Scholz in the USA: "Russia's attack will have a very high price"

Created: 2022-02-07Updated: 2022-02-07, 21:05

By: Florian Naumann, Markus Hofstetter, Bettina Menzel, Cindy Boden

Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) meets US President Joe Biden in the Oval Office of the White House.

The Russia-Ukraine crisis is likely to be the main topic during Olaf Scholz's first visit to the USA.

© Kay Nietfeld/dpa +++ dpa picture radio +++

Olaf Scholz has to counter serious allegations during his visit to the USA.

Biden increases the pressure in advance.

The Green leader defends the chancellor.

News ticker.

• Chancellor Olaf Scholz* meets US President Joe Biden* in Washington on Monday (February 7).

• The focus of the talks is likely to be Germany's position in the Ukraine conflict*.

  The USA is increasing the pressure in advance (

  update from February 6, 8:15 p.m.

  ).

• Scholz and Biden meet in the Oval Office and underline unity

  (see update of February 7, 8:37 p.m.).

• This news ticker is continuously updated.

Update from February 7, 8:37 p.m .:

At their meeting on Monday in the Oval Office, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) and US President Joe Biden demonstrated unity.

Germany is one of America's closest allies, Biden said on Monday.

Both countries would work "in lockstep" to prevent "Russian aggression in Europe," the US President said.

"We are the closest allies and we work together intensively, and this is necessary to take the steps we need to take, for example, in the fight against Russian aggression towards Ukraine," said Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

It is therefore an important meeting at a very important time.

A Russian invasion of Ukraine would come at a high price, the Chancellor warned: “It will come at a very high price if Ukraine is attacked militarily.

We also prepare this precisely.”

However, the relationship between Germany and the USA in the past few weeks in the Ukraine conflict has not always been without tension.

There was some disagreement about the level of possible sanctions against Russia, as well as about arms deliveries to Ukraine and about Nord Stream 2, the controversial natural gas pipeline.

Bavarian Prime Minister Söder calls for a “clear strategy”

Update from February 7, 12:44 p.m

.: CSU boss Markus Söder hopes that there will be “no hectic travel activity” with Olaf Scholz’s upcoming trips.

Instead, what is needed is a “clear strategy,” said the Prime Minister just at his press conference on Bavaria’s corona easing.

Alliance commitments are important, but also offers for talks and a strategy for the West.

According to Söder, the goal in the context of the Ukraine-Russia conflict should not be just to talk about what will happen if, for example, an invasion takes place.

But the "primary goal" is to continue to prevent the conflict, said Söder.

Scholz visit to Washington: US government emphasizes unity with Germany

Update from February 7th, 12.10 p.m

.: Before Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s inaugural visit to the White House, the US government underlined the unity of the USA and Germany in the Ukraine conflict.

"We have worked very closely with our German partners, including with the new German government in the two months since it took office," a senior US official said on a phone booth with journalists.

The United States and Germany agreed closely on the package of sanctions that would come into force in the event of a Russian invasion of Ukraine.

"Germany remains an important member of the transatlantic alliance in which we all work together to address different parts of the same problem," the US official said.

"I am absolutely confident that Germany shares our concerns about Russian aggression." She made it clear again that a Russian invasion of Ukraine would mean the end of Nord Stream 2 from the US perspective, but left open whether there was a corresponding commitment give to the federal government.

However, in the past few weeks, differences between Berlin and Washington have become clear in the Ukraine conflict.

Among other things, it is about the extent of possible sanctions against Russia in the event of an attack on Ukraine, about arms deliveries to Kiev and about the controversial natural gas pipeline Nord Stream 2. A Biden confidant has already increased the pressure on Germany

.

Scholz trip to Washington: Pressure on the Chancellor is growing - also from the traffic light coalition

Update from February 7th, 10.20 a.m .:

Chancellor Olaf Scholz may feel the pressure: In any case, there are some demands from Germany regarding his trip to the USA

.

The chairwoman of the defense committee in the Bundestag, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann (FDP), for example, expects a clear statement from Scholz about the controversial Nord Stream 2 pipeline. "Of course he has to comment on this." In view of what Russian President Vladimir Putin "Organized on the eastern Ukrainian border, Nord Stream 2 cannot start," she said on the RTL / ntv program "Frühstart".

