German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron pledged to continue military support for Ukraine, after Russian President Vladimir Putin called for a ‘complete cessation’ to Western aid to Kyiv.’We both agree that Ukraine can count on us, and that we will not let it down’, said Scholz during a joint press conference with Macron in Berlin.Scholz added that a 30-day halt to attacks against Ukrainian energy targets could be a first step toward a just and lasting peace for Ukraine, and that the next step must be a complete ceasefire as soon as possible.For his part, Macron stressed that the goal must be ‘a verifiable ceasefire,’ calling for a lasting peace with clear guarantees. ‘Obviously this is not conceivable without the Ukrainians being at the table’, he emphasized.Putin's remarks came after a phone call with his US counterpart Donald Trump on Tuesday. The two Presidents agreed to halt mutual attacks against energy infrastructure in both countries, but did not reach an agreement on a full ceasefire. According to a Kremlin statement, the basic condition for preventing the escalation of the conflict and resolving it politically and diplomatically is the complete cessation of Western military aid to Ukraine. (QNA)
