11:00Mandatory credit: German Bundestag
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz confirmed to MPs that there would be talks with Vladimir Putin on Ukraine and repeated his calls for a second 'peace conference' with Russian participation, during a tense session of the Bundestag on Wednesday.
"We held a conference in Burgenstock in Switzerland, which clearly ended with the statement, there should be another one, as the Ukrainian president said, also under the participation of Russia," he said. "And that is why it is also correct that when asked, we will also speak to the Russian president."
"We have clear principles, and these principles are, there will never be a decision over the heads of Ukraine and never without co-ordination with our closest partners," Scholz added.
Meanwhile CDU/CSU opposition leader Friedrich Merz said he held Scholz 'personally responsible' for making Ukraine fight 'with one hand behind its back', after the chancellor repeatedly ruled out sending Taurus missiles to the conflict.
Sahra Wagenknecht, whose party saw a huge surge in the recent eastern German regional elections, accused Scholz of being "a federal chancellor who gets his instructions for his policy from Washington", and reiterated her condemnation of the US deployment of medium-range missiles to Germany by 2026.
"No other European country wants [them] on its territory. That's what it's about. And it's also about the fact that the people in Ukraine don't need any more weapons. And they don't need ridiculous victory plans that, in the end, will inevitably lead to a NATO war," she added.
"Mr Scholz, you should advocate for diplomatic initiatives like the peace plan of Brazil and China, which should finally be supported by EU countries and not just by the small Switzerland," she continued.
Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky's 'Victory Plan', outlined to his parliament on Wednesday, included demands for an immediate invitation to join NATO, permission to use long-range weaponry supplied by allies for strikes deep inside Russia, a 'non-nuclear strategic deterrent package' in the country, protection for Ukraine's natural resources and replacing some US troops across Europe with Ukrainian forces.
Later, NATO chief Mark Rutte refused to publicly back the call or be drawn on the state of ongoing talks between allies, only repeating that Ukraine's membership journey was 'irreversible'.
The first 'peace summit' in Switzerland was held in June without Russia, which Moscow condemned. Key Global South nations like India, South Africa, Thailand, Indonesia and Mexico, as well as the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia all took part but were among those not endorsing the final outcome. Brazil, attending as an 'observer', also did not sign, while China did not send an envoy.
During the UN General Assembly last month, Zelensky suggested 'alternative voices' in China, Brazil, Europe and Africa were more aligned with Russia and questioned what their 'true interest' was.
'Yes, we will speak with Putin' - Scholz on Ukraine, reiterates calls for second 'peace conference' with Russian participation
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz confirmed to MPs that there would be talks with Vladimir Putin on Ukraine and repeated his calls for a second 'peace conference' with Russian participation, during a tense session of the Bundestag on Wednesday.
"We held a conference in Burgenstock in Switzerland, which clearly ended with the statement, there should be another one, as the Ukrainian president said, also under the participation of Russia," he said. "And that is why it is also correct that when asked, we will also speak to the Russian president."
"We have clear principles, and these principles are, there will never be a decision over the heads of Ukraine and never without co-ordination with our closest partners," Scholz added.
Meanwhile CDU/CSU opposition leader Friedrich Merz said he held Scholz 'personally responsible' for making Ukraine fight 'with one hand behind its back', after the chancellor repeatedly ruled out sending Taurus missiles to the conflict.
Sahra Wagenknecht, whose party saw a huge surge in the recent eastern German regional elections, accused Scholz of being "a federal chancellor who gets his instructions for his policy from Washington", and reiterated her condemnation of the US deployment of medium-range missiles to Germany by 2026.
"No other European country wants [them] on its territory. That's what it's about. And it's also about the fact that the people in Ukraine don't need any more weapons. And they don't need ridiculous victory plans that, in the end, will inevitably lead to a NATO war," she added.
"Mr Scholz, you should advocate for diplomatic initiatives like the peace plan of Brazil and China, which should finally be supported by EU countries and not just by the small Switzerland," she continued.
Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky's 'Victory Plan', outlined to his parliament on Wednesday, included demands for an immediate invitation to join NATO, permission to use long-range weaponry supplied by allies for strikes deep inside Russia, a 'non-nuclear strategic deterrent package' in the country, protection for Ukraine's natural resources and replacing some US troops across Europe with Ukrainian forces.
Later, NATO chief Mark Rutte refused to publicly back the call or be drawn on the state of ongoing talks between allies, only repeating that Ukraine's membership journey was 'irreversible'.
The first 'peace summit' in Switzerland was held in June without Russia, which Moscow condemned. Key Global South nations like India, South Africa, Thailand, Indonesia and Mexico, as well as the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia all took part but were among those not endorsing the final outcome. Brazil, attending as an 'observer', also did not sign, while China did not send an envoy.
During the UN General Assembly last month, Zelensky suggested 'alternative voices' in China, Brazil, Europe and Africa were more aligned with Russia and questioned what their 'true interest' was.
Mandatory credit: German Bundestag
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz confirmed to MPs that there would be talks with Vladimir Putin on Ukraine and repeated his calls for a second 'peace conference' with Russian participation, during a tense session of the Bundestag on Wednesday.
"We held a conference in Burgenstock in Switzerland, which clearly ended with the statement, there should be another one, as the Ukrainian president said, also under the participation of Russia," he said. "And that is why it is also correct that when asked, we will also speak to the Russian president."
"We have clear principles, and these principles are, there will never be a decision over the heads of Ukraine and never without co-ordination with our closest partners," Scholz added.
Meanwhile CDU/CSU opposition leader Friedrich Merz said he held Scholz 'personally responsible' for making Ukraine fight 'with one hand behind its back', after the chancellor repeatedly ruled out sending Taurus missiles to the conflict.
Sahra Wagenknecht, whose party saw a huge surge in the recent eastern German regional elections, accused Scholz of being "a federal chancellor who gets his instructions for his policy from Washington", and reiterated her condemnation of the US deployment of medium-range missiles to Germany by 2026.
"No other European country wants [them] on its territory. That's what it's about. And it's also about the fact that the people in Ukraine don't need any more weapons. And they don't need ridiculous victory plans that, in the end, will inevitably lead to a NATO war," she added.
"Mr Scholz, you should advocate for diplomatic initiatives like the peace plan of Brazil and China, which should finally be supported by EU countries and not just by the small Switzerland," she continued.
Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky's 'Victory Plan', outlined to his parliament on Wednesday, included demands for an immediate invitation to join NATO, permission to use long-range weaponry supplied by allies for strikes deep inside Russia, a 'non-nuclear strategic deterrent package' in the country, protection for Ukraine's natural resources and replacing some US troops across Europe with Ukrainian forces.
Later, NATO chief Mark Rutte refused to publicly back the call or be drawn on the state of ongoing talks between allies, only repeating that Ukraine's membership journey was 'irreversible'.
The first 'peace summit' in Switzerland was held in June without Russia, which Moscow condemned. Key Global South nations like India, South Africa, Thailand, Indonesia and Mexico, as well as the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia all took part but were among those not endorsing the final outcome. Brazil, attending as an 'observer', also did not sign, while China did not send an envoy.
During the UN General Assembly last month, Zelensky suggested 'alternative voices' in China, Brazil, Europe and Africa were more aligned with Russia and questioned what their 'true interest' was.