Ukraine: Scholz warns war could last a ′really long time′ — live updates | News | DW
- Russia can wage war for a “really long time,” says German Chancellor Olaf Scholz
- The UK will host a conference next year focused on helping Ukraine recover
The article was last updated 00:20 UTC/GMT
Scholz: Russia can wage war for a ‘really long time’
Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Russia’s decision to invade Ukraine was made “one year before it started or possibly earlier,” adding that he believes Moscow will be “able to continue with the war for a really long time.”
During an interview with CBS News’ “Face the Nation,” Scholz also defended Berlin’s delays in delivering weapons to Ukraine.
He said the wait was due to the need to train Ukrainian soldiers in Germany.
“We will always see that Germany is one of the countries that is doing the most, because what we are sending now is the most sophisticated technology you can use,” Scholz said.
He also admitted that it had been a mistake by European countries to become so dependent on Russian energy.
“We should have invested all over Europe in infrastructure that gives us the ability to change the supply, from one day to the other,” he said. “This is the lesson that has been learned… be prepared for a situation like this.”
UK to host Ukraine recovery conference
The UK will host a conference next year focused on helping Ukraine recover from the damage caused by the Russian invasion, the Foreign Office said.
This year’s Ukraine Recovery Conference is taking place in Switzerland from Monday.
The meeting brings together representatives from Ukraine and other nations as well as international organizations and civil society groups.
“We have led on support for Ukraine during the war and will continue to lead in supporting the Ukrainian Government’s Reconstruction and Development Plan,” Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said in a statement.
The Foreign Office said Britain had been asked by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to champion the recovery of Kyiv and the surrounding region.
Russia has claimed gains in its military offensive in eastern Ukraine
Recap of Sunday’s events
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that his forces have withdrawn from Lysychansk, the last holdout city in the eastern Luhansk region.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Berlin was discussing with allies what security guarantees can be given to Kyiv when the war is over.
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier spoke out against urging Ukraine to negotiate an end to the war. Moscow has accused Western nations of preventing peace negotiations, thus dragging out the conflict.
During talks with Zelenskyy in Kyiv, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese pledged further military support, including armored vehicles and drones.
Turkish customs authorities detained a Russian cargo ship carrying grain that Ukraine says is stolen.
Several people died when Russian troops shelled Slovyansk in the eastern Donetsk region, which the Ukrainian military described as the “biggest” bombardment in recent times.
Click here for all updates from Sunday.
mm/jsi (AFP, AP, dpa, Reuters)