Would be a "grave mistake": "Coalition of the Willing" gives Kremlin a clear rejection

n-tv Would be a "grave mistake": "Coalition of the Willing" gives Kremlin a clear rejection 2 hours • 3 minutes reading time US President Trump wants to mediate a rapid end to the war in Ukraine. As a precondition for peace talks, the Kremlin is demanding a relaxation of sanctions against Russia. However, leading European countries categorically reject this and hold out the prospect of the opposite. European supporters of Ukraine spoke out in favor of maintaining and tightening sanctions against Russia at a meeting in Paris. Lifting the sanctions would be "a grave mistake," said acting German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in the French capital. Europe and the US must jointly make it clear that "we can continue to use this opportunity to support Ukraine," he added. Scholz participated in the meeting of the "Coalition of the Willing" in support of Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Ukraine's allies agreed that the sanctions imposed on Moscow over Russia's war of aggression should not be lifted. "There was complete clarity that now is not the right time to lift sanctions," Starmer said. "Quite the opposite – we have discussed how we can tighten sanctions." Chancellor Scholz expressed skepticism about the talks with Russia and Ukraine initiated by the US. Russia had "kept adding insult to injury." This showed "that Russia is not currently interested in real peace." He called on Moscow to immediately stop attacks on infrastructure. "It makes no sense to end the sanctions as long as peace has not been achieved," Scholz said after the conclusion of the summit of the "Coalition of the Willing" in Paris. The US and Europe must, as usual, "take a clear stand together." At the same time, the Chancellor emphasized that the US must be on board with everything agreed upon in Europe. Representatives of around 30 countries, including Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD), are discussing continued support for Ukraine at a meeting of the "Coalition of the Willing" in the French capital Paris. Among the topics discussed will be possible security guarantees in the event of a ceasefire. This is the third meeting in this format, initiated by French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Zelensky: Moscow sets conditions for sanctions Previously, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on the US and other Western allies to remain strong against Russia. Washington's pro-Kremlin comments weakened US pressure on Russia, the Ukrainian president said in an interview with a group of European journalists in Paris. He has agreed to continue the ceasefire talks to ensure a resumption of US aid and intelligence sharing. However, Russia has made additional demands regarding the implementation of the Black Sea agreement, primarily aimed at reducing the sanctions pressure on Moscow, he said. "They are setting conditions for sanctions on the American side. If America is strong, we will stand on our own soil and defend ourselves," Zelensky said. Zelensky particularly criticized the special envoy appointed by US President Donald Trump, Steve Vitkoff. While Zelensky again thanked the US for its support in the Ukraine war, he said Washington had allowed itself to be influenced by Russian portrayals of the conflict. Vitkoff "often repeats Kremlin narratives," Zelensky said, referring to the US envoy's positive statements about Russian President Vladimir Putin's intentions and the justification of Russian policies. Vitkoff had said, among other things, that he did not consider Putin a "bad guy."