(Dan Tri) – German Prime Minister Olaf Scholz emphasized that peace can be achieved at any time if Russia withdraws all troops from Ukrainian territory.

German Prime Minister Olaf Scholz (Photo: Reuters).

German Prime Minister Olaf Scholz revealed on March 28 that a number of countries, including Ukraine, are discussing at the security advisor level the conditions that could lead to peace talks to end the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

Prime Minister Scholz emphasized that `peace can be achieved at any time` if Russia withdraws all troops from Ukrainian territory.

`Let me make one thing clear: peace can be achieved at any time, if only Russia stops its military campaign and withdraws its troops,` the German leader said.

Russia has repeatedly affirmed that it is open to negotiations with Ukraine on the condition that Kiev acknowledges the actual situation, in other words, acknowledges Russia’s control over some territories.

However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in October 2022 signed a decree banning negotiations with the government of Russian President Vladimir Putin after Moscow announced the annexation of four Ukrainian provinces.

The prospect of resuming peace talks between the two countries is still dim.

Responding to the German Prime Minister’s comments, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov emphasized that the negotiations that Mr. Scholz mentioned did not include Russia’s participation.

Mr. Peskov also affirmed that the prime minister’s statement `does not change the nature of ongoing events`, and reiterated that Germany remains one of Kiev’s most prominent supporters.

The Kremlin official said that although European Union (EU) countries have different views on the level of involvement in the Ukraine crisis, `this does not change the mainstream approach in Europe.`

Also discussing a solution to end the conflict in Ukraine, former German Prime Minister Gerhard Schroeder pointed out that negotiating with Russia is the only way.

Former Prime Minister Schroeder and President Putin had a close relationship when Mr. Schroeder headed the German government in the late 1990s.

In 2014, President Putin attended Mr. Schroeder’s birthday party in St.

Mr. Schroeder faced backlash over his relationship with Russia after the Ukraine conflict broke out in February 2022.

However, when asked about maintaining friendship with President Putin amid the Ukraine conflict, the former German Prime Minister affirmed that these are two completely different issues.

He believes that the relationship with the Russian leadership will be important in future Russia-Ukraine peace talks.

`We have been working together reasonably for many years. Perhaps it can still help to find a negotiated solution. The only way to end the conflict is to negotiate. It is clear that this war is not possible.

Mr. Schroeder once went to Russia and Türkiye to promote peace negotiations.