Scholz calls for a peace summit on Ukraine that would include Russia

(Patria) - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has called for new efforts to establish peace in Ukraine.

Scholz emphasized that he and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky agreed in a recent conversation that a new peace conference, which would also include Russia, is needed.

- I believe now is the time to discuss how to achieve peace from this state of war, and at a faster pace - Scholz told ZDF television.

Scholz is under significant pressure at home after all three parties in his center-left coalition suffered a heavy defeat in state elections a week ago, while parties advocating for better relations with Moscow gained more votes.

The nationalist Alternative for Germany (AfD) and the new anti-establishment party BSW, which opposes military support for Ukraine in the war against Russia, recorded record voter support.

In July, Zelensky said he was seeking to bring a plan by November that would allow Kyiv to hold a second international peace summit in Ukraine, which should also include representatives from Russia.

In July, the first such summit was held in Switzerland with delegations from 92 countries, but without Russia.

Russia rejected Zelensky's draft peace agreement from that summit and stated that it cannot be a starting point for any peace negotiations.