Scholz insists Russia should participate in upcoming Ukraine negotiations – Germany
Kiev and its Western allies need to urgently "explore what options are available" to resolve the conflict with Moscow, according to Olaf Scholz. Read the full article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has called for a new peace conference aimed at reaching a diplomatic resolution to the ongoing Ukraine conflict, emphasizing that Russia should be included this time.
In June, Switzerland held the initial Ukraine peace conference without Russian participation. The event, which received much attention, did not produce any tangible outcomes, as many attending nations declined to endorse its joint declaration. Moscow characterized the summit—centering on Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky's "peace formula"—as a "parody of negotiations," stating it would not have attended even if invited by the Swiss organizers.
On Tuesday, Scholz addressed the German parliament, asserting the need for another peace conference and insisting that “Russia must be at the table. That is the task we must tackle now.”
The chancellor noted that both Kiev and its Western allies require the summit to “explore what options are available” for resolving the conflict with Russia.
Despite his endorsement of a peace conference, Scholz made it clear that Berlin will continue to provide military support to Kiev.
Earlier, Zelensky had indicated that the conflict should conclude "this fall." He argued that for this to occur, NATO must persist in supplying arms to Ukraine and ramp up pressure on Moscow to accept Kiev's "peace plan." This plan demands the withdrawal of Russian troops from territories claimed by Ukraine and includes provisions for Moscow to pay reparations and its officials to face war tribunals.
President Vladimir Putin reiterated last week that Russia has “never refused” negotiations with Ukraine, stressing that discussions should not rely on “some ephemeral demands” but rather on the agreements reached in Istanbul in late March 2022, when the two sides last engaged in talks.
At that time, Ukraine showed a willingness to declare military neutrality, limit its armed forces, and cease discrimination against ethnic Russians. In exchange, Putin claimed that Moscow would join other major powers in providing security guarantees for Ukraine.
“The document did not come into force only because the Ukrainians were ordered not to do this. The elites in the United States and some European countries felt the desire to seek Russia’s strategic defeat,” the Russian president stated.
Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov mentioned on Monday that Moscow currently perceives an absence of suitable conditions to initiate peace talks to resolve the Ukraine conflict. He remarked, “We hear various statements from European countries, but we do not see any statements on this matter from the country that is actually directing this entire process,” evidently referring to the United States.
Frederick R Cook contributed to this report for TROIB News
In June, Switzerland held the initial Ukraine peace conference without Russian participation. The event, which received much attention, did not produce any tangible outcomes, as many attending nations declined to endorse its joint declaration. Moscow characterized the summit—centering on Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky's "peace formula"—as a "parody of negotiations," stating it would not have attended even if invited by the Swiss organizers.
On Tuesday, Scholz addressed the German parliament, asserting the need for another peace conference and insisting that “Russia must be at the table. That is the task we must tackle now.”
The chancellor noted that both Kiev and its Western allies require the summit to “explore what options are available” for resolving the conflict with Russia.
Despite his endorsement of a peace conference, Scholz made it clear that Berlin will continue to provide military support to Kiev.
Earlier, Zelensky had indicated that the conflict should conclude "this fall." He argued that for this to occur, NATO must persist in supplying arms to Ukraine and ramp up pressure on Moscow to accept Kiev's "peace plan." This plan demands the withdrawal of Russian troops from territories claimed by Ukraine and includes provisions for Moscow to pay reparations and its officials to face war tribunals.
President Vladimir Putin reiterated last week that Russia has “never refused” negotiations with Ukraine, stressing that discussions should not rely on “some ephemeral demands” but rather on the agreements reached in Istanbul in late March 2022, when the two sides last engaged in talks.
At that time, Ukraine showed a willingness to declare military neutrality, limit its armed forces, and cease discrimination against ethnic Russians. In exchange, Putin claimed that Moscow would join other major powers in providing security guarantees for Ukraine.
“The document did not come into force only because the Ukrainians were ordered not to do this. The elites in the United States and some European countries felt the desire to seek Russia’s strategic defeat,” the Russian president stated.
Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov mentioned on Monday that Moscow currently perceives an absence of suitable conditions to initiate peace talks to resolve the Ukraine conflict. He remarked, “We hear various statements from European countries, but we do not see any statements on this matter from the country that is actually directing this entire process,” evidently referring to the United States.
Frederick R Cook contributed to this report for TROIB News
