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Ukraine conflict: Scholz reports to ARD about a "threatening" situation - and fears a horror scenario

2022-02-23T14:16:10.222Z


Ukraine conflict: Scholz reports to ARD about a "threatening" situation - and fears a horror scenario Created: 02/23/2022, 15:06 By: Richard Strobl, Patrick Mayer, Stephanie Munk Russia-Ukraine conflict: Putin is reaching for eastern Ukraine, Chancellor Scholz reacts by stopping the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. Reactions from Germany in the news ticker. Ukraine conflict: Russian President Vladi


Ukraine conflict: Scholz reports to ARD about a "threatening" situation - and fears a horror scenario

Created: 02/23/2022, 15:06

By: Richard Strobl, Patrick Mayer, Stephanie Munk

Russia-Ukraine conflict: Putin is reaching for eastern Ukraine, Chancellor Scholz reacts by stopping the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. Reactions from Germany in the news ticker.

  • Ukraine conflict:

    Russian President Vladimir Putin recognizes the pro-Russian separatist regions of Luhansk and Donetsk as independent states.

  • Chancellor Olaf Scholz* announces that Nord Stream 2 will be stopped in response

    (see update of February 22, 11:58 a.m. and 8:26 p.m.).

  • Sigmar Gabriel believes that Putin "long ago factored in" sanctions in the Ukraine conflict

    (see update of February 22, 9:40 a.m.).

  • This

    news ticker on the Ukraine conflict and Germany's role

    is constantly updated.

Update from February 22, 9.40 a.m .:

Former Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel (SPD) does not assume that Russian President Vladimir Putin will be impressed by the previous sanctions in the Ukraine conflict.

He probably "calculated long ago" for the punitive measures, Gabriel said on RTL on Tuesday evening.

"Sanctions in Russia are a kind of great power tax that you have to pay if you want to play in the big world." And: "I think that a lot more has to happen now and that will happen," said Gabriel.

"Russia currently has full state coffers because of high energy prices, but the country is by no means in good shape."

Habeck on the pipeline: "In my view, it would have been wiser not to build Nord Stream 2 at all"

Update from February 22, 11:05 p.m .:

Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck (The Greens) comments on the “Daily Topics” of the ARD on the threats from Russia to drive up gas prices in the event of European sanctions.

Habeck was asked about the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, which was supposed to bring huge amounts of gas from Northwest Russia to Germany via the Baltic Sea.

But today, after much hesitation, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) put it on hold.

"In my view, it would have been wiser not to build Nord Stream 2 at all," says the Green politician, calling the pipeline "a lump of risk through the Baltic Sea."

It is of central importance "that Europe and the USA proceed as one," explains the Vice Chancellor and says: "Today I decided that the procedure used by the previous government cannot continue."

Habeck reassured with regard to energy concerns: "Currently, the security of supply in Germany is secured." However, the federal government has "taken measures to increase the storage stocks in Germany".

It is now “completely right not to rely solely on Russia.

The measures have been taken,” he says.

The expansion of renewable energies has now become a question of "national security" and of geopolitical and security policy importance, explains Habeck, in order to make oneself more independent.

Reactions from Germany to the Ukraine crisis: Olaf Scholz - "Peace in Europe is under threat"

Update from February 22, 10:05 p.m .:

ZDF’s “heute journal” broadcasts an interview with Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) early in the evening.

The head of government has again warned of the scenario that Russia could attack all of Ukraine.

"It has to affect us all.

Peace in Europe is threatened.

There is a threat of war for a country in Eastern Europe,” says the Hanseatic.

With regard to Putin, Scholz speaks of a “breach of international law.

That must worry us, it worries me.” When it came to Putin, he said it was always clear to him “that one shouldn’t have any illusions,” he says, adding that the Russian president has plans “that aren’t good for peace in Europe are".

Germany, the Americans and the allies are in the process of "imposing sanctions, coordinated with the United States of America, coordinated between the USA and the European Union," affirmed Chancellor Scholz, adding to Putin: "Unfortunately, one has to recognize that what he's doing now is what he's been describing for a long time."

The German head of cabinet refers to the Russian troop deployment on the Ukrainian border.

