Scholz and Macron plead for 'new momentum' to end Ukraine fighting

BERLIN: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and the just re-elected French President Emmanuel Macron jointly urged concrete steps be taken toward a ceasefire in Ukraine as they met Monday evening in Berlin.

"What we want to achieve is a ceasefire, as soon as possible," Macron said during his inaugural visit to Berlin after French voters handed him a second term two weeks ago.

This, he said, was the only way to make headway in the stalled peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, with the ultimate aim of a permanent withdrawal of Russian troops. "That is our goal," he said.

Scholz said that after 10 weeks of war, there must now soon be decisive steps toward ending it. It was "important that de-escalation is now pushed further," he said.

But it was inconceivable Kiev would accept a "dictated peace" that would impose conditions it could not accept for its sovereignty and integrity as a nation, the chancellor said.

Macron also stressed that for him, Russian President Vladimir Putin's speech at the military parade in Moscow marking the 77th anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany was not yet a sign of de-escalation.

Many observers had expected Putin to deliver a far harsher speech, up to and including a general mobilization or a formal declaration of war on Ukraine.

For Macron, the visit to see Scholz was his first trip abroad after his inauguration over the weekend. The visit was seen as a sign of the importance of the Franco-German tandem, especially when it comes to EU policymaking.

Scholz stressed that for Europe it was now a matter of finding "new momentum" in regards to Ukraine, but did not offer any new possible solutions to ending the grinding conflict.

Russia's "horrific war" was welding European partners together, he said at press conference with Macron, adding that "Ukraine belongs to the European family."