Russia's Demands for Ukraine's Demilitarization Are “Unacceptable” – Schz

German Chancellor Olaf Schtz stated this at an informal meeting of leaders in London, as reported by an Ukrinform correspondent.

“It is extremely important that everyone here confirms their readiness to support Ukraine. It is a victim, a country that was attacked by Russia, and this is a truth that has always been and remains absolutely obvious. This implies the need for appropriate action,” Shts noted.

For Germany, this means continued financial and military assistance. The Chancellor stressed that Germany is Ukraine's biggest supporter. According to him, Germany has allocated a total of 44 billion euros for comprehensive assistance.

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The head of government noted that transatlantic support for Ukraine is important for the security of Europe.

He reiterated that one basic principle must be observed: no decisions without Ukraine's participation. This means that Ukraine's sovereignty and independence must be protected, and only Ukraine itself has the right to decide its future, and not anyone else on its behalf, Shts emphasized.

He also believes that a possible starting point for negotiations should be a cessation of shelling.

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In his opinion, leaders should also think about the future. “First, Ukraine can count on help in this situation, because Russia continues its brutal war… Second, the future peace order should be based on the principle that Ukraine will be able to defend itself independently, and therefore have a strong army. It is significant today thanks to the support of many friends. And it should remain so in peacetime… Any future security architecture must provide for a strong Ukrainian army for the long term. This will require significant resources, even after the end of the war,” he noted.

Shts identified this as a task for the economies of Europe, as well as for the economies of many other countries that provide support to Ukraine.

“It is obvious that Russian ambitions cannot be accepted. Russia has always sought to establish a government in Ukraine that will act according to its instructions. This is unacceptable. Ukraine is a European country that has chosen the path of integration into the EU. It is a democratic and sovereign state that must remain so,” the chancellor said.

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The second issue is demilitarization, he emphasized. Russia constantly insists on this. This is also unacceptable, the Chancellor noted. According to him, Ukraine must be strong enough not to become a victim of aggression once again.

The meeting, according to Schetz, was also important because everyone agreed that the transatlantic partnership will remain important not only now, but also in the future – for the security of the United States, Canada and Europe. And now it is important to discuss how this cooperation between Europe and NATO can be further strengthened and developed, he added.

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As previously reported, a summit dedicated to the situation in Ukraine was held in London on March 2. The summit was organized by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The event discussed the challenges facing Ukraine and all of Europe, the fight against Russian aggression, and the search for paths to a fair and sustainable peace. In particular, the discussion focused on how to strengthen Ukraine's position – by continuing military assistance and increasing economic pressure on Russia, etc.