"It would be possible at any time to go further and wage war against Ukraine," he says. "We must do everything to ensure that it doesn't come to that.

As far as it is in our power.” Scholz describes that he spoke on the phone with US President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron and that they will proceed together.

Regarding Nord Stream 2, he says: "This is something that can't go any further for now."

Reactions from Germany to the Ukraine crisis: Olaf Scholz speaks of "great disappointment"

Update from February 22, 8:26 p.m .:

Olaf Scholz spoke up on Tuesday evening in an ARD “focus”.

He spoke of a serious situation and a "great disappointment" after the escalation in recent days.

It is very "threatening" because Putin is ready to move the borders in Europe.

This contradicts the agreements made and is the basis of peace in Europe - which Putin is attacking.

It must be taken very seriously that Russia has "massed together enough troops for a full-scale invasion" along the border, the Chancellor said.

It will now take a “long” effort to change the situation again.

Like EU Commission President Von der Leyen, Scholz emphasized that further sanctions would be applied in the event of an invasion.

Scholz also repeated that Putin was violating international law by recognizing the two self-proclaimed republics of Donetsk and Luhansk.

Reactions from Germany: Angela Merkel's confidante criticizes Vladimir Putin

Update from February 22, 7:15 p.m .:

A confidante of ex-Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) warned of the unpredictability of Vladimir Putin in the evening.

“It was right and remains right to keep channels of conversation open.

But we were too gullible: we always underestimated Putin's brutality and unscrupulousness," foreign policy adviser Christoph Heusgen told

Bild

.

Heusgen will be the head of the Munich Security Conference in the future.

"Anyone who poisons the opposition leader, who has an opponent killed in front of us in the Tiergarten, who supports the mass murderer Assad in Syria and lets Russian mercenaries do their mischief in Africa, does not shy away from attacking their neighbors," said the 66 -year-old and explained: "Nice things are out of place as a reaction."

Germany in the Ukraine crisis: Moscow stirs up fears about rising gas prices

Update from February 22, 6:30 p.m.:

Next verbal attack from Moscow.

Dmitry Medvedev, ex-president and vice-head of the Security Council, tweeted fears in the European Union (EU)* of skyrocketing gas prices.

These are expected as Russia's reaction to sanctions from the EU.

"Good.

Welcome to the brave new world where Europeans will soon pay 2,000 euros for 1,000 cubic meters of gas,” Medvedev wrote in a Twitter post.

Sanctions from Germany: Ukraine welcomes stop at Nord Stream 2

Update from February 22, 5:45 p.m .:

The state-owned Ukrainian gas company Naftogaz has welcomed Germany’s move to suspend negotiations on Nord Stream 2 with Russia after the conflict in eastern Ukraine escalated.

The gas pipeline is thus de facto put on hold for the time being.

In a statement by Managing Director Yuriy Vitrenko, available to IPPEN.MEDIA, it says: "We welcome the decision of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection to withdraw the assessment that Nord Stream 2 has no impact on the security of gas supply in Germany.

We hope that the Federal Ministry's new assessment makes it clear that Nord Stream 2 endangers precisely this security.

This will be the basis for the German regulatory authority to refuse certification for this gas pipeline.

Naftogaz provided the German government with relevant arguments.”

Vitrenko further explains in the statement: "Today's decision is a sign of Germany's solidarity with Ukraine and support of our position on Nord Stream 2, which we have communicated to the new government over the past few months.

We last did that a few days ago as part of the Munich Security Conference and the emerging escalation of Russian military aggression.

Putin's revisionist imperial policy poses a threat to Ukraine, Europe and the whole world. Nord Stream 2 is one of the components of this policy and therefore requires an appropriate response.”

Reactions from Germany to the Ukraine conflict: Annalena Baerbock criticizes Russia

Update from February 22, 4:15 p.m .:

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) has made a statement on the escalating Ukraine conflict with Russia.

“We have been experiencing a cynical staging by Russia for weeks, an incredible deployment of troops.

Our worst fears have come true," she said.

The invasion had to be reacted to decisively.

Baerbock announced further comprehensive sanctions.

It is important now to show "a clear stop sign" that Putin's behavior is unacceptable and to prevent further escalation.

