Crisis diplomacy in the Ukraine-Russia conflict continues: After visiting Kiev, Olaf Scholz travels to Moscow – where Kremlin boss Vladimir Putin is waiting.
- Ukraine crisis: Chancellor Olaf Scholz* (SPD*) travels to Kiev on Monday (02/14/2022).
- On Tuesday (February 15, 2022) Scholz will be welcomed by Vladimir Putin* in the Kremlin.
- Before the chancellor’s trip, there were increasing warnings of an attack by Russia* on Ukraine*.
+++ 4.42 p.m .: Olaf Scholz’s (SPD) inaugural visit to the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selenskyj has come to an end. At the subsequent press conference, the Chancellor again threatened Russia with severe sanctions, but at the same time underpinned the offer for dialogue. “In the event of a military escalation, we are ready for very far-reaching and effective sanctions in coordination with our allies,” said the SPD politician. “If Russia violates Ukraine’s territorial integrity again, we know what to do,” Scholz said.
The German head of government promised further financial support for Ukraine. “I can assure you that we will continue this support with the same determination,” said Olaf Scholz. The Chancellor announced the accelerated disbursement of 150 million euros from an existing loan and a new loan of 150 million euros.
After the visit to Kiev, the next big board of crisis diplomacy is now coming to Scholz. First of all, the Federal Chancellor is going back to Berlin, and on Tuesday (February 15, 2022) Scholz will set off for Russia to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin. There the chancellor would like to draw the Kremlin boss’s attention again to the consequences of a Russian attack on Ukraine, he announced.
Ukraine conflict: disagreement between Scholz and Selensky on the NATO issue
+++ 15:38: The withdrawal of embassy staff from Ukraine was a mistake, says Selensky. Selensky does not want to comment on the Federal Foreign Office’s request that Germans should leave the country. Scholz refers to the question of why Germany is not supplying any weapons, to the legislation that states that weapons are generally not to be supplied to crisis areas.
+++ 3.31 p.m .: Scholz emphasizes that the question of whether Ukraine will become a member of NATO is not currently pending. That is why the Russian aggression is “idiosyncratic”. The task of the hour is to de-escalate. Selenskyj, on the other hand, sees the NATO question differently than Scholz. His country wants to join the defense alliance. The fact that this is not a current issue is a narrative of foreign heads of government – he does not mention the name of Olaf Scholz.
Olaf Scholz did not give Selensky any specific answers as to what sanctions would be imposed on Russia in the event of an invasion. This is unfortunate. Scholz emphasizes that the sanctions will be “far-reaching” in an emergency. The main concern is currently the prevention of such an emergency.
Ukraine crisis: Scholz warns Putin in Kiev – “We know what to do” in the event of an invasion
+++ 15:18: According to Scholz, the Normandy format is an important dialogue format. Russia’s military actions on the Russian-Ukrainian border are incomprehensible. “There are no reasonable reasons for such a military deployment,” stressed the Chancellor. Scholz makes it clear that Ukraine’s sovereignty is non-negotiable. Further Russian aggression would have consequences for the Putin government.
The USA and NATO have made concrete offers to talk to Russia, and now they are waiting for a reasonable answer from the Kremlin, said Scholz. In the talks, Ukraine will not be left out, but integrated. Should Russia invade Ukraine, “we know what to do,” says Scholz.
Ukraine crisis: Scholz speaks of “very serious times” at PK in Kiev
+++ 3:08 p.m .: Olaf Scholz speaks of “very serious times” when he visits Ukraine. Germany is very close to the country’s side. The revolution in 2014 brought many achievements – he is happy about numerous democratic developments. Scholz announces €150m untied loan for Ukraine
+++ 15:04: The Ukrainian President speaks first. Scholz supports the sovereignty of Ukraine, says Zelenskyj. The two heads of state shared many common views. It is good that the Chancellor is visiting Kiev first and only then in Moscow. “We see this as a sign of solidarity.” The financial support that Germany provides to Ukraine is important.
Nord Stream 2 sees Zelenskyy as a threat to Ukraine, the president stresses. Germany should campaign for gas transit from Russia through Ukraine.
