Germany's Olaf Scholz eyes stronger EU in first trip abroad as chancellor | DW News |

Normandy format back on the table

The newly sworn-in German chancellor first traveled to Paris for a working lunch with French President Emmanuel Macron.

First on the menu was how to deal with Russia, as tensions endure over Moscow's military presence near the border with Ukraine.

Scholz said: "It's very clear that Germany, the European Union and many other countries would react if border violations occurred."

But Scholz wanted to hold out an olive branch as he called for renewed diplomatic efforts, starting with fresh four-way talks with Russia.

"We have a good basis that needs to be revived -- for example the talks in the Normandy format," Scholz said in a joint news conference with Macron, referring to discussions between Germany, France, Russia and Ukraine aimed at solving the crisis.