Baerbock is currently in Paris and says she has convened an unofficial meeting of foreign ministers there and initiated a G7 foreign ministers telephone call - "to make it clear that we would take far-reaching measures now," says the foreign minister.

Individual measures, financial measures and measures affecting the economic sphere are to be imposed on Russia.

Russia should withdraw its breach of international law.

Crisis talks on Ukraine: Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on Tuesday with other EU foreign ministers in Paris.

© Michel Euler/AP/dpa

Ukraine conflict: Steinmeier accuses Putin of "annihilation" and fears further escalation

Update from February 22, 3:55 p.m .:

Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier made Russian President Vladimir Putin personally responsible for the escalation in eastern Ukraine.

By recognizing the pro-Russian separatist areas, Putin de facto "destroyed the Minsk Agreement" - "the only basis on which talks were still held," said Steinmeier.

"The decision that President Putin made has removed that basis."

Steinmeier criticized Putin's policy as a "search for confrontation" and had brought about a "highly dangerous situation".

It is still uncertain "whether we have currently reached the peak of escalation," said the Federal President.

He fears that this peak has not yet been reached.

The decision to recognize the eastern Ukrainian separatist areas of Luhansk and Donetsk was "nothing other than a breach of international law," said Steinmeier in Senegal.

Update from February 22, 3:28 p.m .:

Green Party leader Omid Nouripour has threatened further sanctions against Putin in the event of an escalation in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

"There's no other way than to just give a clear answer now," he said.

"Each further level of sanctions will come if there is another level of aggression." He fears that a major conflict is only at the beginning, "if there is not a clear stop sign now".

"There is a threat of the end of the peace order in Europe," emphasized the Greens leader.

You can't just watch "how the Russian side keeps escalating."

Nouripour named the ban on trading in government bonds contained in the EU Commission's draft as an example of further sanctions.

"It would be a massive difficulty for the Russian Federation to refinance on the European markets," he said.

"If that happens, it is of course extremely big as a measure and will also be felt that way."

Ultimately, one can only hope that the Kremlin also cares about the well-being of the Russian population.

"Of course, everything is done to ensure that the sanctions do not affect the Russian population across the board," said Nouripour.

"But at the end of the day we will have to rely on the peace order being understood as a dictate of reason in the Kremlin."

Update from February 22, 3:15 p.m .:

Despite Putin’s actions in Ukraine, the AfD parliamentary group in the Bundestag rejects sanctions against Russia.

"In the past, sanctions have never done what they were supposed to do," said AfD leader Tino Chrupalla.

The AfD parliamentary group rejects “all sanctions against Russia in general”.

Germany's energy security will be "severely affected" by sanctions such as the temporary halt to the Nord Stream 2 Baltic Sea natural gas pipeline, Chrupalla said.

The AfD sees Russia's advance into eastern Ukraine as "absolutely critical".

"But we also hope that no further provocations will take place on the other side, from the NATO side," emphasized Chrupalla.

He called for continued dialogue with Russia.

"Peace must be preserved in these regions."

Chrupalla also spoke out in favor of a referendum in the separatist regions of Luhansk and Donetsk, which Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized as independent since Monday.

Such a referendum should show to what extent the population there "wants to behave autonomously".

Update from February 22, 2:50 p.m .:

The US government has welcomed Germany’s decision to temporarily stop the Nord Stream 2 Baltic Sea pipeline.

US President Joe Biden has made it clear that the natural gas pipeline should not go into operation in the event of a Russian attack on Ukraine, his spokeswoman Jen Psaki said on Twitter.

"We coordinated closely with Germany during the night and welcome the announcement," she wrote on Tuesday morning.

As announced, the US government will present further punitive measures against Russia later in the day, wrote Psaki.

Scholz stops Nord-Stream 2: Union supports sanctions against Putin

Update from February 22, 2:20 p.m .:

CDU and CSU assure Chancellor Scholz of their support for the planned sanctions against Russia.

"Now it's a matter of unity," said CDU foreign politician Roderich Kiesewetter of the

world

.

"The Union as opposition will support the federal government, both in the development of a united position of the European states together with Great Britain and the USA, as well as in the implementation of the graduated sanctions plan."

Kiesewetter praised the fact that the long-controversial Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline is included in the sanctions.

