“Our goal is for the fighting to end immediately, for Russia to end the war and withdraw its soldiers from Ukraine,” said the Chancellor.
(Photo: Reuters)
Berlin Chancellor Olaf Scholz does not want to travel to the capital Kyiv for the time being because the Ukrainian side has uninvited President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. It was “a very remarkable process” to uninvite the Federal President, who had just been re-elected with a large majority, said the SPD politician on Monday in the ZDF program “What Now?”. With a view to his own trip, Scholz made it clear: “That stands in the way of things.”
When asked how this could be resolved, the Chancellor said: “First of all, for us as democrats, it must be part of the process that we have no doubts about this matter: you can’t do that.”
Scholz added: “It cannot work that from a country that provides so much military aid, you provide so much financial aid that is needed when it comes to the security guarantees that are important for Ukraine’s time in the future are that you then say: But the President is not allowed to come.”
Steinmeier’s planned visit fell through in mid-April because the Ukrainian side uninvited him. He wanted to go to Kyiv with the heads of state of Poland, Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania, who eventually left without him. Steinmeier has been criticized for his previous Russia policy as foreign minister in Ukraine. In the meantime, he has admitted errors in the assessment of Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin and in his assessment of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, for example.
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Regarding the planned trip to Kyiv by CDU leader Friedrich Merz, Scholz said that he had informed him of his plans. “I have no objections.” He approved of the trip.
The Chancellor rejected the accusation of hesitation in supporting Ukraine. “I always decided quickly, along with everyone else, coordinated with the allies. But my course is that we act prudently and with a clear mind. ”The government does not make decisions in the style of a PR department – “still something on it or never anything”.
Scholz emphasized that the financial and military aid provided by Germany and other countries had helped “that the Ukrainian army, which is really acting very successfully, can now hold out for so long against such an overpowering opponent”. The Ukrainian army will continue to be supported.
Scholz: “Ukraine must not lose”
The aim of the war is that Ukraine can live in peace and freedom. “Our goal is for the fighting to end immediately, for Russia to end the war and withdraw its soldiers from Ukraine,” said Scholz. “Russia must not win, and Ukraine must not lose.” A dictated peace prescribed by Russian President Vladimir Putin should not exist. Russia must withdraw from the territory of Ukraine, said Scholz. The annexation of the Crimean peninsula in 2014 also remains a breach of international law.
Scholz again called on his predecessor Gerhard Schröder (SPD) to resign from his posts at Russian state companies. It was “completely unacceptable, impossible at the latest since the beginning of the war” that the former Federal Chancellor should continue to perform these tasks,” said Scholz. However, a chancellor cannot “give orders” to his predecessor, he added.
More on the Ukraine war:
Schröder has been heavily criticized for not giving up his posts at Russian energy companies despite the Russian attack on Ukraine. He joined the pipeline company Nord Stream shortly after leaving government office in 2005.
He is still the chairman of the shareholders’ committee there. He is also the head of the supervisory board at the Russian state energy giant Rosneft and is still registered in the responsible commercial register as the chairman of the board of directors of Nord Stream 2 AG. He has been nominated for the supervisory board of the Russian gas giant Gazprom.
More: You can follow all current developments in our news blog.