+++ 2:58 p.m .: The press conference by Olaf Scholz and the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selenskyj starts – with a significant delay. Apparently there was more talk behind the scenes than expected. Both politicians appear before the media representatives present in Kiev.
+++ 1:24 p.m .: A joint press conference by Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj is expected shortly. The topic will be how to proceed in the conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
Ukraine, meanwhile, has demanded transparency from Russia about Russian troop movements, citing an OSCE agreement. Moscow must “fulfill its commitments to military transparency in order to reduce tensions,” said Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Sunday evening (February 13, 2022). Therefore, Ukraine “convenes a meeting with Russia and all member states (of the OSCE) within 48 hours”.
Ukraine crisis: Scholz landed in Kiev – received by President Selenskyj
+++ 12.53 p.m .: Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) has arrived in Kiev. The government plane landed at the capital’s airport at noon, after which he was received by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Pictures showed the politicians shaking hands in front of the journalists present.
Meanwhile, the designated Secretary General of the FDP, Bijan Djir-Sarai, called on Scholz to send a “clear message” on his trip to Moscow planned for Tuesday (February 15, 2022). “Germany stands by Ukraine. The principles of international law and the European peace order are non-negotiable,” Djir-Sarai said on Monday. “I expect the Chancellor to make it absolutely clear to President (Vladimir) Putin that Russia’s wrong path leads to isolation.”
Ukraine crisis: Scholz travels to Kiev – Chancellor’s plane is late
+++ 11.53 a.m .: The government machine in which Chancellor Olaf Scholz is sitting is late. This is reported by the head of the ARD capital studio in Berlin, Tina Hassel. So now there is a change of plan. According to Hassel, Scholz immediately meets Ukrainian President Zelenskiy after landing in Kiev.
Scholz actually wanted to lay a wreath at the grave of the unknown soldier before his meeting with Selenskyj and commemorate the victims of the 2014 revolution at the monument to the “Heavenly Hundreds”. “The 2 wreath-laying ceremony and the visit to the monument to the victims of the Maidan will take place after the talks, shortly before departure,” writes the journalist on the short message service Twitter.
Olaf Scholz visits Ukraine: SPD faction leader accuses USA of “big mistakes”.
+++ 11.31 a.m .: Before the visit of Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Kiev, the SPD parliamentary group leader in the Bundestag, Rolf Mützenich, attributed the Russian security concerns to “big mistakes” by the US government under then-President George W. Bush. In addition to the “invasion of Iraq”, he specifically mentioned “distortions here in Europe” and the “end of arms control”.
“All of these are things that also unsettle Russia,” said Mützenich on Monday (February 14, 2022) in the ARD morning show. “I don’t share certain concerns, but I can certainly understand them.” One must publicly acknowledge “that Russia also has legitimate security interests”. “It has nothing to do with Ukraine,” but “with the United States, the abolition of arms agreements.”
The idea of the Ukrainian ambassador to Berlin, Andrij Melnyk, that Scholz could invite the Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Ukrainian head of state Volodymyr Zelenskyj to Berlin for negotiations, commented Mützenich cautiously. “Yes, that’s possible,” he said. But one should first refer to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) or smaller international forums.
Ukraine crisis: Scholz travels to Kiev – and warns Putin
Update from Monday, February 14th, 2022, 10.35 a.m .: In view of his visit to the Ukrainian capital Kiev, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) commented on Twitter about the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia. “Today in Kiev and tomorrow in Moscow I will continue our talks on the still very serious situation on the Ukrainian border,” wrote Scholz on the short message service. It is important to him “to express our continued solidarity and support to Ukraine.”
The SPD politician issued a warning to Russia. “We urgently expect signs of de-escalation from Moscow. Further military aggression would have very serious consequences for Russia. I absolutely agree with our allies on that. We are experiencing a very, very serious threat to peace in Europe,” Scholz said on Twitter.
Ukraine crisis: Scholz travels to Kiev – Selenskyj demands anti-tank missiles
First report from Monday, February 14th, 2022: Berlin – After a dramatic escalation of the Ukraine crisis in the past few days, Chancellor Olaf Scholz travels to Kiev on Monday (February 14th, 2022) to meet the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj. In purely formal terms, it is his inaugural visit as chancellor, a good two months after he was sworn in. However, the four hours in the Ukrainian capital will be dominated by the increasing tensions with Russia and the recent war warnings from the USA*. Before his meeting with Zelenskyy, he will lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and commemorate the victims of the 2014 revolution at the monument to the “Heavenly Hundreds”. Scholz will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Tuesday (February 15, 2022).
