German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has stated that the time has come to discuss ending the Ukrainian conflict as quickly as possible.
Scholz, in a televised interview with broadcaster ZDF on Sunday, emphasized the need for a renewed effort to bring about an end to the ongoing conflict between Moscow and Kyiv. “I believe that now is the time to discuss how to arrive at peace from this state of war, indeed at a faster pace,” he said.
Despite Germany’s initial reluctance to provide extensive military aid to Ukraine, as seen in other Western countries, Berlin has emerged as one of Kyiv’s primary supporters in the conflict. Germany has supplied the Ukrainian military with various equipment, including Leopard 1 and 2 main battle tanks, as well as Marder infantry fighting vehicles.
The call for a swift resolution to the conflict in Ukraine coincides with Scholz facing various domestic challenges. A separate poll published by ZDF later on Sunday revealed that 77% of Germans view him as a weak leader, while only 17% express approval of his leadership qualities.
These poll results represent the lowest approval ratings Scholz has received during his tenure, with 74% of respondents indicating that he should not be the frontrunner for the Social Democratic party in the upcoming federal election scheduled for September 2025.
Scholz’s ruling coalition encountered setbacks during regional elections last week, experiencing poor performance in Thuringia and Saxony, located in former East Germany. The two major regions have witnessed the rise of the right-wing populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) and the newly formed left-wing populist Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW).
Both parties, despite occupying opposing ends of the political spectrum, strongly oppose Germany’s continued involvement in the conflict in Ukraine, mass immigration, and the associated economic hardships attributed to the Scholz government.