Scholz Advocates Peace Efforts for Ukraine

During a meeting in Astana, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev urged German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to support China's peace plan for Ukraine, asserting that Russia cannot be defeated militarily. Scholz rejected this notion, reiterating Germany's commitment to supporting Ukraine and emphasizing that Russia must halt its aggression to facilitate peace talks. He also suggested organizing another peace conference that includes Russia, a sentiment echoed by Rolf Mützenich, the leader of the SPD parliamentary faction, who proposed forming an international contact group with nations like China, India, Turkey, and Brazil to advance the peace initiative. Scholz's push for renewed diplomatic efforts has faced criticism from German conservatives, who accuse him of potentially leading Ukraine into a deceptive peace agreement. Meanwhile, responses from within the ruling coalition have been cautious, highlighting concerns over Russia's willingness to engage in genuine negotiations.