German Chancellor Olaf Scholz believes his recent talks with Chinese officials about the war in Ukraine provided a “very important boost” to diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the conflict. Scholz emphasized that he agreed with the Chinese leadership on the necessity of holding peace conferences in Switzerland to address the war.
“Diplomatic efforts are indispensable in this laborious process, and I am grateful that Germany and I personally were able to make a contribution,” Scholz said on Friday. He added that the ongoing diplomatic efforts are still in their early stages and require nurturing.
Switzerland is planning a peace summit on June 15 and 16, which will involve around 100 countries, including Ukraine. While Russia is not expected to attend, other nations with close ties to Russia, such as China, Brazil, and South Africa, may participate.
During his visit to Beijing on Tuesday, Scholz and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to coordinate “intensively and positively” regarding the upcoming peace summit and future conferences.
While the outcome of the peace conference remains uncertain, there is hope that the discussions will lead to a positive resolution and bring an end to the prolonged conflict between Russia and Ukraine.