Why  Scholz is pushing for peace conference with Russia

Admin I Thursday, September 12, 2024

 

BERLIN – German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Wednesday repeated his call to hold another peace conference to end Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine with the Kremlin at the table.

“Now is the moment, now is the time when we have to sound out what options are available,” Scholz said in remarks to Germany’s parliament, the Bundestag, in Berlin.

“We need another peace conference. And Russia must have a seat at the table. That is the task we have to tackle now, to sound out what is possible,” Scholz said.

He acknowledged that some German voters oppose providing military aid to Ukraine, and have backed parties that explicitly campaigned against such support.

But Scholz stressed that it is the right thing to do to “support Ukraine for as long as it is necessary.”

At the same time, “everything will be done to ensure that the possibilities of having peace – a fair peace that is not a dictated peace, not a capitulation, that respects the integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine as an invaded country – that such a peace is always explored,” added the chancellor.

Scholz had previously suggested holding another peace conference with Russian participation in a lengthy recent interview with public broadcaster ZDF.

Those remarks were met with sharp criticism from some other German politicians, especially from the centre-right opposition Christian Democrats (CDU), who accused Scholz of backing down on his support for Ukraine and trying to pressure Kiev into talks.