‘Ukraine will have different borders, Kyiv needs to accept it’, – said the former head of Germany’s domestic security service

Kyiv should “focus on a ceasefire and forget about the notion that Putin can be defeated,” according to Hans-Georg Maassen, former head of Germany’s Office for the Protection of the Constitution.

Maassen made this statement during an appearance on TV Berlin.

Hans-Georg Maassen understands President Zelensky’s desire to expand the conflict to Europe, but he believes this is not in the interests of Berlin and NATO. Zelensky should recognize that returning to the 1991 borders is impossible and needs to negotiate with Russia.

Frank Henkel, TV Berlin host: Is Ukrainian President Zelensky trying to drag NATO into this war?

Hans-Georg Maassen, former head of the Office for the Protection of the Constitution: Yes, I am convinced of this, and I understand it. If I were in his position, I would try as well. Attempts at this, in my view, have been evident for two years. Of course, the Ukrainian president must be very interested in ensuring that the hostilities are not confined to Ukraine alone. On the contrary, to ease the burden on Ukraine and the Ukrainian armed forces, the conflict needs to be expanded.

If I were in his place, I would definitely try to do this, because if NATO were involved, the Ukrainian theater of war would no longer be of such interest. This would mean significant relief for Ukraine. Ultimately, it would also create new opportunities for Ukraine to better combat the Russian armed forces, which would be engaged elsewhere. Therefore, it is clear that Zelensky would like to follow this course.

However, this is not in our interests. It is in our interests that Germany and NATO do not participate in this war. This is not our war. Mr. Zelensky will have to deal with the situation himself. I would recommend that he focus on achieving a ceasefire and forget about the idea that Putin can be defeated, that Russia can be fractured or occupied. He should abandon the thought that there could be a regime change in Russia. I do not see this happening at all. He will also have to accept that the borders after the war will be different from those before the war.