Scholz clarifies Putin's only way out of the war - and draws attention to suffering with sunflower oil

Created: 05/14/2022, 10:00 am

By: Florian Naumann, Bedrettin Bölükbasi

Habeck counters protest over Ukraine aid.

Chancellor Scholz sees no change of heart in Vladimir Putin.

News ticker.

• Ukraine conflict

  :

  Habeck

  warns opponents of aid and says the

  warmongers

  are sitting in the Kremlin

• Scholz-Putin phone call

  : Chancellor insists on three points.

• "War mongers": Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck (Greens) reacts to criticism of military support for Ukraine.

• This

  news ticker on Germany's reactions to the Ukraine war

  is continuously updated.

Update from May 14, 8.30 a.m .:

Two and a half months after the start of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) sees no change of heart in Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin.

He said this in an interview with the news portal

published on Saturday .

"Slowly, Putin should realize that the only way out of this situation is to reach an understanding with Ukraine." He made it clear that an agreement cannot be a dictated peace by Russia.

Scholz had been on the phone with Putin for more than an hour on Friday.

At the same time, Scholz promised Ukraine further support, for example through arms deliveries.

"Yes, we will continue.

Even with sanctions.

Because our goal is that the Russian invasion attempt fails.

That is the benchmark for our actions.” The Chancellor emphasized: “Russia and the whole world are paying a very high price for Putin’s crazy idea of ​​wanting to expand the Russian empire.” Many countries suffered from the fact that Ukraine was one of the Main suppliers of grain fail.

"It's about real hunger - not just whether there is enough sunflower oil on the supermarket shelves, as it is for us."

Germany's reactions to the Ukraine war: Faeser confirms the declining number of refugees

Update from May 14, 6:53 a.m

.: The Ukraine war is also visible in Germany through the refugees.

Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) has now confirmed that the numbers are declining.

She told the

on Saturday: “Currently only around 2,000 refugees from Ukraine arrive in Germany every day.

In mid-March it was still 15,000 people a day.”

Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) (archive image) © Britta Pedersen/dpa

About 20,000 people returned across the Polish-Ukrainian border every day, including people who had last sought protection in Germany.

Faeser therefore assumes that the majority of people will return.

But she also said: "Some will remain if people see the opportunity to gain a foothold in the German labor market with their qualifications." This remains "a great humanitarian effort.

The willingness of the German population to help is still great.

"The refugees are very well received here - nothing is tipping at the moment."

Germany in the Ukraine-Russia war: Baerbock affirms solidarity with Kyiv and asks for patience

Update from May 13, 10:55 p.m .:

Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) has reaffirmed solidarity with Ukraine, but at the same time asked for some patience with the delivery of heavy weapons.

There is consensus "that we have to stand by Ukraine's side so that there are no more war crimes, so that Ukraine can defend itself," said Baerbock on Friday evening in the ARD "Tagesthemen" with a view to the current meeting of the G7 Foreign Minister in Schleswig-Holstein.

However, like many other alliance partners, Germany cannot "immediately provide support at the push of a button" in the area of ​​air defense, added the Foreign Minister.

Therefore, the allies would join forces, such as Germany and the Netherlands in the delivery of howitzers.

Regarding the chances of success of diplomatic initiatives to end the Ukraine war, Baerbock said on ARD: "Diplomacy never dies." However, since the outbreak of the Ukraine war on February 24, the world has had to experience "in a brutal way" that Russia's head of state Vladimir Putin has not kept all his promises.

In order to end the attack on Ukraine, the federal government is still "active on all channels".

Ukraine news from Germany: Habeck warns critics of military support

Update from May 13, 8:22 p.m .:

Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck has warned critics of military support for Ukraine against distorting the reality of the Russian war of aggression.

"Anyone who defames those who are helping Ukraine as warmongers is siding with the murderers," said the Greens politician on Friday in Cologne at the end of the Greens' election campaign two days before the North Rhine-Westphalian state elections.

"I have great respect for unconditional moral pacifism," said Habeck.

But he comes to a different conclusion.

If you don't help people who are fighting for their lives, who are suffering from rape and displacement, "you are at least as guilty, probably more guilty".

Habeck's speech was interrupted by protesters with whistles and horns.

Among other things, they shouted “warmongers”.

"This is a reversal of all morals," cried Habeck.

"This makes you mean to the perpetrators and despises the victims." The real warmongers in Europe are in the Kremlin.

Ukraine news from Germany: Habeck "not proud" of arms deliveries

At the same time, Habeck conceded that no one would get out of the war “morally clean”.

He, too, was "not proud" of the arms deliveries to Ukraine or the attempt to replace fossil fuels from Russia with the establishment of new fossil fuel energy relationships.

