German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron have pledged their continued military support for Ukraine.
"We both agree that Ukraine can count on us, Ukraine can count on Europe, and we will not leave it alone," Scholz said after talks with Macron in Berlin on March 18.
The German chancellor was commenting on the results of a phone call between Russian and US Presidents Vladimir Putin and Joe Biden. According to Scholz, the cessation of attacks on energy infrastructure, which was announced at the end of those talks, could be an "important first step," but the ultimate goal should be a complete ceasefire.
Macron also stressed the need for a monitorable ceasefire and added that security guarantees for Ukraine and Kyiv's participation in peace talks were also needed. Scholz, in turn, defended this point of view, calling for no decisions to be made "behind Ukraine's back."
