Germany rebuffs ‘dictated peace’ for Ukraine at Munich security summit

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German Chancellor Olaf Scholz launched a strong defence of Ukraine saying a peace deal to end the three-year Russian invasion cannot be imposed on Kyiv.

“There will only be peace if Ukraine’s sovereignty is secured,” he said on the second day of the Munich Security Conference on Feb 15.

“A dictated peace will therefore never find our support,” added Scholz, in a rebuke to United States President Donald Trump who recently held discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Ukraine, without the participation of the Ukrainians.

The German leader, who faces a tough election at home next week, said Berlin will not accept “any solution” of the protracted conflict that only leads to a “decoupling” of European and US security.

“Only one person would benefit from this: President Putin,” he said.

His comments came as European leaders have been trying to make sense of a tough new line from the new US administration on Ukraine’s future.

Earlier this week, Trump announced he had held a phone call with Putin, during which the two leaders agreed to meet soon to negotiate a peace deal in Ukraine.