"Chancellor Scholz's decision to suspend the Nord Stream 2 approval process is consistent," said CSU regional group leader Alexander Dobrindt in Berlin. "Russia's action is a blatant breach of international law, there is no justification for it," said Dobrindt.

"We need a common and unified response from the West to this unacceptable behavior by Russia."

Update from February 22, 1:30 p.m

.: Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann is still hoping for a peaceful solution despite the escalation in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

"Like everyone, I view the developments with great concern," said the Green politician.

The recognition of the self-declared people's republics in eastern Ukraine represents a "blatant violation of international law" and a violation of Ukraine's territorial integrity, said Kretschmann.

This makes a diplomatic solution difficult.

But he hopes that it will still be possible to prevent the war.

The policies of the federal government and the European Union have his full support.

Stop of Nord Stream 2: Robert Habeck expects rising gas prices for Germany

Update from February 22, 1:18 p.m .:

Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck (Greens) is now commenting on the current developments.

Protecting the sovereignty of Ukraine is the task of the German state.

His ministry has therefore informed the Federal Network Agency that the approval process for Nord Stream 2 will be put on hold.

The so-called security of supply report - a prerequisite for the commissioning of the pipeline - has been withdrawn and is now being reassessed and prepared.

Until then, the Baltic Sea pipeline for transporting Russian gas to Europe cannot be put into operation.

The effects of stopping Nord Stream 2 will be “seen in many places in the republic,” said Habeck.

Germany must reduce dependence on Russian gas.

How the natural gas prices in Germany will continue to develop is "unpredictable," says Habeck in response to a journalist's question.

But: "War drives up prices," says the Green Minister.

Therefore, the current events would certainly have an impact on energy prices.

"The one-sidedness of the dependency on a supplier, which has now also proven to be geopolitically unreliable in recent months, must be overcome." One must therefore make oneself independent of the "price and warmongering of other countries".

At the same time, Habeck said that Germany was "supply secure".

Immediate stop for Nord Stream 2!

Scholz hits back at Putin – to “prevent catastrophe”

Update from February 22, 12:32 p.m .:

Scholz pays tribute to the Ukrainian government because it has not yet been provoked by Russia.

"In the UN Security Council, we and other states made it clear last night that Russia has no support in the world for its actions," said Scholz.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is now waiting for a provocation "to have an excuse to possibly occupy all of Ukraine".

Update from February 22, 12:15 p.m .:

How does Germany want to secure its gas supply in the future – after all, it depends on Russian gas for energy supply?

Scholz says the task ahead is to further diversify natural gas imports in order to become more independent from Russia.

He points out that Germany wants to become completely independent of fossil resources such as natural gas in the long term.

This is a European task, many other countries have the same problem.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) at the press conference on the Ukraine conflict.

© John Macdougall/AFP

Update from February 22, 12:08 p.m .:

The Normandy format for pacifying the conflict is still important, Scholz emphasizes, and French President Macron also thinks so.

But: "The situation remains serious." The Russian troops were sufficient for a complete invasion of Ukraine.

It is therefore important to react quickly now.

On the issue of arms deliveries to Ukraine, there appears to be no change in the German stance on not delivering lethal weapons.

"It's an unchanged situation," he says.

“What we are doing is strengthening Ukraine's economic and economic resilience by continuing to be Ukraine's main financial stabilizer.

And we will stay that way.”

Update from February 22, 12:05 p.m .:

Scholz says that they want to act together with the EU and the USA.

Russia's recognition of Luhansk and Donetsk as independent states was unacceptable.

You have more sanctions in your pocket, depending on how the conflict develops.

So you want to take graduated steps against Putin.

Ukraine conflict: Scholz carries out threat against Putin - Nord Stream 2 is stopped

Update from February 22, 11:58 a.m .:

Chancellor Scholz is now making a statement on the Ukraine conflict.

Putin's actions would "not remain without consequence".

Russia has no support in the world for its actions, it is necessary to "prevent a catastrophe".

He has therefore taken the necessary steps to ensure that Nord Stream 2 is not certified and cannot go into operation.

Scholz makes the threat come true: Nord Stream 2 will be stopped.

