“heute-journal” interview
Olaf Scholz: “I will shortly be speaking in Moscow about the questions that are necessary”
Olaf Scholz in the “heute-journal” interview
© Screenshot/ZDF/stern
Ukraine, Corona, Olympia: Olaf Scholz spoke on ZDF about the most urgent tasks at the moment. The Chancellor announced that he would soon be traveling to Moscow to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Against the background of the Ukraine crisis, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) has announced that he will soon meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. He “will shortly continue to talk in Moscow about the questions that are necessary there,” Scholz said on ZDF’s “heute journal”. The exact date will be announced later.
“Endangering the integrity of Ukraine has a high price”
When asked about a possible war in Europe, the Chancellor replied: “The situation is very serious, and one cannot overlook the fact that a large number of soldiers and troops have deployed on the Ukrainian border.” All of this could be “the prerequisite for such a military action,” said Scholz.
It is therefore important “that we are very clear in what we say and in what we are preparing, namely that there would be a very high price to endanger the territorial sovereignty and integrity of Ukraine, to attack there militarily,” he said Scholz further.
The Chancellor also commented on the allegations of Germany’s lack of engagement in the Ukraine conflict. “Our allies know exactly what they have in us,” he explained. “We are the ones who make a very high military contribution within the framework of our defense alliance, NATO.”
Germany is also the country “that has provided the greatest help to Ukraine in recent years.” Almost two billion euros have been mobilized to stabilize Ukraine’s economic independence.
Scholz does not ask Schröder for advice
Because of the Russian troop deployment on the border with Ukraine, the West fears that Russia is preparing to invade the neighboring country. The USA, Germany and other Western countries have threatened Moscow with severe sanctions if this happens.
However, it is unclear how far the federal government is willing to go. In the SPD in particular, the question of the extent of possible sanctions is controversial. This includes the Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline.
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Scholz also took a position on the statements made by former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder: “If I understand the constitutional order of the Federal Republic of Germany correctly, there is only one Chancellor, and that’s me,” he said. Schröder had criticized Ukraine’s demands for arms deliveries as “saber rattling”. The current chancellor said: “I didn’t ask him for advice, he didn’t give me any either.”
On the ongoing issue of Corona, Chancellor Scholz said that he did not yet see any conditions for easing. “The situation is not like that.” When asked whether the government in Denmark had more courage with the recent waiver of practically all restrictions, Scholz said: “I think we are doing what is right for the citizens of this country: namely to ensure that we protect as many lives and as much health as possible through these measures, which we have initiated, in agreement with the federal states, with resolutions in the German Bundestag as the basis for them and also supported by a very large consensus in Germany.”
Scholz will not attend the Winter Olympics in Beijing. “I have no travel plans,” said the SPD politician. “That’s why you can’t assume that I’ll suddenly show up and say: Hello, here I am.” Among those expected to attend the opening ceremony on Friday will be Russian President Vladimir Putin and the heads of state of Poland, Serbia, Egypt, Argentina, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan.