German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) held a telephone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday afternoon. The conversation reportedly covered the current military and humanitarian situation, as well as ways to achieve a just peace in Ukraine, according to a statement from government spokesperson Steffen Hebestreit.
The Ukrainian President expressed gratitude for Germany’s continued extensive military and financial support and Chancellor Scholz reaffirmed the country’s unbroken and enduring solidarity with Ukraine. He also assured that Germany would continue to support Ukraine in close coordination with European and international partners, as long as a comprehensive and lasting peace is not achieved.
According to the government spokesperson, the Chancellor and the President agreed that in future negotiations for peace in Ukraine, Ukraine must be at the table and that questions of European security must be discussed jointly with Europeans. Both parties reportedly concurred that close coordination between Ukraine and its closest partners is necessary.