Scholz versus Baerbock: Chancellor makes Putin a top priority - and foreign minister an extra?

Created: 01/03/2022, 11:34 AM

By: Markus Hofstetter

Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) supposedly wants to make Green Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock an extra in Russia policy © Emmanuele Contini / imago

The Greens wanted to take a tougher course against Russia.

But Chancellor Scholz dealt his coalition partners a hard blow.

Berlin - The Greens want to take a tougher political and economic stance towards Russia.

The focus is on the threat to Ukraine from its eastern neighbor.

For example, Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) has shown himself to be open to thinking about the consequences for the German-Russian Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline in the event of a Russian attack on Ukraine.

Chancellor Scholz wants to overthrow Baerbock in Russia policy: Greens foreign minister for tougher behavior towards Putin

Annalena Baerbock * also stands for a tougher stance towards Russia.

The Green Foreign Minister has threatened the Kremlin with severe consequences if it intervenes in Ukraine *.

The EU stands behind the country in full solidarity.

Any action by Russia would have "tough diplomatic and economic consequences," she said after consultations with the EU foreign ministers in Brussels at the beginning of December.

Baerbock is also reluctant to start up the gas pipeline.

According to the current state of affairs, the Foreign Minister does not consider Nord Stream 2 to be approved in view of the requirements of European energy law *.

A break line between Olaf Scholz * (SPD) and the Greens is also opening up when it comes to nuclear energy.

The Greens vehemently oppose a proposal by the EU to classify nuclear power as a green energy source *.

The Chancellor, on the other hand, downplays this issue - the Commission proposal should not be overestimated *.

Chancellor Scholz wants to overthrow Baerbock in Russia policy: striving for a “qualified fresh start”

Scholz also takes an opposing position towards Russia.

As early as December 2021, the Federal Chancellor called Nord Stream 2 a “private-sector project”, and the decision to go into operation must be non-political.

Now Scholz seems to want to take the Greens out of the game in Russia policy.

According to the

, he apparently makes this area a top priority.

As the newspaper writes, the Chancellor is striving for a “qualified fresh start”.

Allegedly, a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin * is planned, possibly as early as January. 

Chancellor Scholz wants to overthrow Baerbock in Russia policy: Putin wants to leave the EU outside

Like the Greens, the EU is skeptical towards the east.

It could prove problematic that the USA and NATO negotiate with Russia over the head of the EU.

The parties want to discuss the Ukraine conflict and nuclear weapons control on January 10th, and talks between Russia and NATO are planned two days later.

According to

information, this is apparently the intention of Russia.

According to analyzes by an EU security service, Putin is working flat out to leave the EU outside.

In future he only wants to negotiate with the USA.

An exception would be Berlin as a major oil and gas customer.

Negotiations between USA and Russia: focus on Ukraine conflict

The Ukraine conflict is at the center of the negotiations between Putin and US President Joe Biden *.

Reports of possible Russian preparations for an invasion of Ukraine have been causing international concern for weeks.

The EU and NATO had threatened Moscow with severe consequences in the event of a military escalation.

Russia consistently denies having such plans.