The German Chancellor shared a daily reflection on the war in Ukraine with the Rheinische Post. According to Olaf Scholz, one should not expect the Russian aggression in Ukraine to come to an end soon:
We must be prepared for it to take a long time. Even when the war is over, we won’t be back to normal right away. But neither should we give in to our efforts to end the war
said Scholz.
He also stressed that “the precondition for a just peace is that Russia begins to withdraw its troops” and that the principles of order, peace and security begin to function again.
Boundaries are not pushed by force
he emphasized firmly. According to him, everyone should prepare for the long-term consequences of war:
We must realize that this terrible war of aggression and its consequences will affect us for a long time and that we will have to clear the rubble for a long time.
said the chancellor.
He still said “Takes a tough stance against aggressor Putin”.
This is an imperialist attack
We want to make Ukraine safe again. Putin does not want that, he wants the territories to be annexed. And that’s what I mean when I say Ukraine can’t lose
stated Scholz.
Do these opinions matter? Do they really represent a change in German policy? One could have illusions if there was no new statement from the chancellor.
Shocking statement. Scholz admitted that he still did talk to Putin regularly.
These are long conversations, sometimes an hour, sometimes an hour and a half. Sometimes in German, sometimes with translation
the chancellor explained, adding that “Putin is a polite person during these conversations” even as “glaring disagreements remain”.
READ: What does it count on? Scholz: “I talk to Putin regularly”; “she’s a nice person”; “We want to make Ukraine safe again”
Behind us are nearly 400 days of war and countless crimes, a sea of cruelty and cynicism. Behind us are the murders of civilians, the slaughter of our own soldiers, the kidnapping of Ukrainian children. Behind us is an attempt to starve an entire nation with attacks on infrastructure. The debate about the causes of this war is behind us, with a clear conclusion: Berlin is also to blamebecause it was he who fattened Putin and gave him a sense of impunity. Behind us also lie the German statements announcing a change of course and a break with the policies of Schroeder and Merkel.
After all that, Scholz picks up the phone – not once, not twice – and calls the Kremlin. And he talks for an hour, and sometimes an hour and a half. And he is happy that “Putin is a polite person during these conversations”!
Nothing has changed. What Berlin is doing and saying is a smoke screen, adapting old politics and the old dream of a Great Deal with Russia to new circumstances. Calls to Putin today are such a clear message that they speak for themselves.
Let’s remember: until a spectacular, profound change actually takes place in Germany, the Russo-German ticks are and will remain a constant threat to our state and the entire regionand our security will be a tradable commodity to our western neighbor. We cannot forget it for a moment.
Today it is even more apparent how much is needed the great armament program initiated and disseminated by the Polish government. We must be able to guarantee our own safety without looking at anyone. Today we also see that further European integration – giving more powers, including in foreign policy, to Brussels, ie de facto Berlin – will threaten not only our sovereignty, but also our security. Because Germany will not consider our interests, even the most basic ones.
And one more request: the stakes of the autumn elections cannot be overestimated. Without an independent government in Warsaw, the Kremlin and Berlin will rebuild what seems dead today.
READ: What is Berlin playing? OSW analyst: Germany is guided by the fact that Russia should not lose the war completely, because that would be too great a risk
Source: wPolityce