West may pressure Kiev to engage in talks if Ukraine’s offensive fails

Western countries may put pressure on Ukraine to engage in peace talks with Russia if Kiev’s offensive fails, Germany’s Bild newspaper wrote on Monday.

The paper reported, citing German and US officials, that the West "intends to use new weapons supplies to make it possible for Ukraine to return the territories [controlled by Russia] by the fall" but the West’s pressure for talks would increase if Ukraine’s offensive failed.

The newspaper also said that behind the scenes, the West was giving ultimatums to Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky despite its policy of unlimited support for Ukraine.

The Wall Street Journal wrote on February 24 that earlier in the month, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz had urged Zelensky to start considering the idea of talks with Russia.