As reported by espreso.tv

"A number of countries, including Ukraine, are now discussing at the level of security advisers what something that could lead to a peace process might look like," Scholz said.

According to him, such attempts were made immediately after the war began - russia and Ukraine were in direct talks with each other. Scholz emphasized that they failed then, as russia used them only as a pretext to simultaneously move its troops to the east for a major offensive.

"But let me make one thing clear: peace is possible at any time. putin just needs to call off his barbaric campaign and withdraw his troops," the chancellor added.

• Czech President Petr Pavel believes that it is impossible to imagine that Ukraine and russia will be able to agree on a cessation of hostilities at this point.