Scholz transformed with Putin?

Chancellor surprised with completely new words - and a contradiction

Created: 02/15/2022, 20:44

By: Andreas Schmid

Olaf Scholz on Wednesday at the joint press conference with Vladimir Putin.

© Kay Nietfeld/dpa

Olaf Scholz officially sought talks with Vladimir Putin on Wednesday.

At the joint press conference, surprisingly clear words were heard from the Chancellor.

Moscow – Chancellor Olaf Scholz* traveled to Moscow on Tuesday for the crisis talks.

Not an easy appointment considering how much is apparently at stake.

The United States has already warned of a Russian invasion of Ukraine for Wednesday (February 16).

So Scholz found himself in a difficult role as a mediator.

After the meeting with Russia's President Vladimir Putin*, the SPD politician was confident that he would continue to find a diplomatic solution to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine*.

So far, so normal.

Scholz had also chosen his words carefully at past crisis meetings.

De-escalate instead of escalate.

Ukraine crisis: Scholz becomes clear - "It's our damn duty"

At the joint press conference with Putin, Scholz occasionally moved away from this strategy.

He chose words that one rarely hears from the sometimes cool-looking Hanseatic.

So Scholz said: "It is our damned duty and task, as heads of state and government, to prevent a warlike escalation in Europe."

But Scholz is breaking new linguistic ground in another area.

For the first time at a crisis meeting about the Ukraine conflict, he publicly spoke about Nord Stream 2.

Scholz on Nord Stream 2: "We know what needs to be done"

Nord Stream 2 could become a decisive means of pressure for Germany (and the West) in the Ukraine conflict.

The gas pipeline brings Russian natural gas to Germany through underwater pipelines in the Baltic Sea.

There are calls to shut down the pipeline that has already been built should Russia invade Ukraine.

US President Joe Biden had recently announced this form of sanction offensively at a joint meeting with Scholz.

The Chancellor, in turn, avoided the word "Nord Stream 2" even when asked.

He spoke of tough sanctions, but it is part of it "that we don't put them all on the table." 

On Wednesday, too, Scholz was asked about the consequences of Russia's military action against Ukraine.

"In any case, we know what to do then," said Scholz.

Without looking at Putin, who was just a few meters away from him at the lectern, the Chancellor added: "And my impression is that everyone else knows that too." However, Scholz did not speak of a specific stop.

Meanwhile, Putin promoted the gas pipeline.

It is a purely economic and environmentally friendly project without "political coloring", said the President.

Scholz speaks of Nord Stream 2 for the first time: "Everyone knows what's going on"

Then the Chancellor moved more and more in the direction of saying Nord Stream 2. At first he still stuck to a synonym: "As far as the pipeline itself is concerned, everyone knows what's going on." Then he talked about Nord Stream 1, that pipeline , which was introduced in 2011.

Scholz said they were committed to making sure gas transit works in Europe - "via Ukraine, via Belarus and Poland, with Nord Stream 1, all in line with the agreements we have.

And we will also take care of that.”

Finally, Scholz was heard: "As far as Nord Stream 2 is concerned, I don't want to comment further on the private-sector activities of a former politician." Stream 2 not too much in the foreground.

There he was again - the Scholz who prefers to avoid sensitive issues.

You now but at least named.

Ukraine conflict: Scholz contradicts Putin - "But that's wrong"

Overall, Scholz does not seem to be able to bring himself to be more courageous in his statements.

So Scholz was silent when Putin said at the joint press conference that there was a "genocide" in eastern Ukraine.

Only in a later media round in the evening did the chancellor contradict this statement: "That's a strong statement, (...) But it's wrong." Russia sees itself as the protecting power of the Russian-speaking population in eastern Ukraine.

According to UN estimates, more than 14,000 people have died in the conflict in eastern Ukraine so far, most of them in the area controlled by pro-Russian separatists.

It is questionable whether Scholz was able to make a difference with Putin.

After all, hardly anyone knows what's going on in the head of the Russian president.

But: On the sidelines of the meeting in Moscow, at least some hope germinated.

The Kremlin announced on Tuesday that it was withdrawing troops.

And Putin agreed to negotiate with NATO and the United States on security guarantees.

The President stressed that he "of course" didn't want a war.

Words that one likes to hear in the West, but at the same time cannot be clearly classified.

There was a contradiction towards the end of the PK, when Scholz and Putin were asked about Gerhard Schröder.

Schröder, the last SPD chancellor before Scholz, is considered a longtime friend of Putin, is the head of the supervisory board at the Russian state energy company Rosneft and has management positions in the pipeline projects.

Putin praised him as a "decent person" and "independent expert"*.

Scholz made it clear - in line with his overall rather eloquent visit to Moscow: "He (Schröder) does not speak for Germany, but only for himself."