According to a report in the Italian newspaper La Repubblica, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz may include territorial concessions from Kiev in the peace plan he is preparing, with the aim of making it possible to end the war in Ukraine.

This peace plan, the newspaper adds, will foresee the direct participation of Russia in the negotiations.

“Soltz, in this way, wishes to go down in history as the chancellor of peace and, at the same time, ensure his stay in power,” the Rome newspaper underlines.

This is a substantial change of line, as until now Olaf Solz had always advocated substantial and uninterrupted support for Kiev.

Earlier, the German chancellor had called for new efforts for peace in Ukraine, adding that he and the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenksi they agreed during their recent conversation on the need for a new peace conference with the participation of Russia.

Olaf Solz is under pressure from within after the three parties in the governing coalition suffered heavy defeats in two regional elections last week. Conversely, parties seeking better relations with Russia made gains.

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) and the newly founded BSW party, which opposes continued support for Ukraine, recorded significant gains.

Zelensky said in July that he intends to have a plan ready by November for holding a second peace conference, stressing that representatives from Russia should also attend.