Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Olaf Scholz
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Wednesday that it was time to do everything possible to end the war in Ukraine, including possible talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Speaking to members of the Bundestag, Scholz said that “everything should be done – apart from clear support for Ukraine – to find a way to prevent this war from continuing.”, AFP reports.
The Chancellor stressed that such negotiations should be based on clear principles: “No decisions will ever be taken on Ukraine without Ukraine, and all steps will be agreed with our closest partners.” While Scholz did not comment on the “victory plan” presented by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, his willingness to engage in dialogue with Putin has become a prominent theme in the context of domestic and international criticism.
Germany is the second largest provider of military aid to Ukraine after the US, and Scholz confirmed that support will continue “as long as necessary”. However, he is facing pressure from both parts of German society and parties such as the Alternative for Germany (AfD) and the Bloc of the Black Sea Alliance (BSW), which are calling for a halt to arms supplies to Ukraine and seeking a diplomatic solution to the conflict.
Elections in Germany’s eastern states in early September, where the AfD gained significant support, increased domestic pressure on Scholz. At the same time, Wagenknecht has criticised the US permission to deploy long-range missiles in Germany from 2026.
Scholz may become the first leader of Western countries that support Ukraine to resume direct contact with Putin. The last time such talks were held between the leaders of the United States, France, and the United Kingdom was in 2022. German Foreign Minister Annalena Burbock, however, has previously stated that Putin is not ready for serious talks and is sending “signals in favour of war.”
Zelenskyy, meanwhile, presented his “victory plan” in Kyiv, which includes an unconditional offer of Ukraine’s accession to NATO, additional arms supplies, and the involvement of Western partners in the development of Ukrainian natural resources. According to him, in order to end the war, Russia must be forced to negotiate, but on the terms of justice and diplomacy “with a clear conscience.”
“Ukraine is open to diplomacy, but to sincere diplomacy,” Zelenskyy concluded, stressing the importance of Western partners’ support for peace.
