Dusseldorf, Berlin There was no sign of the cautious signs of relaxation that Olaf Scholz had brought back from Moscow at the beginning of the week: “A new war is looming in Europe. The risk is anything but averted,” said the Federal Chancellor at the Munich Security Conference (MSC). There can only be peace in Europe if all countries accept the existing borders, said Scholz to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
All diplomatic doors for a peaceful solution would be kept open, the Chancellor promised. “We want as much diplomacy as possible,” he said, pinning his hopes on the Minsk Agreement, which envisages peaceful coexistence between Russia and Ukraine with the help of autonomy rights for the breakaway provinces in eastern Ukraine’s Donbass.
“Quick successes are not to be expected,” emphasized Scholz. He reaffirmed Ukraine’s non-negotiable right to freely choose alliances, but also made it clear that this issue would not be on the agenda in the foreseeable future. The Chancellor assured the Eastern European NATO members that Germany fully stands by its obligation to form an alliance in accordance with Article 5 of the NATO treaty.
It was the SPD politician’s first speech as Federal Chancellor at the security conference and he took the opportunity to present his ideas for a new security architecture in Europe. Security today means more than military security. The risks of climate change, pandemics and cyber attacks must also be given greater consideration. Germany must make its contribution to solving these problems. But that shouldn’t lead to a “global NATO,” said Scholz
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Stoltenberg and von der Leyen warn Putin
US Vice President Kamala Harris, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also addressed urgent words to President Putin’s Russian government. “Moscow is trying to turn back history and expand its sphere of influence,” Stoltenberg said. He was “extremely concerned”.
Russia’s demands are deliberately unfulfillable, he warns.
(Photo: dpa)
What is dangerous is the combination of the largest deployment of troops since the Second World War with Moscow’s unfulfillable demands on NATO. The Russian government is demanding, among other things, an end to NATO’s eastward expansion and a NATO troop withdrawal from Eastern Europe. Stoltenberg declared these demands untenable.
On Friday evening, US President Joe Biden warned of an invasion in the coming week, which he also sees as a threat to the Ukrainian capital Kiev. He is convinced that Putin made the decision to invade. “We believe they will attack the Ukrainian capital of Kiev, a city of 2.8 million innocent residents.” The US intelligence services had originally expected an invasion for last Wednesday.
US Vice President Harris warned: “The foundation of European security is under direct threat in Ukraine.” She assured that the US stands firmly on the side of all NATO allies. In the event of a Russian invasion, the Western allies would not only impose tough sanctions, but also immensely strengthen NATO’s eastern flank in Europe. Moscow’s actions go against assurances that it remains open to diplomacy, Harris said. “There is a script of Russian aggression – and we all know it.” Harris stressed that US soldiers would not fight in Ukraine. The Foreign Office called on Germans on Saturday to leave Ukraine immediately.
According to NATO, there are now more than 160,000 soldiers around Ukraine. In addition, there are always new battles in the areas occupied by pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine. According to a government spokesman, Russia tested nuclear-capable ballistic missiles and cruise missiles on Saturday. Putin started the exercise in the presence of the Belarusian ruler Alexander Lukashenko from the Kremlin.
Stoltenberg emphasized on Saturday that there were still no signs of retreat or de-escalation. “On the contrary,” warned the NATO Secretary General.
EU prepares for energy and refugee problems
EU Commission chief von der Leyen said that the EU states are preparing for possible consequences such as refugee flows and energy problems in the course of an escalating conflict with Russia. The gas supply in Europe is secured this winter, even if Russia no longer supplies gas. Japan and South Korea had also promised help in the case. The Russian state-owned company Gazprom has been intentionally supplying as little gas as possible for months. Europe must diversify its energy suppliers and sources more in the future.
“A Russian invasion would completely change the international order”
(Photo: Getty Images)
In the current crisis, more than Ukraine’s future is at stake. “A Russian invasion would completely change the international order,” von der Leyen said. “We cannot allow that.” The President of the Commission again threatened extensive sanctions such as export bans to Russia. Putin is jeopardizing “a prosperous future for Russia”.
The US and NATO fear that Russia will use targeted provocations or false information to create pretexts to justify a military attack. Stoltenberg said NATO’s best response was to disclose Russia’s plans to create such a pretext. The hope is that this will make it more difficult for Moscow to push through its plans.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced tough sanctions against Russia in the event of a Russian invasion of Ukraine, including in the London financial center. Action will be taken against “dirty money”, said the Briton, with a view to the enormous investments made by Russian oligarchs in the British capital. Many critics accuse the government of having turned a blind eye so far. At the same time, during his appearance in Munich, Johnson urged Europe to learn the lessons from Moscow’s aggressive power politics and reduce its dependence on oil and gas supplies from Russia.
According to the British prime minister, a Russian invasion of Ukraine would also “resonate with an echo in Taiwan”. He was alluding to China’s threats to bring the renegade province back to the Middle Kingdom, if necessary using military force. Asian allies had assured him that the economic and political aftershocks would also be felt in Asia. The impression could arise that aggression could be worthwhile.
Donetsk separatist leaders launch military mobilization
Meanwhile, the situation in eastern Ukraine, occupied by pro-Russian separatists, is deteriorating. Heavy fighting broke out again there. The separatist leaders have called for the evacuation of women, children and the elderly to Russia.
The head of the unrecognized pro-Russian government in the Donetsk region, Denis Puschilin, published a statement on Saturday announcing the military mobilization and urging reservists to report to the drafting offices. The number of violations of the current ceasefire agreement in the occupied territories has increased dramatically.
Jens Stoltenberg warned: “If Russia wants less NATO on its borders, it will get more NATO. If it wants to split NATO, it will get a more united NATO.” He also emphasized the role of the USA in the “conflict created by the Kremlin”. There is no real security in Europe without a strong alliance with the US.
With a view to the growing claims to power not only by Russia but also by China, Chancellor Scholz emphasized: “No country should be the backyard of another country.” Europe must join forces if it wants to preserve its own sovereignty and “remain a power among powers “.
The negotiations on Iran’s nuclear disarmament, which are being promoted primarily by the EU, are an example of European power to shape the future. “Now the moment of truth has come,” said Scholz, “the Iranian leadership has a choice.” Renewed attempts by Tehran to push the nuclear program again are “unacceptable”.
More: The news blog with all current events in the Ukraine crisis