Scholz: Germany, Turkey support ceasefire in Ukraine

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On Monday, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that Germany and Turkey support establishing a ceasefire in Ukraine as soon as possible, calling on Putin to find a peaceful resolution to the conflict. 

 "Both of us, me and [Turkish] President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, fully united in condemning Russia's violent military actions in Ukraine," Scholz said at a briefing after meeting with Turkish president Erdogan. 

German Chancellor also stated: "We are also fully united that a ceasefire must prevail at the earliest possible moment," adding that "It is of utmost importance now that people's lives will no longer be in danger."

"Safe corridors are needed so that people can safely leave dangerous areas," Scholz said at the briefing.

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Scholz commented that Russia is drifting apart from the international community "bomb by bomb" and ask Putin "to stop," adding that only diplomatic means can resolve the current conflict. 

Germany's chancellor emphasized on the importance of talks between Moscow and Kiev, and claimed that he was holding negotiations with both sides as well as France's Macron himself. He also welcomed Erdogan's efforts in support of dialogue between Ukraine and Russia. 

"Anything that makes negotiations possible helps," Scholz said. 

He claimed that closing the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles is an important asset to the de-escalation procedures, alongside saying that Berlin and Ankara are ensuring that Ukraine maintains its defense in the war. 

Although Germany has been advocating for peace, in the background the European power has also been acquiring F-35s from the US while its hospitals have been banning Russian and Belarusian patients. "

We would like Ukraine to be able to defend. We do this through financial aid, humanitarian aid, though all the steps that led to arms aid from Germany and Turkey," Scholz concluded.