The German newspaper Die Welt reported that the leaders of Germany, France and Italy most likely tried during their visit to Kyiv to persuade Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky “behind closed doors” to sit down at the negotiating table with Russia. . . .

The newspaper notes that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi during their stay in Kyiv expressed support for granting Ukraine the status of a candidate for EU membership.

“In turn, European leaders have basically tried to persuade Zelensky to sit down at the negotiating table with Russian President Vladimir Putin,” she said.

The newspaper noted that “the economic damage caused to these European countries as a result of the consequences of the crisis is becoming more serious and difficult to compensate,” stressing that “economic growth is slowing and inflation has reached record levels.”

And the newspaper considered that “a trio of leaders arrived in Kyiv, and each of them carries his own personal agenda.” According to the publication, Macron, who in recent weeks has turned into a “pragmatist” and is more concerned about the economic consequences of the crisis than the territorial integrity of Ukraine, wanted to “clarify his position.”

She believes that “Draghi, by his participation in the visit, sought to show the position of his country as one of the main actors in the European Union.”