There is a consensus among the NATO states that there will be severe political and economic consequences in the event of a Russian attack on Ukraine.

"And of course that includes Nord Stream 2," emphasized Strack-Zimmermann.

At the same time, the FDP politician defended the Chancellor's reserved tone in the crisis: "There are moments when you work discreetly and quietly and don't make a big media thing out of every piece of information."

Olaf Scholz wants a general obligation to vaccinate.

A group led by FDP politician Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann has now drafted a key issues paper.

© Sven Simon/Imago

Scholz's visit to the USA - Green politician defends Chancellor

Update from February 7, 9:50 a.m .:

Green leader Omid Nouripour has rejected criticism from CDU chairman Friedrich Merz that Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD)’s trip to the USA was too late.

"I understand that Friedrich Merz now wants to find his role as leader of the opposition, but that's not factual criticism," Nouripour told SWR Aktuell.

"For more than ten years no country has helped Ukraine as much as Germany, financially, politically and with know-how." It's understandable what Friedrich Merz says, but it's not serious." Merz said in an interview at the weekend that Germany liked Scholz as Chancellor "apparently in his role as an outsider, as a naysayer and inhibitor of a European strategy". .

That's not the case, replied Nouripour.

Scholz visiting Joe Biden - "Must explain why Germany is not delivering weapons to Ukraine"

Update from February 7, 8:10 a.m .:

The visit to US President Joe Biden this Monday will not be an easy appointment for Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Against the background of the Ukraine conflict, the expectations of the chancellor are high. Union foreign politicians are demanding that he meet US President Joe Biden in key demands.

"Scholz must make it clear that Germany is ready to contribute more to the NATO alliance, for example in Lithuania and in equipping the Bundeswehr," said the foreign policy spokesman for the Union faction, Jürgen Hardt (CDU), the

. CDU foreign policy expert Norbert Röttgen told the newspaper that Scholz "can and must explain why Germany is not supplying weapons to Ukraine." The chancellor "should not avoid stating clearly that Russian aggression means the end of Nord Stream 2 for the time being".

Against this background, the designated FDP General Secretary Bijan Djir-Sarai called on

to send a “common and clear message” to Russian President Vladimir Putin von Scholz.

The chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Michael Roth (SPD), meanwhile told the medium: "The most important message from the Chancellor will be: Doubts about Germany's loyalty to the alliance and solidarity with Ukraine are completely unfounded."

Olaf Scholz arrived in the USA for his inaugural visit - "Send a clear message to Russia"

Update from February 7th, 6.30 a.m .:

Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) has arrived in the USA for his inaugural visit.

Scholz landed at the airport in the US capital Washington on Sunday evening (local time), as the German embassy confirmed.

Before his visit to Joe Biden in the White House, Scholz emphasized the unity with the United States in the Ukraine conflict. The aim of his visit is "to strengthen our transatlantic partnership," said the SPD Chancellor in an interview with the

published on Sunday evening (local time) . “The United States is Germany's and Europe's most important ally; we are in NATO together, and it is absolutely critical that there is strong unity between all major partners, the transatlantic parties, and between the United States and Germany.”

"We have worked hard to send a clear message to Russia that it will pay a heavy price if it intervenes in Ukraine," Scholz said.

He praised Biden's commitment to the crisis.

"I really appreciate what President Biden is doing in the bilateral talks between the United States and Russia.

They are very difficult.” The

interview was conducted in English on Friday, according to the newspaper.

Chancellor Scholz in the USA: Not an easy appointment with Joe Biden

Olaf Scholz traveled to Washington as Finance Minister in July 2021.

Now he is visiting the US capital as Federal Chancellor (archive photo) © Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa/picture alliance

Update from February 6, 8:15 p.m .:

The first crucial weeks * begin for Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) – with a date that is as symbolic as it is challenging: the German head of government travels to Washington in the middle of the Ukraine crisis for an inaugural visit.

It was already evident on Sunday evening that Joe Biden would not have an easy appointment.

An advisor to the US presidents has already increased the pressure on Nord Stream 2.

In the event of a Russian invasion of Ukraine, "Nord Stream 2 will not continue," US President Joe Biden's National Security Adviser, Jake Sullivan, told NBC on Sunday.

