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Duda, Scholz and Macron (from left) in Berlin: "The aim is to prevent a war in Europe"
Photo:
POOL / REUTERS
According to Polish President Andrzej Duda, the Ukraine conflict represents the most difficult moment for NATO and the EU since 1989, the year the Wall fell.
“We have an unprecedented concentration of Russian troops along the Ukrainian border.
We also have large factions in Belarus, where military exercises are currently being held, which are scheduled to last until February 20th.
We're all wondering what will happen afterwards," said Duda on Tuesday at the beginning of a meeting with Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) and French President Emmanuel Macron in Berlin.
At the tripartite summit, Germany, France and Poland pledged to negotiate to avoid war in Europe.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz called the Russian troop deployment on the border with Ukraine "very worrying" at the meeting with Presidents Emmanuel Macron and Andrzej Duda on Tuesday.
"Our common goal is to prevent a war in Europe," said the SPD politician.
The chancellor again threatened Russia with "far-reaching consequences" if it invaded the neighboring country, a former Soviet republic.
These consequences would be “political, economic and certainly also geostrategic”.
Macron also said that a war must be prevented.
"The peace and stability of the European continent are our treasure." Everything must be done to preserve it.
Macron came to Berlin following mediation talks in Moscow and Kiev.
Scholz spoke to US President Joe Biden in Washington on Monday.
The meeting with Duda was now used for coordination within the European Union.
In Poland, the German course in the Ukraine crisis is viewed critically.
Above all, the German refusal to deliver arms to Ukraine is not well received in Germany's neighboring country, which also borders Russia.
With a view to the controversial Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, they would like to see a tougher course towards Russia.
sol/dpa