Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) emphasized the further close cooperation with France in the European Union.

The Franco-German friendship is more important than ever as a driving force, he said during President Emmanuel Macron's inaugural visit after his re-election in Berlin on Monday evening.

Scholz said it was important that France made a clear decision in favor of Europe in the presidential election.

Macron came to Berlin for the first foreign visit of his second term.

Scholz explained that it was about "new impetus" for Europe.

Russia's "appalling war of aggression" in Ukraine is forging the European partners together;

it is also important to act together.

The Chancellor emphasized: "Ukraine is part of the European family." He referred to the applications submitted by the government in Kyiv.

Scholz also highlighted the EU accession processes of the western Balkan states.

Blockades would have to be overcome here.

According to Macron, they also want to support Ukraine in peace negotiations, the terms of which they decide for themselves.

"Because our positioning is on the side of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, nothing more, nothing less," said the re-elected president.

"This post-ceasefire negotiation is the only one that will allow peace to be restored."

Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) stated that it was “important that de-escalation is now pushed further, at least as far as rhetoric is concerned”.

It is important that, after so many weeks of war, decisive steps are taken to end the conflict.

However, it is inconceivable that Ukraine would accept a "dictated peace" that would impose conditions that it could not accept for its sovereignty and integrity as a nation.