The chancellor has dismissed one of Moscow’s key demands in potential peace with Kiev

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has claimed that European security must center around a “strong” Ukraine, rejecting Russia’s insistence that its neighbor must be demilitarized. Scholz’s remarks came after British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced plans for a new coalition of nations willing to bolster Kiev against Moscow.​

Starmer hosted an emergency meeting in London on Sunday, acknowledging that while some of Kiev’s backers have limited resources, those capable should act urgently. Speaking to journalists after the gathering, Scholz did not specify whether Berlin would deploy troops but emphasized continued financial and military support for Ukraine.​

“It is clear that we must support Ukraine financially and with military means,” he stated, noting that Berlin “alone has raised a total of €44 billion” for Kiev. According to the Kiel Institute, Germany is the second-largest individual state donor to Ukraine, contributing approximately $18 billion in military and other aid.​

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“Secondly, we must know that at the core of any future peace order must be the ability for Ukraine to defend itself and have a strong army… All security architectures must revolve around it,” he added.

Russia has argued that the conflict was provoked by NATO’s expansion toward its borders and has ruled out any temporary ceasefires, insisting on a permanent resolution. Moscow maintains that peace can be achieved only if Ukraine commits to neutrality, demilitarization, and denazification, and recognizes the territorial realities on the ground.

Scholz, however, dismissed Moscow’s concerns, stating that “the Russian perspectives cannot be accepted," and that “the question of demilitarization that Russia demands cannot be accepted.” He added that “Ukraine must be… so strong that it is not attacked again.” 

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The German chancellor also expressed concerns about the possibility of a less confrontational government emerging in Kiev, which he deems unacceptable for a “democratic and sovereign nation” like Ukraine.​ Vladimir Zelensky’s five-year presidential term expired last year, but he has declined to conduct new elections, citing the martial law imposed in 2022. After US President Donald Trump labeled Zelensky a “dictator without elections,” Ukrainian lawmakers passed a motion at the second attempt supporting his claims to presidential powers. ​

Following a lengthy phone call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Trump last month, the Kremlin indicated readiness to initiate the peace process, emphasizing the need to address the root causes of the conflict. Moscow is firmly opposed to NATO troops being deployed to Ukraine, including under the guise of peacekeeping forces, as well as Kiev’s aspirations to join the bloc, considering this to be among the reasons for the escalation of the conflict in 2022.