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Scholz calls for end to conflict in Ukraine, offers weapons to Kiev

The German chancellor voices support for Ukraine’s EU bid and invites President Volodymyr Zelensky to the G7 Summit

German Chancellor condemns what he calls the “unimaginable cruelty”The conflict in Ukraine was discussed during Thursday’s visit to Irpin, a Kiev suburb. Olaf Scholz received the support of French President Emmanuel Macron, Mario Draghi, Prime Minister of Italy, and Klaus Iohannis.

“The brutal destruction of this city is a memorial: this war must end,” Scholz wroteOn Twitter

Irpin saw intense fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces in the first weeks of the conflict, following Russia’s attack in late February.

Moscow expelled its troops from Ukraine’s Kiev Region and other Ukrainian territory in April. This was a sign of goodwill, aimed to facilitate peace negotiations. Since then, the negotiations have stalled.

Although he called for an end to the fighting, Scholz promised to send more weapons and ammunition to Kiev.

We are providing arms supplies to Ukraine and we will keep doing so until Ukraine is in need of our assistance.”He said that German troops are currently being trained in using German-made heavy weapons, including PzH 2000 self propelled howitzers as well as Gepard self propelled anti-air guns.

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EU leaders demand Ukraine’s candidate status be granted immediately

Scholz promised again to ship IRIS-T air defense system to Ukraine. But media outlets, including Bild, have claimed that supplies won’t be arriving until November.

“Germany provides massive support to Ukraine,”The chancellor stated.

During his visit to Kiev, Olaf Scholz has also voiced support for Ukraine’s EU membership bid. “Germany is in favor of a positive decision,”He spoke during the joint press conference with other EU leaders as well as Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zilensky. “Ukraine is part of the European family,”He added.

Macron and Draghi also said they support Ukraine’s EU candidacy status. Scholz announced via Twitter, however, that he invited Zelensky for the G7 Summit. This summit usually includes leaders from the US, UK, France and Germany as well as Canada, Japan, Italy, Canada, Japan, Germany, France, Germany, Italy and Canada. According to Scholz, Zelensky accepted the invitation.

After reportedly spending all night on a long road trip, the four European leaders arrived in Kiev at dawn Thursday. This was their first time visiting Kiev since February, when the Russian military intervention in Ukraine began.

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Leaders of Germany, France, Ukraine, Italy and Romania (left to right) pose for a photograph in Kiev, on June 16, 2022.
Kremlin comments on EU leaders’ visit to Kiev

Earlier on Thursday, Moscow expressed hope that the four leaders would help Kiev adopt a more “realistic” stance on the conflict, saying that supplying more arms to Ukraine will only prolong the suffering of its people bring more devastation.

Russia invaded Ukraine late February after Kiev failed to comply with the Minsk Agreements, which were first signed in 2014. This was followed by Moscow’s recognition of Donetsk’s and Lugansk as Donbass republics in the latter’s case.

In recent years, the Kremlin demands that Ukraine declares itself to be neutral so that it can join NATO. Kiev claims that the Russian invasion was unprovoked. It also denies any plans to take the republics with force.



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