Ukraine war
Council of Europe summit in Reykjavik – Zelenskyj present via video
Chancellor Olaf Scholz does not want to break bridges to the “other Russia”. photo
© Kay Nietfeld/dpa
For only the fourth time in the history of the Council of Europe, more than 30 heads of state and government are meeting at the summit. There is almost only one topic: the country that no longer sits at the table.
The summit meeting of the 46 states of the Council of Europe began with declarations of solidarity for the Ukraine attacked by Russia. At the opening of the summit on Tuesday evening in Reykjavik, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) spoke out in favor of not letting the bridges to the “other Russia” beyond the government of President Vladimir Putin be torn down.
At some point, Russia’s war against Ukraine will end, Scholz said at the start of the summit meeting, to which more than 30 heads of state and government from the 46 member countries were expected. “And one thing is certain: it will not end with a victory for Putin’s imperialism.” Because they will support Ukraine until a just peace is reached.
“Until then, as the Council of Europe, we should maintain bridges to the representatives of another Russia, another Belarus – and thus keep the prospect of a democratic, peaceful future for both countries open – no matter how unlikely it may seem to us today,” said Scholz.
At the same time, he called for consistent punishment of Russian war crimes in Ukraine and systematic recording of the war damage caused by Russia. The Council of Europe could play an important role in this.
Russia was excluded
The Council of Europe was founded in 1949 as the guardian of democracy, human rights and the rule of law in Europe and is independent of the EU. Russia was excluded after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and Belarus is only represented at the summit as an observer. It is only the fourth summit meeting of the Council of Europe in its more than 70-year history.
A register for recording war damage in Ukraine is to be launched at the summit on Wednesday. Scholz assured Ukraine that he wanted to help advance accession to the European Union. But that also applies to the states of the Western Balkans, Moldova and, in the future, Georgia. The Council of Europe, to which Ukraine belongs, could also be helpful here. The institution is probably more important today than ever before, he said with a view to the turning point in the wake of the Ukraine war.
power of the free world
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked his supporters via video link on Tuesday evening and emphasized European cohesion. “Russia is trying very hard to improve its ability to kill. We are trying very hard to improve the protection of our people. And I thank all the countries and leaders who are helping us to improve our overall air defenses. We are showing what our 100 percent mean and what the power of the free world means,” Zelenskyj said.
“We are Europeans, so we value peace, we are Europeans, so we do everything we can to protect our way of life,” Zelensky said.