Scholz: Sanctions won't be lifted until Russia signs peace deal with Ukraine

The sanctions imposed on Russia will not be lifted until Moscow reaches a peace agreement with Ukraine, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said, adding that it was for Ukraine to determine the peace terms.

Report informs, citing foreign media, that in an interview broadcast Monday (May 2) on ZDF public television, Scholz said Russian President Vladimir Putin had miscalculated if he had anticipated he might be able to see Western countries drop sanctions.

"He didn’t think Ukraine would resist like that. He didn’t think we would support them to hold out for so long. ...We won’t withdraw the sanctions unless he reaches an agreement with Ukraine," Scholz said.