Berlin (dpa) – Two and a half months after the beginning of the Ukraine conflict, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron, who has simply been re-elected, joined forces in Berlin to name for concrete steps in the direction of a ceasefire. “What we need to obtain is a ceasefire, as quickly as potential,” Macron mentioned. This, he mentioned, is the one strategy to carry negotiations between Ukraine and Russia to a conclusion with a view to obtain peace and, subsequently, a everlasting withdrawal of Russian troops. “That’s our objective.”
Scholz additionally mentioned that now, after so many weeks of conflict, decisive steps should quickly be taken in the direction of ending the battle. Nonetheless, he mentioned it was inconceivable that Ukraine would settle for a “dictatorial peace” that sought to impose circumstances it couldn’t settle for for its sovereignty and integrity as a nation.
Macron additionally confused that he didn’t view Russian President Vladimir Putin’s speech on the navy parade in Moscow marking the 77th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany as an indication of de-escalation. Many observers had anticipated Putin to ship a far harsher speech, probably even together with an try to typically mobilize the inhabitants or a proper declaration of conflict on Ukraine.
The go to to Scholz was Macron’s first journey overseas after his inauguration on the weekend. He was re-elected as president two weeks in the past. The swift conventional inaugural go to was seen by the French aspect as an indication of how essential the Franco-German tandem is.