When asked whether Chancellor Olaf Scholz would publicly promise such a measure during his inaugural visit to Washington on Monday, Sullivan said: "I will let the German Chancellor speak for himself." -The government has given a commitment to shut down Nord Stream 2 in the event of an escalation.

He did not want to comment on "diplomatic discussions" with Germany, he said.

But demands on the chancellor have also come from Germany.

Former foreign minister and SPD party member Sigmar Gabriel suggested in a

guest article with the chairman of the American Council on Germany, John B. Emerson, that "more than helmets" should be supplied - for example in the form of Kevlar protective vests and equipment for radio communications and support in the field of transport and logistics.

Scholz, however, gave a refusal to deliver weapons before departure.

Other ideas from the two: Scholz should show willingness to use Nord Stream 2 as a means of pressure.

At the same time, Germany could increase defense spending and buy American F-35 aircraft - as a sign of "nuclear sharing".

In the USA, doubts about Scholz's reliability * had recently arisen, as emphasized by Gabriel and Emerson.

At the same time, however, they also referred to Germany's financial efforts for Ukraine - and the resumed "Normandy format".

Chancellor Scholz: Inaugural visit to Washington - meeting with Joe Biden in the context of the Ukraine conflict

Preliminary report from February 6th:

Washington - His predecessor Angela Merkel* (CDU) needed 51 days, her predecessor Gerhard Schröder* (SPD) only 18 days.

With Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD*) it is 60 days.

What is meant is the period in which the three politicians traveled to the USA after taking office.

The expectations of Scholz, who starts on Sunday (February 6th) in the direction of the United States, are all the greater.

Because the meeting with US President Joe Biden in the White House* on Monday takes place under the impression of the Ukraine crisis*.

This and the security of Europe are likely to be the core topics of the conversation between the two politicians.

Olaf Scholz's inaugural visit to Washington: Chancellor must dispel doubts about loyalty to the alliance

The chancellor must dispel any doubts about Germany's loyalty to the alliance with his partner in Washington.

These arose because Scholz should show too much leniency in the conflict with Russia.

According to the AFP news agency, the German term “Putinversteher” is now frequently used in the Anglo-Saxon press in this context.

The background is Germany's refusal to deliver weapons to the threatened Ukraine*.

But it is also about the severity of possible sanctions against Russia and also about the question of whether a Russian invasion of the neighboring country would mean an end for the controversial Baltic Sea pipeline Nord Stream 2.

After a long hesitation, Scholz put the gas pipeline on the table as a sanction instrument, but without naming it.

Olaf Scholz's inaugural visit to Washington: Federal government launches information campaign

Scholz's inaugural visit to Washington is preceded by an advertising campaign by the federal government for its Ukraine policy.

As the news portal

reported on Sunday, the German embassy in the US capital sent a comprehensive information letter on the subject to US MPs and senators.

It emphasizes Germany's financial support for Ukraine*.

The letter, titled "German Support for Ukraine," states that Germany has provided billions of dollars in aid since 2014.

According to the online magazine, two billion dollars for civilian projects, for example in the climate protection and energy sectors, medical aid for the Ukrainian military and the delivery of a mobile field hospital in February are among 14 points listed by the federal government.

Olaf Scholz with a diplomatic offensive in the Ukraine crisis: talks in Moscow and Kiev

In the next two weeks, Scholz will try to get off the defensive.

The trip to the USA is the start of a whole series of trips and meetings, all of which are intended to advance diplomatic efforts to ease the tensions with Russia. 

After returning from Washington, Scholz wants to receive the Presidents of France and Poland, Emmanuel Macron* and Andrzej Duda, in Berlin for a vote.

Next Thursday the chancellor will try to convince the heads of state and government of the Baltic states of Germany's course in the crisis.

Separate trips from Scholz to Kiev and Moscow follow on two consecutive days.

Olaf Scholz with a diplomatic offensive in the Ukraine crisis: keynote speech expected at the Munich Security Conference

The EU heads of state and government will then meet before Scholz will deliver a keynote address on foreign policy and hold further talks on the Ukraine crisis at the Munich Security Conference, which will be held in Munich from February 18-20, 2022.

US Vice President Kamala Harris and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy are also expected there.

The opposition, on the other hand, accuses Scholz of being too late with his crisis mission.

"It would have been necessary weeks ago and then with a clear message from the most important European states in the luggage," said CDU * leader Friedrich Merz of the

.

*