Chancellor Olaf Scholz has urged for peace negotiations to occur between Ukraine and Russia, following his discussion with Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, in Frankfurt. Despite the pro-Russian inclinations of two populist parties that gained momentum recently, Scholz affirmed his government’s commitment to help Ukraine safeguard its nation from Russian hostility.
However, he also acknowledged some dissatisfaction among citizens regarding Germany’s backing of Ukraine. According to post-election analysis, voters in Eastern Thuringia and Saxony were heavily critical of the German government’s stance on Ukraine and encouraged pushing Kyiv towards peace.
The Ukraine issue continues to be a dominant talking point in the lead-up to an election in another Eastern state, Brandenburg, in a fortnight’s time. The Social Democratic Party, led by Scholz, has been in power in Brandenburg since 1990.
A recent opinion poll has indicated a shift with the far-right Alternative for Germany party leading over the SPD with a four-point advantage at 27%.
In an appearance on ZDF public television, Scholz emphasised the urgent need for peaceful discussions to conclude the war more rapidly. He confirmed that a peace conference would take place, highlighting both his own and the Ukrainian President’s shared belief that Russian involvement is essential. The Ukrainian President proposed holding another peace conference, should Russia withdraw from Ukrainian territory, during a meeting in Switzerland in June.
The timing of the chancellor’s appeal is sensitive due to the strained ties between Kyiv and Berlin. Despite being the prominent backer of military aid in Ukraine, offering 12 self-propelled artillery vehicles on Friday, the German state prosecution is not as supportive. They blame Poland and Ukraine for hindering their enquiry into the explosion on Nord Stream’s undersea pipelines that happened approximately two years prior.
On September 22nd, 2022, three of the four conduits transporting Russian gas under the Baltic Sea to the northern coast of Germany were irreparably damaged.
German legal officials have accused Polish law enforcement of permitting the primary suspect, identified as Volodymyr Z, a Ukrainian scuba diving instructor based in Warsaw, escape to Ukraine after Germany initiated a European arrest order.
According to German researchers, this individual led a team of six divers from a chartered yacht named ‘Andromeda’, which allegedly placed explosives on the pipelines. Furthermore, they argue that the group was prepared in Poland for this operation and that it is possible Warsaw supplied operational backing – claims Poland has labelled “entirely baseless.”
When Mr Scholz was questioned on ZDF about his faith in the Ukrainian head of state, he maintained his trust in President Zelenskiy.
“My rapport with Volodymyr Zelenskiy is positive,” Mr Scholz stated. “However, I firmly believe that it is critical to get to the root of this issue.”