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Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) speaks in the ZDF program "What now, Mr. Scholz?" with moderator Peter Frey
Photo: Thomas Kierok / dpa
Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) sees the uninviting of Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier by Ukraine as an obstacle to his own visit to Kyiv.
"That stands in the way of things," said Scholz in the ZDF program "What now, Mr. Scholz?".
It remains a "remarkable event" that Ukraine uninvited a German head of state who had been re-elected by a large majority.
"You can't do that," said Scholz.
It cannot work for Kyiv to say to a country that is providing so much military and financial aid and that is needed to guarantee Ukraine's security in the future, "but the president cannot come."
Steinmeier originally wanted to travel to Kyiv with his colleagues from Poland and the three Baltic states in mid-April.
The Federal President, who as foreign and chancellery minister played a key role in shaping German Russia policy in the past, announced shortly beforehand that the Ukrainian leadership had rejected his visit.
With a view to the trip to Ukraine announced for this week by CDU leader Friedrich Merz, Scholz said he had "no objections".
Merz informed him about the project.
“I approve of that.” He assumes that the CDU parliamentary group leader will talk to him about the result after the visit.
"Anything else would not be good behavior in a democracy."
Scholz
defends Ukraine course
Scholz has rejected the accusation of hesitation in supporting Ukraine in the defensive war against Russia.
"I always made quick decisions, together with everyone else, coordinated with the allies," the Chancellor defended his policy.
"But my course is that we act prudently and with a clear mind." The government does not make decisions in the style of a PR department - "still something on it or never something".
Scholz emphasized that the financial and military aid provided by Germany and other countries has helped "that the Ukrainian army, which is really acting very successfully, can now hold out for so long against such an overpowering opponent".
The Ukrainian army will continue to be supported.
kim/dpa/AFP