live blog
Status: 04/30/2022 01:52 a.m
Finance Minister Lindner demands consequences for the behavior of former Chancellor Schröder. Russia’s Foreign Minister Lavrov accuses NATO of giving the wrong impression that it is at war with Russia. The developments in the live blog.
1:50 a.m
Lindner: Delete tax funds for Schröder’s office
Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner has spoken out in favor of cutting state support for former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder because of his ongoing business connections with Russia. “We should draw conclusions. I can no longer imagine that the taxpayer would provide an office for him,” said the FDP politician to the newspapers of the Funke media group. “Former top officials who appear to be on the side of criminal governments cannot count on the support of this state.”
Former SPD Chancellor Schröder has also been criticized for his friendship with Russian President Vladimir Putin and for statements about the war in Ukraine. His Berlin employees have already resigned. Lindner also called for a general reorganization of the provision of offices and employees to former chancellors and federal presidents. “So it would be advisable to standardize the endowments of former holders of top positions and to reduce them over time. In this context, one would also have to talk about a kind of code of honor in terms of behavior.”
12:37 a.m
Altmaier had concerns about the Nord Stream 2 Foundation
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania decided in 2021 to secure the construction of the Nord Stream 2 Baltic Sea gas pipeline with the now controversial foundation, although the then Federal Minister of Economics Peter Altmaier said he had concerns. Before the decision was made, Altmaier (CDU) had been consulted by his then state colleague Harry Glawe (CDU) and the then Schwerin Energy Minister and now Minister of the Interior Christian Schwachen (SPD) – with the result that “the project raised concerns for me at the time”, as Altmaier told the German Press Agency.
Altmaier’s account is consistent with Glawes, who reported to “Welt am Sonntag” that he was commissioned by the cabinet under Prime Minister Manuela Schwesig (SPD) to speak to Altmaier. He called Altmaier two days before the state parliament decision. He had given him to understand that he was not happy about the plan with the foundation. “I then informed the State Chancellery that enthusiasm in Berlin was limited,” said Glawe.
Schwesig had explained that the federal government at the time was informed about the establishment of the foundation. The foundation was largely financed by funds from the Nord Stream company and, in addition to promoting the climate, was intended to ensure that the gas pipeline from Russia could be completed despite US sanctions against the companies involved. Because of the tricky construct, Schwesig is now heavily criticized after the Russian attack on Ukraine.
12:19 a.m
Zelenskyy: Russia wants to completely destroy Donbass
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused Russia of wanting to destroy the Donbass and all the people living there. The constant brutal bombing, attacks on infrastructure and residential areas showed that Russia wants to completely evacuate the area, the president said in his late night video message to the nation. “Therefore, the defense of our country, the defense of our people, is literally a struggle for life,” Zelenskyy said.
The cities and towns of Donbass can only survive if Ukraine stands firm. “If the Russian invaders can even partially realize their plans, then they will have enough artillery and aircraft to turn the entire Donbass to stones. Just like they did with Mariupol.” The port city is just a Russian concentration camp surrounded by ruins.
The President described the situation in Kharkiv in northern Ukraine as brutal. However, Ukrainian troops and secret service agents have had important tactical successes there, Zelensky said, without giving any details.
12:17 a.m
Lavrov attacks NATO
Russia’s Foreign Minister Lavrov has accused NATO of believing – unlike the Kremlin – that it is at war with Russia. In addition, the portrayal that Russia is threatening the West with the use of nuclear weapons is wrong, Lavrov said in an interview with the Arabic-language broadcaster Al-Arabiya, quoted by the Russian news agencies RIA and TASS.
“We’re not ‘playing’ with a nuclear war,” Lavrov said. Lavrov had previously warned of the real danger of a Third World War. At the end of February, Russia had put deterrent weapons on alert, which was understood worldwide as a threat to the nuclear arsenal.