The head of government before his televised speech on Thursday.
(Photo: dpa)
Berlin On the day of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Chancellor Olaf Scholz addressed the citizens in a televised speech. And the Chancellor does not skimp on historical comparisons: February 24, 2022 is likely to go down in history as a turning point. The attack by Russian President Vladimir Putin draws a line under the European peace order after the Cold War.
In his speech, Scholz held the Russian President solely responsible for the attacks. “He and not the Russian people chose this war. He alone is responsible for this. This war is Putin’s war,” said Scholz, repeating his words that he had already said in a short press statement before the virtual G7 summit. The reason for the tough sanctions imposed by Europe and the USA against Russia is Putin and not the people, according to the embassy.
Shortly before the summit of the EU heads of state and government, Scholz made it clear once again that action would be taken “decidedly and with unity”. This should also be seen as a hidden indication that Europe must now pull together.
While the major European economies are still skeptical about Russia’s exclusion from the Swift international payment system, the Baltic states have called for this step in the discussion about new EU sanctions against Russia. But countries like Germany know that such a step would also affect Russia’s creditors in Europe.
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Scholz emphasizes NATO’s determination
Scholz emphasized NATO’s determination to defend the eastern alliance area in the event of a Russian attack. “Putin should not underestimate NATO’s determination to defend all of its members,” he said. This applies to the Baltic States as well as to Poland, Slovakia and Romania.
>>Read also: Schröder criticizes Putin – but opposes tough sanctions
Of the NATO countries, the three Baltic states, Poland and Norway border on Russia. NATO is already in the process of strengthening its armed forces in the eastern alliance area. The Bundeswehr is also involved. With Russia’s attack on Ukraine, there is now a war “like we haven’t seen in Europe for more than 75 years,” said Scholz. Putin wants to turn back time. However, the Chancellor emphasized: “There is no going back to the Cold War era, no going back before 1989.”
G7 urges Putin to stop war
The USA, Germany and five other leading democratic economic powers (G7) had previously called on Putin to stop the war immediately. “President Putin has brought war back to the European continent. He put himself on the wrong side of history,” said a statement by the heads of state and government of the group of seven after a video call led by Scholz. Germany currently chairs the group.
In the statement, the G7 called on the international community to condemn the Russian attack “in the strongest possible terms” and to stand “shoulder to shoulder” with Ukraine. She speaks of a “completely unjustified” attack. “It represents a serious violation of international law and a serious breach of the United Nations Charter.” The crisis is a serious threat to the international order with repercussions far beyond Europe. “There is no justification for forcibly altering internationally recognized borders.”
More: Ukraine admits: Lost control over parts of the south – Putin: Invasion is “necessary measure”