opinion
A disgruntled Olaf Scholz revealed when he would travel to Kyiv – and when not. This puts the Chancellor in a dilemma. A comment.
Olaf Scholz has admitted that the Ukrainian government’s uninviting of Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier stands in the way of a visit to Kyiv. This was “a remarkable event”, said the Federal Chancellor in the . “You can’t do that.”
The Chancellor’s unequivocal statement was followed by a hearty reaction from Ukraine. Her ambassador in Berlin, Andrj Melnyk, then called Scholz an “offended liverwurst”. His provisional no doesn’t sound “very statesmanlike”; it’s about the “most brutal war of annihilation since the Nazi attack on Ukraine, it’s not a kindergarten.”
The message that the chancellor wanted to send is clear: he will not allow himself to be put under pressure – neither by the Ukrainian government nor by the opposition, who have again called on him to travel to Kyiv. The CDU party leader and Union faction leader Friedrich Merz.
But with his clear announcement, the chancellor has struck a peg that puts him in a dilemma.
Olaf Scholz, paralyzed or under pressure
Scholz has revealed when he would travel to Ukraine – and when not. He practically leaves the decision about which case to take to Ukraine.
That can put Scholz under pressure, on the one hand: If Ukraine does receive the Federal President after all, Scholz must follow – his argument as to why he is temporarily refusing a trip would be over. If he were to continue to be upset and still refuse a trip, he would actually come across as an “offended liverwurst”.
Scholz can also paralyze that, on the other hand: If Ukraine continues to refuse a visit from Steinmeier, Scholz will have to wait – because he cannot back down his statement. At least not without giving up his attitude and principles.
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The latter scenario in particular poses a problem for Scholz if you think about it from the end: while numerous politicians, possibly heads of state and government, travel to Kyiv, the offended Chancellor remains stoically in Berlin.
Of course, Scholz could still make the journey. Ambassador Melnyk stressed that the President of Ukraine would be happy to receive the Chancellor. But then Scholz would not be able to avoid admitting that President Steinmeier’s uninviting had stood in the way of the matter – but not that much.
That no longer seems resolute, based on a clear stance or loyalty to principles, but like an about-face that arose out of public pressure. Ironically, from the chancellor, who emphasizes again, as in the ZDF program: He does not give in to anyone who “calls out loud”.
Source: Stern
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