Scholz: Russia Must Withdraw Troops Before Peace Talks Can Take Place

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has told reporters, following a meeting with Latvian Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins in Berlin, that Russia must withdraw its troops before peace talks can take place between Russia and Ukraine.

• Scholz: "Russia attacked Ukraine and must first take steps to make peace possible, including by withdrawing troops."
• Scholz also addressed concerns that European military stocks are insufficient to fulfil pledges made to Ukraine.
• Scholz: "We will do everything to ensure Ukraine has everything it needs for self-defence, regarding weapons and ammunition."
• Scholz's comments comes amid a sceptical response from Western leaders over China's "position paper" which outlined a 12-step proposal to resolve the conflict.
• Scholz said this week: "From my perspective, there is no recognizable line [in the Chinese position paper] that says: Russian troops must also withdraw."
• NYT wrote on the European struggle to fulfil pledges: "Some nations have discovered that the tanks in their armory don’t actually work or lack spare parts. Political leaders have encountered unanticipated resistance within their own coalitions, and even from their defense ministries. And some armies had to pull trainers out of retirement to teach Ukrainian soldiers how to use old-model tanks."