Scholz: Germany to use all diplomatic means to prevent war in Europe

Chancellor says will travel to Ukraine and Russia next week as part of diplomatic efforts to find peaceful solution

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Friday renewed his plea for diplomatic solution to crisis between Russia and Ukraine, and warned Moscow that any further aggression would incur severe costs.

Scholz made the remarks during his speech in Federal Council (Bundesrat), the legislative body representing country’s federated states.

“It’s our duty to prevent a new war in Europe. Our clear message to Russia is, any military aggression would have severe consequences,” he said, adding that Germany and its Western allies have a united position on possible sanctions.

“But at the same time, we will use all the opportunities to continue our (diplomatic) efforts, through bilateral talks between the US and Russia, NATO-Russia Council meetings, through the OSCE and the Normandy format talks, “ he added.

Scholz said he will travel to Ukraine and Russia next week, as part of diplomatic efforts to find a political solution to the crisis.