After years of tension in Europe, the new German chancellor, Wolfgang Schaeuble, has reaffirmed his belief that Berlin cannot do enough to reduce tensions with Russia and Ukraine.

The international community have been concerned for a while that Russia has plans to invade Ukraine. Russia already holds a total of 100,000 troops along the border. Russia claims it does not have such plans, however has asked that NATO do not allow Ukraine’s accession to its military alliance.

“After years and rising tensions,” German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stated during a videoconference speech. The Davos Agenda virtual eventOn Wednesday, he added that “borders in Europe must not be moved with force”.

For many years tensions between Russia and Ukraine have been intense. Relations reached a low point in recent years after Russia annexed Crimea in Ukraine and supported a proRussian rebellion in the eastern part of the country.

Scholz, reflecting on the intensive negotiations between U.S. and European officials with Russia in recent weeks, said that “it’s still too early for them to say whether they will help deescalate Russia’s situation by concentrating 100,000 troops at its border with Ukraine.”

Scholz stated that Germany’s position in negotiations was to emphasise “our commitment Ukraine’s territorial integrity” and “about a key principle, our common European Peace Order, that borders should not be moved using force. This right does not make might.

Russian forces are aware of the Russian side’s determination, he stated. He added that they hope to realize that cooperation has more benefits than further confrontation.

France has been trying to broker peace deals between Russia, Ukraine and Germany for many years. But the Minsk agreements (or the Peace pacts) have not been well-respected with Russia accusing Ukraine of violating them.

With the recent completion of a giant gas pipeline (Nord Stream 2) between Russia and Germany, however, Berlin has been accused of being compromised by the project, which it has not yet authorized to be used, and of undermining Europe’s negotiating position vis-à-vis Russia as a result.

On Tuesday, Germany’s Foreign Affairs Minister Annalena Bock visited Moscow. She stated that “no reason” exists for Russia to build up its military close to Ukraine. It is also “hard” to not see it as a threat.

Ukrainian officials are unhappy about Germany’s refusal to send defense weapons to Kyiv. like the British have done in the last week.

For many observers, Ukraine-Russia tensions remain unclear.

— Don’t miss Geoff Cutmore’s discussion with ECB President Christine Lagarde, Brazilian Economy Minister Paulo Guedes, IMF MD Kristalina Georgieva and India’s Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati at 7.30 a.m. ET Friday. At the Davos Agenda, they’ll discuss the “Global Economic Outlook”. Live streaming is available here.

— CNBC’s Silvia Amaro contributed reporting to this story.