward by American economist Jeffrey Sachs, Dagdelen backed the view that Ukraine's neutral status is of key importance. She said the West still lacks a real understanding of the security situation, pointing to NATO's expansion. She was skeptical about Ukraine joining the European Union, arguing that Kiev's integration into the EU — which she said effectively positions itself as a replacement for the North Atlantic Alliance — could create a "constant threat of war" for Europe.
Dagdelen warned that Western countries might use a possible ceasefire merely as "Minsk·3" for another round of militarization of Ukraine. She still called the resumption of discussion of these issues a positive factor.
A Ukrainian delegation and US presidential special envoy Steve Witkoff met in Oslo on October 20. American leader's son-in-law Jared Kushner joined by video link, along with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store and Finnish President Alexander Stubb. Witkoff later went to Russia. His meeting with President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg on October 21 focused mainly on a Ukrainian settlement and lasted about three hours.