German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said in an interview to the magazine "Stern" that " ;no one should have exaggerated expectations" about the peace conference for Ukraine, which should be held in Switzerland in June, DPA reported, quoted by BTA.
"We are not going to negotiate there to end the war," Scholz said.
"At best, this is the beginning of a process that could lead to direct talks between Ukraine and Russia. In Switzerland, they will be on the safety of nuclear power plants, the export of grain, the question of the exchange of prisoners of war and the necessary taboo on the use of nuclear weapons. Once again, I repeat that all this is still in the initial stages," the German chancellor said.
Following his calls for more arms supplies, Scholz also expressed disappointment with the commitment of European countries to the war in Ukraine. He noted that this is "frankly speaking still not enough".
"Ukraine urgently needs more air defense systems. Putin obviously wants to destroy Ukraine's infrastructure," the German chancellor said.
Scholz also expressed his expectations from possible further attempts by Russia to exert influence in Germany.
"The Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs has just temporarily recalled the German ambassador from Moscow - as a clear signal to Russia," he said.
"But we should not be fooled. In the run-up to upcoming European elections this year and German parliamentary elections next year, Russia's attempts to exert influence will increase. The authorities must be very vigilant," Scholz added.
Germany's ambassador to Russia was recalled earlier this month in response to a Russian cyber attack on the ruling centre-left German Social Democratic Party (GSDP) last year.