Sanctions won’t be lifted until Russia signs peace deal, says German chancellor – News

German Chancellor Olaf Schulz said that sanctions imposed on Russia as a result of its invasion of Ukraine will not be lifted until Moscow reaches a peace agreement with Kyiv. According to him, it is up to Ukraine to decide what peace it wants.

In an interview with public television channel ZDF, Schulz said Putin miscalculated when he thought he could win territory from Ukraine, announce an end to hostilities and see Western countries drop sanctions.

“He didn’t think the whole Ukraine operation was right,” Schultz said. “He did not think that Ukraine would resist in this way. He did not think that we would support them for the resistance for so long. We will not lift the sanctions until he reaches an agreement with Ukraine, and he will not do it. It is an imposed peace.”

Schulz added that he had no plans to visit Kyiv after the cancellation of a trip planned by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier due to the objections of the Ukrainian government.

The European Union is preparing a sixth set of sanctions against Russia in response to the invasion of Ukraine, which began just over two months ago. The economic bloc tends to ban the import of Russian oil until the end of the year.