Closer US-Europe cooperation key to securing peace in Ukraine: German chancellor

By Oliver Towfigh Nia

BERLIN (AA) - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Friday that closer cooperation between Europe and the US was necessary to secure peace in war-stricken Ukraine.

“We have to cooperate closely between the US and Europe, between the US and Germany, in supporting Ukraine so that we open up perspectives for a fair peace, a sovereign Ukraine on the way to the European Union and so that we can also ensure that the killing also stops,” Scholz said at a joint news conference with Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal.

“The defense of Ukraine's independence and sovereignty remains the central challenge in the future,” he added.

Scholz reiterated that it is only Ukraine that can set the terms for a peace agreement.

“As you know, I have a clear principle that I advocated again yesterday (during his phone call with US President-elect Donald Trump): There must be no decision made over the heads of Ukrainians. This means that no one is negotiating for Ukraine except Ukraine itself,” he added.

On Thursday, Scholz spoke on the phone with US President-elect Donald Trump to discuss European security and Ukraine.

"Today, in my phone call with US President-elect Trump, we agreed on the importance of getting on a path toward a fair and just peace for Ukraine as soon as possible. Ukraine can count on Germany," Scholz said on X.

In a statement, Steffen Hebestreit, Germany’s government spokesman, said: “The focus of the conversation was on the security policy challenges in Europe.”

“They agreed that the Russian war against Ukraine has been going on for far too long and that it is important to get on the road to a fair, just and sustainable peace as soon as possible,” Hebestreit said.

Scholz reiterated Germany’s commitment to supporting Ukraine in its defense against the Russian war.