According to Scholz, Putin broke international law, not only the Minsk Agreement on peace in eastern Ukraine, but also the United Nations Charter.

Russia-Ukraine conflict: SPD leader announces "decisive response of the Europeans with the Americans".

Update from February 22, 11:55 a.m .:

SPD leader Lars Klingbeil has just made a statement about the escalation in the Ukraine conflict.

He expects a "firm response" from the EU and the US to Russia's recognition of the separatist areas in eastern Ukraine.

"The activities and aggression that we are now experiencing towards eastern Ukraine represent a blatant, massive breach of international law," said Klingbeil.

Putin has crossed a line.

"There will be a decisive, coordinated response from the Europeans and the Americans," said Klingbeil, adding: "But I also want to emphasize that this is a cool-headed response."

On the question of which sanctions should actually take effect and whether this includes the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, Klingbeil said that Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) made it clear during his visit to Moscow that "the right steps are being taken now".

In the past few weeks, consistent sanctions have been prepared, "which will hit Russia in many places, I'm quite sure of that," said Klingbeil.

"And that's exactly why it will not remain without traces and without effect in Moscow and in Russia."

The SPD leader emphasized that finding a diplomatic solution to the conflict was the right thing to do.

However, Russia and Putin increasingly isolated themselves from the international community.

Putin slapped away the hand that was extended many times on Monday.

Update from February 22, 11:40 a.m .:

Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht (SPD) is on her way to visit the NATO battle group led by the Bundeswehr in Lithuania after the escalation of the Ukraine crisis.

The Ministry of Defense in Berlin said on Tuesday that she also wanted to talk to her counterpart Arvydas Anusauskas about Putin's aggressive advance.

Lambrecht then also speaks to the soldiers.

Because of the severe tensions in the Ukraine conflict, the Ministry of Defense had decided to send around 350 additional men and women with around 100 vehicles and weapon systems to Lithuania to support the security of the NATO partner.

Ukraine conflict escalates - but Germany will probably not continue to deliver weapons

Update from February 22, 11:31 a.m

.: No arms deliveries for Ukraine: The federal government wants to continue to refuse arms deliveries to Ukraine even after the recent escalation by Russia.

"I am in favor of the federal government not changing its position," said SPD foreign policy expert Nils Schmid.

His FDP colleague Alexander Graf Lambsdorff also rejects arms deliveries.

So far, the federal government has ruled out concessions on this point, arguing that it does not deliver weapons to crisis areas as a matter of principle.

Schmid thinks that's right.

"We should continue to deliver no lethal weapons to Ukraine," he said on Bayerischer Rundfunk.

Lethal weapons are potentially lethal weapons.

If Russia "continues to create unilateral facts", "we have no choice but to react with sanctions," Schmid continued.

He did not want to comment on the question of whether the Russian-German Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline could also be involved.

Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir (Greens), however, has already called for an immediate stop for the gas pipeline that brings Russian gas to Germany via the Baltic Sea.

Ukraine invasion: Özdemir demands an immediate stop from Nord Stream 2 - and is disappointed by German citizens

Update from February 22, 10:50 a.m .:

After Putin's announcement that he would send troops to Ukraine, Federal Minister of Agriculture Cem Özdemir (Greens) strongly advocated stopping the Russian-German Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline.

"That was always our position, nothing has changed about that," said the Green politician on

Deutschlandfunk

to the Ukraine conflict.

“We have to push this through together in the federal government.

I hope that our coalition partners will see things the same way.

Now, at the latest, is the time to put this project on hold and make it clear: Please switch all switches to renewable energies now.” Germany's energy dependence on authoritarian rulers like Putin and others must generally end.

“Where do fossil fuels come from?

There are hardly any democracies among them,” he explained.

After the escalation in the Ukraine conflict, Cem Özdemir (Greens) demands that Nord Stream 2 be stopped immediately.

© Kay Nietfeld/dpa

At the same time, Özdemir missed protests in Germany against Russia's actions against the neighboring country.

"I'm also surprised that I see so few demonstrators protesting against Mr. Putin.

I still remember the Iraq war and many other things - for some people it seems that human rights violations only count when the Americans are involved Crimea on the Black Sea peninsula, when the Dutch passenger plane was shot down over eastern Ukraine or when Putin acted in Russia itself.

