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Putin can't dictate peace in war he 'won't win' says Germany's Scholz

AFP
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Putin can't dictate peace in war he 'won't win' says Germany's Scholz
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz speaks at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Photo: picture alliance/dpa/AP | Markus Schreiber

Speaking on the final day of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz took aim at Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to invade Ukraine.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin will not be allowed to dictate peace in a war that he "will not win" in Ukraine, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Thursday.

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Putin has "already failed in all his strategic aims", the German leader told the World Economic Forum in Davos. Russia's plan to capture all of Ukraine is "further away today than it was at the beginning" of its invasion on February 24th as Ukraine put up an impressive defence.

Putin "underestimated" the "resolve and strength" of allies in countering his aggression in Ukraine, said Scholz, noting that Moscow has also now pushed Finland and Sweden to join the NATO defence alliance.

READ ALSO: Germany to boost military cooperation with Sweden and Finland amid NATO Bid

"Our goal is crystal clear -- Putin must not win this war. And I am convinced that he will not win it," said the German chancellor. Scholz, who has spoken several times with the Russian leader on the phone since Moscow's invasion, said "Putin will only seriously negotiate peace when he realises that he cannot break Ukraine's defences."

And Western allies, who have been arming Ukraine and imposing heavy sanctions on Russia, will continue their backing for Kyiv, he pledged.

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"It is a matter of making it clear to Putin that there will be no dictated peace," said Scholz.

"Ukraine will not accept that and neither will we." Scholz however did not directly address criticisms from Ukraine that Germany was not moving fast enough in supplying Kyiv with heavy weapons.

He only said that Germany's support for Kyiv will continue to be coordinated with allies and that it will not allow NATO to become a 'party in the conflict'.

READ ALSO: Germany’s Scholz deflects criticism over Ukraine war

Ukraine has been urging Berlin to speed up deliveries of heavy armaments including Leopard tanks and Marder armoured vehicles.

In a separate session at Davos on Wednesday, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba voiced frustration over the process: "I don't understand why it is so complicated, but I respect the situation in the German government and we are looking forward to see how this story ends."

Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko also noted at the economic forum in the Swiss ski resort that "everything works so slow" in terms of weaponry decisions.

"We need fast decisions with the weapons because I want to repeat one more time, we are defending not just our country, our families, our children, we defending every one of you."

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