Russia’s offensive failed, Putin betting on ‘war fatigue’ – German FM

German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock believes that Russia’s president Vladimir Putin must see that he will not achieve his goals in Ukraine because of war fatigue.

At a meeting of G7 foreign ministers in Japan, Ms Baerbock stressed that the group opposed Russian aggression against Ukraine in various ways last year, including by supporting the Ukrainian people in the winter, sanctions against Russia, and oil price restrictions, Ukrinform news agency reports.

Germany’s foreign minister noted that the allies helped Ukraine withstand attacks on critical infrastructure and the Russian winter offensive.

The G7 should show Putin its determination that he will not achieve his goal through exhaustion and fatigue, she added.

"We know exactly what we stand for – [for] an international order in which the rule of law takes precedence over the right of the strongest; for economic relations based not on dependence, but on fairness and common rules of competition," Ms Baerbock stressed.

Talk of ‘Ukraine fatigue’ first emerged last year, when some observers suggested that Russia’s full-scale invasion might turn into a war of attrition or a frozen conflict.

The fear is that this might undercut Ukraine’s support, as some of its allies count on the full-scale war coming to a diplomatic settlement in the short term.

Earlier, Poland’s president, Andrzej Duda, said that the world needs to be constantly reminded of the war that Russia is waging against Ukraine, as interest in it is declining.