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Baerbock admits mistakes made by Russia after Riga's moment of shock - and calls for energy cut "more than ever"

2022-04-21T07:45:41.165Z


Baerbock admits mistakes made by Russia after Riga's moment of shock - and calls for energy cut "more than ever" Created: 04/21/2022, 09:33 By: Stephanie Munk Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock traveled to the Baltic States. In Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania she exchanged views on the Ukraine war and the threat posed by Putin. Ukraine conflict*: Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock* makes a clear


Baerbock admits mistakes made by Russia after Riga's moment of shock - and calls for energy cut "more than ever"

Created: 04/21/2022, 09:33

By: Stephanie Munk

Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock traveled to the Baltic States.

In Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania she exchanged views on the Ukraine war and the threat posed by Putin.

  • Ukraine conflict*: Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock* makes a clear announcement to Putin before traveling to the Baltic States:

    “We will defend every square centimeter”

  • During her three-day trip, the Green politician consulted with her counterparts from

    Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia

    on the Ukraine war.

  • Baerbock has promised the NATO partners

    stronger support

    in advance .

    In Riga, there was a moment of shock as soon as we arrived.

  • Baerbock meets her Estonian counterpart in Tallinn on Thursday

    .

    It is about the consequences of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine.

Update from April 21, 9:20 a.m.:

Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock is advising this Thursday in Estonia with the political leadership of the Baltic state about the consequences of the Ukraine war.

In the capital, Tallinn, the Green politician is scheduled to hold talks with her counterpart, Eva-Maria Liimets, and to meet Prime Minister Kaja Kallas.

Later, Baerbock wanted to talk to students at a German partner school and visit a memorial to the victims of communism.

Annalena Baerbock (Bündnis90/Die Grünen), Foreign Minister, walks through the old town of Riga alongside Edgars Rinkevics (l), Foreign Minister of Latvia, Eva-Maria Liimets, Foreign Minister of Estonia, and Gabrielius Landsbergis (r), Foreign Minister of Lithuania.

© Michael Kappeler/dpa

Baerbock admits mistakes made by Russia after Riga's moment of shock - and calls for energy cut "more than ever"

Update from April 20, 5 p.m.:

Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock admitted German mistakes in Russia policy on her trip to the Baltic States.

"What we need to do more than ever is to end our energy imports from Russia once and for all," Baerbock said at a meeting with her colleagues from the three Baltic republics of Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania in Riga on Wednesday.

"We made mistakes in this area, but we cannot turn back the clock now, we cannot undo this," Baerbock said.

Security in Europe means reducing dependence on Russia, especially in the energy sector.

"We all want to let the gas supplies run out, better today than tomorrow," said Baerbock - and certified that the Baltic states had largely reduced their dependence on Russian gas at an early stage.

"Germany would also like to say goodbye to energy imports from Russia completely," she emphasized.

At midday, the Greens also pledged medium- and long-term military aid to Ukraine.

The NATO allies must currently support Ukraine in the coming days and weeks, said the Green politician on Wednesday after a meeting with her Latvian counterpart Edgars Rinkevics in the capital Riga.

But it's not just about the acute need.

"It's also about the next three months and also about the next three years.

And here Germany will be able to contribute more.”

Update from April 20, 12:24 p.m .:

Foreign Minister Baerbock’s press conference in Riga has ended.

Baerbock NOW live: Cancellation of delivery of heavy weapons to Ukraine - "There is nothing"

Update from April 20, 12:17 p.m .:

Annalena Baerbock’s statement is now over.

Now it's time for journalists' questions.

The German foreign minister is asked about deliveries of heavy weapons to Ukraine.

According to the Bundeswehr, it can no longer deliver anything from its own stocks, which is why Ukraine can use stocks from the armaments industry, says Baerbock, explaining Chancellor Olaf Scholz's weapons plans.

Germany also wants to support Ukraine in the near future by training and maintaining artillery.

The delivery of armored vehicles is "not taboo", but there is nothing in Germany that can be delivered in the short term*.

That is why an “exchange of rings” was agreed with European partners.

These would deliver available tanks of Russian design, Germany would then provide replacements there.

Recently, among other things, deliveries of armored personnel carriers of the "Marder" model had been heatedly disputed*.

Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Bündnis90/Die Grünen) next to Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics.

© Michael Kappeler/dpa

Baerbock NOW speaks live in Riga: "NATO Article 5 applies without ifs and buts"

Update from April 20, 12:11 p.m .:

According to Baerbock, Ukraine must continue to be supported in the fight against Putin.

"We will defend peace, sovereignty and freedom and NATO will defend its alliance territory and protect every corner together." NATO Article 5* applies "without ifs and buts".

Especially in the Baltic States, Russian propaganda and Putin's information war must be undermined - but not through counter-propaganda, but through a pluralistic opinion.

She therefore wanted to find out more about freedom of the media and freedom of expression during her trip.

