Peace cannot be concluded behind Ukraine's back - Scholz

According to Deutsche Welle, he said this during a speech in the Bundestag on Thursday, March 2.

Scholz noted that Germany and other allies are negotiating with Kyiv on post-war security guarantees.

“Such security guarantees, however, come with the presumption that Ukraine successfully defends itself in this war,” the German chancellor added.

He also noted that Germany will continue to supply weapons to Ukraine, as Russia is not currently showing any willingness to end the war.

In addition, Scholz said that negotiations on a peaceful settlement cannot be conducted without Kyiv's participation. He made clear that there was no way for Kyiv to negotiate a peace deal with Russia because there was a "gun to their head."

“Peace cannot be concluded behind Ukraine's back. We know what fate awaits Ukrainians under Russian occupation. Striving for peace does not mean enslavement by a larger neighbor. If Ukraine stops defending itself, it will not be peace, but the end of Ukraine,” he emphasized.