Update from February 22, 10:38 a.m .:

The crisis surrounding Putin’s actions in relation to Ukraine and possible sanctions for Russia will concern the Bundestag’s Foreign Affairs Committee.

"In view of the dramatic situation, I will invite you to a special meeting of the Bundestag's Foreign Affairs Committee," wrote the committee's chairman, Michael Roth (SPD), on Twitter on Tuesday.

The committee meeting is expected to be called for Wednesday afternoon, February 23.

Ukraine conflict: gloomy prognosis for all of Europe after Russia invaded - "hope finally ended"

First report from February 22, 2022:

Berlin - Russlands Präsident Wladimir Putin greift nach der Ostukraine: In der Nacht erkannte er die selbst ernannten Volksrepubliken Donezk und Luhansk an und befahl die Entsendung von russischen Truppen. Der Vorsitzende der Münchner Sicherheitskonferenz, Wolfgang Ischinger, sieht damit eine neue und gefährliche Ära für Europa kommen. „Dieser Tag wird lange als der Tag in Erinnerung bleiben, an dem die Hoffnung und der Traum einer europäischen Architektur auf der Grundlage der Charta von Paris endgültig zu Ende gegangen ist“, schrieb Wolfgang Ischinger am Dienstag, 22. Februar, auf Twitter. Eine neue und gefährlichere Ära stehe nun bevor.

Ischinger bezog sich damit auf einen Tweet des russischen Politologen Dmitri Trenin, wonach die Anerkennung von Donezk und Luhansk durch Russland eine wichtige Grenze überschreite. Die Charta von Paris sollte nach der Wiedervereinigung Deutschlands im November 1990 das Ende der Ost-West-Konfrontation besiegeln.

Putin entsendet Truppen in die Ukraine: Das waren die Reaktionen in der Nacht

Der russische Präsident Wladimir Putin hatte am Montagabend in einer aufsehenerregenden Rede* die Unabhängigkeit der ostukrainischen „Volksrepubliken“ von Donezk und Luhansk anerkannt. Der Kremlchef ordnete auch eine Entsendung russischer Soldaten in die Ostukraine an. Deutschland, die USA und Frankreich haben das scharf verurteilt und eine Reaktion angekündigt. Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz, US-Präsident Joe Biden und der französische Präsident Emmanuel Macron telefonierten noch in der Nacht und waren sich einig, dass Putin das Minsker Friedensabkommens für die Ostukraine gebrochen hat. Dieser Schritt werde nicht unbeantwortet bleiben.

Verteidigungsministerin Christine Lambrecht bewertete die Putins Anerkennung der Separatistengebiete im Osten der Ukraine als drastischen Bruch des Völkerrechts und völlig inakzeptabel. „Unsere Antwort darauf wird kraftvoll und deutlich sein“, schrieb die SPD-Politikerin am Montagabend auf Instagram. 

Putin lässt Ukraine-Konflikt eskalieren - Erste Reaktionen: „Sprachlos. Besorgt.“

Mehrere Bundestagsabgeordnete reagierten auf Twitter auf die beunruhigenden Neuigkeiten. „Sprachlos. Besorgt“, schrieb die frühere Grünen-Ministerin Renate Künast. Auch aus Reihen der Linken kam klare Kritik an dem Schritt. „Die Anerkennung der ‚Volksrepubliken‘ durch Russland ist völkerrechtswidrig, der Einmarsch russischer Truppen verletzt die Souveränität und territoriale Integrität der Ukraine“, erklärte Fraktionschef Dietmar Bartsch.

Ukraine conflict comes to a head: Baerbock condemns Putin's actions

Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock* (Greens) clearly condemned Putin's actions on Monday evening: "Today's recognition by President Putin of the separatist self-declared 'people's republics' in eastern Ukraine represents a blatant breach of international law and is a serious blow to all diplomatic efforts towards a peaceful settlement and political solution to the current conflict,” said Baerbock.

"Years of efforts in the Normandy format and the OSCE are being deliberately and without any comprehensible reason destroyed."

(dpa/smu) *Merkur.de is an offer from IPPEN.MEDIA.

Source: merkur

All news articles on 2022-02-23

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