Baerbock NOW live in Riga: She addresses "fatal dependency" on Putin

Update from April 20, 12:07 p.m .:

Annalena Baerbock is now speaking.

The trip to the Baltics is very important because the security of Europe is inextricably linked to the security of the Baltics, she says.

"Since February 24th, we Europeans have been living in a new reality." A brutal war was raging just a few hours' drive away.

There has been a lot of talk about further sanctions against Russia.

For Germany, it is an effort to free itself from the "fatal energy dependency" on Russia.

But you will go the way of complete exit and work on it every day.

Update from April 20, 12:05 p.m

.: According to Latvia’s Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics, the establishment of NATO in the Baltic States was also discussed.

The territory must be defended by all means.

"One must clearly define Russia as one of the threats to peace and stability worldwide." China's role must also be addressed.

NATO's open-door policy must be underlined, he says, with regard to the possible NATO membership of Finland and Sweden.

He will be the first to agree.

Update from April 20, 11:59 a.m .:

The press conference starts ten minutes late.

Latvia's Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics will speak first.

He spoke to Baerbock about sanctions against Russia and how energy dependence on Russia can be reduced.

"This is about a war," said Rinkevics.

Much has been done to support Ukraine, but the needs are greater.

The military support must be continued, he agreed with Baerbock.

Everything must be done to ensure that Ukraine can withstand Russian aggression.

Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock is welcomed by Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics.

© Gints Ivuskans/afp

Update from April 20,

11:50 a.m.: Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock is now giving a press conference in Riga with Latvia’s Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics.

At the start of her three-day Baltic trip, Baerbock discussed the Ukraine war and a possible threat to the Baltic states from Russia with her counterpart.

Baerbock NOW speaks live in Riga – after the shock of an accident on the way there

Update from April 20, 11:40 a.m .:

Moment of shock when Foreign Minister Baerbock visited Latvia: On the way from the airport to downtown Riga, there was a rear-end collision in the column of the Green politician on Tuesday.

The two minibuses occupied by journalists were affected.

According to the delegation, no one was injured.

However, one bus was so badly damaged that it could not continue its journey.

The column had come to a halt in heavy traffic.

As a result, the first press bus ran into a vehicle belonging to the delegation.

The following vehicle was also unable to brake in time.

The minister's car was not affected. 

Baerbock makes a clear announcement to Putin before the next trip: "We will defend every square centimeter"

Berlin – Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock* has promised the Baltic states of Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania that she will give them more support in view of the Ukraine war*.

"We are ready to do even more to ensure the safety of our partners," said the Baerbock on Wednesday before its departure for a

three-day trip to the Baltic States of Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania.

Baerbock did not give any details, but emphasized:

"In an emergency, we will defend every square centimeter of our common alliance area."

The Bundeswehr already has the leading role in the NATO presence in Lithuania.

Baerbock wants to meet her counterpart Edgars Rinkevics in the Latvian capital Riga.

A meeting with Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins is also planned.

In the afternoon, the minister will take part in consultations with Rinkevic's three Baltic foreign ministers, Eva-Maria Liimets (Estonia) and Gabrielius Landsbergis (Lithuania).

According to the Federal Foreign Office, the talks will focus on the reaction of the EU, NATO and the international community to the Ukraine war.

The minister has already spoken out in favor

of supporting Ukraine with heavy weapons.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz* (SPD) is accused of hesitating too much on this topic and only making vague statements.

Baerbock because of the Ukraine war in the Baltic States: "Germany takes the new realities into account"

Annalena Baerbock said she wanted to make it clear on her trip: "

Germany is taking the new realities into account

, with all consistency." Power base of Russia's President Vladimir Putin*.

In addition, you strengthen your own defensiveness and make your contribution to the reorientation of security in Europe.

"So that our partners can rely on Germany," stressed Baerbock.

Baerbock on the Ukraine war in the Baltics: "Putin has destroyed security architecture"

The minister explained that Germany could learn a lot from Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania about defensiveness.

For years, the Baltic States have been investing in energy security, IT infrastructure, media resilience and defense capabilities.

In the Baltic States, people have been looking intensely and with concern towards Russia for years.

"I would like to listen carefully to your experiences and insights," emphasized the minister.

Baerbock accused Putin of not taking human life or international law into account* or the life and development opportunities of his own people.

"In doing so, he also

destroyed large parts of the European security

architecture that we have built on in recent decades and which was also a guarantee of security, especially for our Eastern European friends".

Baerbock because of the Ukraine war in the Baltic States: a visit to the NATO center is planned

The first stop on Annalena Baerbock's trip is the Latvian capital Riga on Wednesday.

After a meeting with Latvia's Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics, a press conference is planned at around 11:40 a.m. (CEST).

In the afternoon, Baerbock will have a conversation with all three of his Baltic counterparts.

A meeting with the Latvian Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins and a visit to the NATO Center of Excellence for Strategic Communications are also planned.

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

Source: merkur

All news articles on 2022-04-21

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