– Peace will not be “dictated” by Putin
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz reiterated his support for Ukraine during a joint press conference with Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday.
Published today at 12:05 p.m.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (right) greets Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky upon his arrival at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Berlin.
AFP
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Olaf Scholz said on Tuesday that there would be “no military victory, no peace dictated” by Russian President Vladimir Putin in the war he is waging against kyiv. He was speaking at an international conference in Berlin in the presence of Volodymyr Zelensky.
“Promoting this awareness is the challenge of the peace summit which will meet this weekend in Switzerland,” the German chancellor declared on Tuesday, adding that the allies would support Ukraine “as long as necessary”.
“With partners from all regions of the world, we will make our voice clearly heard: we support international law and the Charter of the United Nations!”, he continued.
Weapons for air defense
Olaf Scholz urged Western allies to do more to enable Ukraine to defend itself against Russian shelling of its vital and civilian infrastructure.
“What the Ukrainian army needs most today is ammunition and weapons, particularly for air defense,” he said, recalling in particular that Berlin recently decided to deliver a third defense system Patriot anti-aircraft.
“I would like to ask everyone here today to support our Ukrainian air defense initiative with everything possible,” he said.
The Ukrainian president, for his part, estimated that having more anti-aircraft defense systems to protect Ukraine’s cities and its energy infrastructure would be “the answer” to putting an end to the Russian invasion.
“It is the terror inspired by missiles and bombs that helps Russian troops advance on the ground,” Zelensky said. “As long as we do not deprive Russia of the possibility of terrorizing Ukraine, (Vladimir) Putin will have no real interest in seeking a fair peace,” he added, assuring that “air defense is the answer”.
2nd supplier of military aid
After the Russian invasion in February 2022, Germany abandoned its traditionally pacifist stance to become the second largest supplier of military aid to Ukraine in absolute terms, behind the United States.
Mr. Zelensky is participating on Tuesday in Berlin in an international conference for the reconstruction of Ukraine, which brings together representatives of governments and the private sector, including ten prime ministers.
“Urgent solutions for the Ukrainian energy sector will be our first priority,” the Ukrainian president said on his X account.
“I will also meet Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Bundestag President Bärbel Bas, and visit a military base where our soldiers train,” he added.
After Berlin, the Ukrainian president is expected at the summit of G7 leaders in Italy and then he must go to Bürgenstock (NW) on Saturday and Sunday to participate in the conference on peace in Ukraine organized by Switzerland, which will bring together more than 90 countries and organizations, but not Russia or China.
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