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German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said today that it would be possible to restore economic cooperation between Germany and Russia if the Kremlin ends its war in Ukraine, Reuters reported.
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Scholz has said in previous speeches that the West will not lift sanctions imposed on Russia in response to its invasion of Ukraine until Moscow withdraws its troops from Ukraine and reaches a peace agreement with Kiev, reports BTA.
"At the moment, the relationship that we have is shrinking, shrinking, shrinking," he told Germany's Committee on East European Economic Relations, referring to Western sanctions against Russia that are stifling bilateral trade and investment.
"But a Russia that ends the war should be given a chance to renew economic cooperation," Scholz said.
"But now is not the time to do that."
The German Chancellor assured Ukraine after a video conference with the other leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that the G7 countries continue to support it in its fight against Russia, DPA added.
Ukraine will be supported "as long as necessary," Scholz said, and economic pressure on Russia will be kept high.
Scholz: The world is at a turning point, and Russia's war against Ukraine has ended an era
At the same time, Scholz took stock of the German presidency of the G-7 during the year that is coming to an end.
Russia's attack on the neighboring country in late February required a decisive and strong response from allies, above all the G7, he said.
"We were able to give that firm answer. The world's most economically powerful democracies have become even closer than they already were," Scholz said.
Russian invasion of Ukraine
Russia
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Olaf Scholz