German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has expressed support for including Russia in a forthcoming international peace conference aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. Speaking to public broadcaster ZDF on Sunday, Scholz highlighted the need to address the current conflict and expedite efforts towards achieving peace.

During a recent meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Scholz and Zelensky discussed recent developments and the prospects for a new peace conference. Scholz emphasized that this is a crucial moment to explore ways to resolve the war situation and achieve peace more swiftly.

Zelensky, who met Scholz in Frankfurt last week following his participation in the Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting at Ramstein Air Base, expressed gratitude for Germany's ongoing political and military support for Ukraine. The two leaders also discussed plans for a second peace conference, scheduled for November.

The initial peace conference, held in Switzerland in June, did not include Russia, although it was attended by representatives from over 90 countries. The joint communique was supported by 80 of those nations. On the eve of the summit, Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed his own peace initiative, urging Ukraine to acknowledge Russia's territorial claims.

Scholz has reiterated the need for renewed efforts to achieve peace in Ukraine, noting the importance of involving Russia in future discussions. Zelensky has indicated that a plan for the November summit will be ready, with hopes that Russian representatives will participate. Scholz’s push for a new peace conference comes amid domestic political pressure, following significant losses for his center-left coalition parties in recent provincial elections, where parties advocating closer ties with Russia gained more support.