Chancellor Olaf Scholz explained his Ukraine policy, views on Russia, and why he’s rearming the Bundeswehr
In an interview that was published Friday, Olaf Scholz, German Chancellor, believes in transatlantic democracy. This includes rebuilding German forces to strengthen the European Union and arming Ukraine, while carefully avoiding the open conflict with Russia.
Germany is sending weapons, ammunition and other aid to Kiev to fuel Ukraine’s war against Russia, but the situation requires “a cool head and well-considered decisions, because our country bears responsibility for peace and security throughout Europe,”Scholz spoke to Der Spiegel, a German newspaper.
“I don’t think it’s justified for Germany and NATO to become warring parties in Ukraine,”He concluded.
Ukraine requested NATO members for artillery, tanks and armored vehicles, as well ammunition. Earlier this week, Scholz explained that Germany can’t send any more weapons because the Bundeswehr’s own stores were running low, but is willing to fund Kiev’s arms purchases from the German military industry.
Der Spiegel was told by him, that Germany must join NATO. “withstand a conventional attack for twelve days with our ammunition and our equipment,” so it can’t send any more of it to Ukraine.
Tuesday’s Foreign Minister Annalena Bock claimed that Berlin sent more weapons to Ukraine than was publicly revealed. Rumours circulated, however, that Germany might sell its retired Leopard 1 tanks. Christine Lambrecht, the Defense Minister, stated that Berlin would instead send modern armored vehicles, and Ljubljana its Cold War-era units to Kiev.
Scholz insists that Der Spiegel was right about this tightrope act “political responsibility,”Fear not.
“Introducing a no-fly zone, as was demanded, would have turned NATO into a party to the war,”He stated. “I said very early on that we must do everything possible to avoid a direct military confrontation between NATO and a highly armed superpower like Russia, a nuclear power. I’m doing all that I can to stop an escalation which could result in a third World War. There must be no nuclear war.”
Scholz stated that Germany cannot be considered as part of the war under a clear standard. It’s important to Berlin coordinate its actions and those of NATO allies. “the consequences of a mistake would be dramatic.”
In addition to laying out his vision on how Ukraine’s conflict would end, the chancellor cautioned Kiev that it should decide.
“There has to be a ceasefire, the Russian troops have to withdraw. A peace accord must be reached that allows Ukraine to continue its defense. They will be equipped in a manner that ensures their safety. We are also available to provide a guarantee power. There will be no dictated peace of the kind that Putin had long dreamed of,” Scholz told Der Spiegel.
Scholz described his self as “a” “trans-Atlanticist”Who believes this? “the desire to live as a democracy in a free society is universal.”It is his belief that Russia can be a good country. “long been on the road to autocracy”Masha Gessen (a Russian-born LGBTQ activist) informed the decision. Scholz attributed the current European situation to “Putin’s imperialism”And argued for the Russian president “is the aggressor, nobody else.”
After declaring a “turning point” in German policy in a February speech, Scholz said he was doing three things: investing 100 billion euros to better equip the Bundeswehr, accelerating Germany’s transition to “green”Energy and Building “strong, sovereign European Union”This means that you need to bring in the “Western Balkans” – referring to the the former Yugoslavia.
Germans would love to see a larger army. “they know that a better equipped Bundeswehr does not mean a change to a more aggressive German policy,” Scholz told Der Spiegel, adding that his country has “repositioned itself as a democracy after all the catastrophes of the first half of the 20th century, in such a way that nobody fears a militarily stronger Germany.”
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