Before the visit, the Ukrainian ambassador in Berlin renewed the demand for heavy weapons from Germany. On Sunday (February 13, 2022), Andriy Melnyk demanded the immediate delivery of 12,000 anti-tank missiles in order to be able to fend off a possible Russian ground offensive against Ukraine. “The situation is dramatic,” he said on Bild-TV. “What we have to be prepared for today is the worst possible scenario.”
Ukraine crisis: Government refuses delivery of deadly weapons
The German government refuses to supply deadly weapons to Ukraine. However, it is considering making armaments available below this threshold. A February 3 wish list from the Ukrainian embassy includes a number of armaments that are clearly not lethal weapons. These include electronic tracking systems, mine clearance equipment, protective suits, digital radios, radar stations and night vision devices. Anti-tank missiles are not on this wish list.
“Ukraine can be sure that we will show the necessary solidarity, as in the past,” said Scholz (SPD) on Sunday (February 13, 2022). The Chancellor is expected to pledge further economic support to Ukraine during his visit to Kiev. Since the start of the Ukraine conflict in 2014, almost two billion euros have already flowed into the country from Germany.
Ukraine crisis: Baerbock speaks of an “absolutely precarious situation”
In the past few days, the crisis surrounding the Russian troop deployment on the border with Ukraine has drastically worsened. On Friday, US President Joe Biden* security adviser Jake Sullivan openly warned of a Russian invasion of Ukraine before the end of this week. Russia, on the other hand, speaks of “provoactive speculation” and “hysteria”.
Nevertheless, numerous Western countries are asking their citizens to leave Ukraine – including Germany. At the same time, intensive diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the situation are not progressing.
In Scholz’ environment, the situation is rated as “extremely dangerous”. The “very worrying overall picture” will shape the talks with Zelenskyj and Putin, it is said. Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock* (Greens) spoke on Sunday evening on ARD of an “absolutely precarious situation”. But there are no signs “that a military conflict has already been decided”.
Ukraine conflict: Nord Stream 2 is also an issue for Scholz in Kiev
In addition to the arms deliveries demanded by Ukraine, Scholz will accompany another difficult issue to Kiev and Moscow – the pipeline between Russia and Germany, the name of which the chancellor no longer wants to pronounce: Nord Stream 2. The government in Kiev has been strictly against the project for years , because she fears billions in revenue from Russian gas transfers through Ukraine. Scholz only covertly put the pipeline on the table as a possible sanction in the event of a Russian invasion of Ukraine. He hasn’t spoken his name publicly since mid-December.
Even on his inaugural visit to the USA, he stayed with him, although US President Joe Biden* made it very clear in his presence at a joint press conference: In the event of a Russian invasion of Ukraine, “there will be no more Nord Stream 2. We’re going to put an end to this,” Biden said.
Ukraine conflict: Olaf Scholz travels to Russia on Tuesday
After his visit to Kiev, Scholz will return to Berlin for a few hours on Monday evening (02/14/2022). Early on Tuesday morning (February 15, 2022) he will go to Moscow, where Putin will receive him in the Kremlin. Scholz wants to stick to his dual strategy there: on the one hand, the threat of severe consequences in the event of a Russian invasion of Ukraine. On the other hand, willingness to talk in order to de-escalate.
Together with France, Germany has been mediating between Kiev and Moscow since the start of the Ukraine conflict in 2014. Scholz may also be reluctant to make tough announcements to Moscow for this reason. Unusually, Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier* took over on Sunday (February 13, 2022). “Untie the noose around Ukraine’s neck,” he called out to Putin after his re-election. Normally, the distribution of roles between the Federal President and the Federal Chancellor is reversed. The head of state is holding back, and the chancellor speaks plain language on current issues. (sne/dpa) *fr.de is an offer from IPPEN.MEDIA .
Headline list image: © Sergei Supinsky / AFP
