Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) has warned of a war between the two countries in view of the growing tensions between Russia and Ukraine.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) has warned of a war between the two countries in view of the growing tensions between Russia and Ukraine. “War is threatening again in Europe. And the risk is anything but averted,” Scholz said in his speech at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday. The only way to break the “crisis dynamic” is to negotiate.
“As much diplomacy as possible without being naive – that’s the claim,” Scholz continued. However, he “does not have any illusions. Quick successes are not to be expected.” All the capabilities and capacities for Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine are in place, he added, referring to the massive Russian troop deployment on the Ukrainian border. “That remains a fact that cannot be ignored,” Scholz warned of the possibility of an invasion.
Olaf Scholz wants to leave the door open for negotiations
However, “no matter how small the door would have to be used, through which the scope for negotiations could possibly be opened up,” emphasized Scholz. It’s about “translating our differences into a conversation and hoping that we’ll succeed”.
At his meeting in Moscow this week, he made it clear to Putin that “any further violation of Ukraine’s territorial integrity will have high costs for Russia – politically, economically and geostrategically”. Germany will also demand the costs.
Scholz stressed that nothing justified the deployment of tens of thousands of Russian soldiers around Ukraine. “Russia has made the question of Ukraine’s possible NATO membership a casus belli. That’s paradoxical: because there’s no decision pending.” However, the fact of the free election of the alliance is “not up for discussion”. Scholz had already made similar statements during his visit to Kiev and Moscow.
A massive Russian troop deployment, which according to Western figures is now around 150,000 soldiers, has been stoking fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine for weeks. Moscow denies any plans of attack and says it feels threatened by NATO.
Source: Stern
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