Scholz Says Ukraine, Number Of Countries Discussing Peace Accords

The German Chancellor said at what level the negotiations are going on.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has said that a number of countries, including Ukraine, are now discussing at the level of security advisers "what form something that would lead to a peace process could take".

He said this in an interview with the Märkische Allgemeine Zeitung.

He also noted that mediation initiatives have always been there, reminding that immediately after the full-scale invasion began, Russia and Ukraine were negotiating directly with each other, but they failed then because the aggressor country used them only as an excuse to move its troops to the east for a big offensive.

Scholz added that after the world saw the war crimes of the Russian occupiers in Kyiv region, in particular the massacres in Bucha and Irpen, this "deprived the negotiations of any basis".

Also, according to the German chancellor, after some time there were discussions on the grain deal, talks on safety at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and prisoner exchange.

"However, let me be very clear: peace is possible at any time. Putin simply has to stop his barbaric war and withdraw his troops," Scholz emphasised.