Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) has again spoken out in favor of a speedy ceasefire in the Ukraine war. “With every day, with every bomb, Putin is moving further away from the world community,” said Scholz about Russia’s head of state Vladimir Putin after a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara. That’s why the clear appeal to the Kremlin boss is: “Hold on. There can only be a diplomatic solution.”
“We must ensure that results are achieved soon that enable a ceasefire,” emphasized Scholz. There is close cooperation with Turkey as a NATO partner in the conflict. Ankara spoke out clearly against Russia’s war and also supplied weapons, said Scholz.
Turkey and Germany share “common views and concerns” about Russia’s attack, Erdogan said. “We will continue our relentless efforts to achieve a lasting ceasefire.”
Turkey sees itself in a mediating role in the conflict. Erdogan had condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine as “unacceptable”, but Turkey did not join the West in sanctions against the Russian economy. “We must maintain our friendship with Zelenskyy and Putin,” Erdogan said, referring to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the Russian President.