Habeck was alluding to getting away from Russian oil and gas and compensating with other supply relationships.

But this is necessary "if we don't want to continue financing Putin's war," he said.

Robert Habeck (Greens), Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, speaks at a campaign event for the state elections in North Rhine-Westphalia.

© David Young/dpa

Update from May 13, 3:20 p.m

.: Federal Minister of Labor Hubertus Heil (SPD) has warned of economic stagnation with rising prices in the event of a gas supply stop from Russia.

He also held out the prospect of additional relief for citizens if inflation remained high.

Germany in the Ukraine war: Scholz' three points after Putin's call

Update from May 13, 1:35 p.m .:

Chancellor Olaf Scholz revealed details of his phone call with Russian ruler Vladimir Putin on Twitter.

“Three things from today's long phone call with Putin: There must be a ceasefire in Ukraine as soon as possible.

The claim that Nazis rule there is wrong.

And I pointed out Russia's responsibility for the global food situation," Scholz wrote in his message on the short message service.

Germany in the Ukraine war: Scholz talks to Putin - Kremlin boss explains "logic" of the invasion

Update from May 13, 12:50 p.m .:

After weeks of radio silence, Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Russian President Vladimir Putin called each other again, according to information from Moscow.

The talks on the situation in Ukraine took place at the initiative of the German side, the Kremlin said.

According to the Russian state agency

, the focus of the call was on humanitarian issues.

Putin explained to Scholz the "logic and main goals" of the "special operation" described by Russia as such and explained measures to protect the civilian population, the agency reported, citing the Kremlin.

The Russian President also drew attention to "violations of international humanitarian law by militants who profess Nazi ideology".

Scholz' Ukraine session: Faber denies scandal - "no one feels fooled"

Update from May 13, 11:45 a.m .:

FDP politician Marcus Faber has now denied reports that he left the Defense Committee meeting with Chancellor Olaf Scholz early.

“After the end of the session, my colleagues and I left the committee meeting today.

That's why no one feels 'cheated' and no one has issued a protest note," he said in a tweet.

When relativizing it could be more about finesse.

The appointment was scheduled from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m., Faber told ARD.

"We, as free democrats," decided shortly after 9 a.m. to "leave the session," he said.

There were still no “answers” ​​from the Chancellor.

The

had previously reported that several FDP MPs had left the appointment out of anger at Scholz's answers.

The AFP news agency picked up the process, citing an earlier tweet by Faber that can no longer be found online.

The liberal now practiced irony.

"By the way, no objects were thrown either," he wrote with a winking emoji.

Germany in the Ukraine war: Scholz apparently wants to call Putin

Update from May 13, 11:00 a.m .:

According to participants, Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced in the Bundestag Defense Committee that he wanted to try to talk to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"I heard, I heard clearly, that the chancellor had also announced a new initiative for talks with Putin," said SPD defense politician Wolfgang Hellmich after the hour-long meeting with Scholz.

The chancellor did this according to the motto: "Before May 9th it didn't make any sense, but we have to make a new attempt because we have to talk to each other." Without channels of communication, it would not be possible to find a solution to the conflict.

Meanwhile, it has been officially confirmed that at least one FDP politician left the meeting early.

"Unfortunately, many answers were not given," MP Marcus Faber wrote on Twitter.

In the committee, the Chancellor had the opportunity "to declare himself on Ukraine," wrote Faber.

"I hope that we can catch up on this." According to information from the AFP news agency, the action was not coordinated in the FDP parliamentary group.

Elsewhere in the group, it was said to AFP that the chancellor's appearance was "okay for the first round". 

Germany and the Ukraine war: Traffic light scandal at the Defense Committee - FDP leaves session

Update from May 13, 10:20 a.m .:

When Chancellor Olaf Scholz appeared in the Bundestag’s Defense Committee, there was apparently an internal coalition scandal: the FDP working group allegedly left the meeting shortly before the end of the appointment and during Scholz’s lecture.

That reports the

.

The reason was therefore annoyance at the Chancellor's evasive answers.

Scholz answered questions about the Ukraine war with information about the Global South and China's role on the world stage;

one feels "ripped off," the tabloid quoted an unnamed Liberal source as saying.

However, according to the report, there are also internal discrepancies within the FDP.

Because the chair of the defense committee is the FDP politician Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann.

She had also invited Scholz, the head of government of the joint traffic light cabinet of the SPD, Greens and FDP, to the committee and allegedly does not appreciate the actions of the party friends.

The reason for this was disagreements over the delivery of heavy weapons to Ukraine.

The federal government has meanwhile agreed to provide such equipment;

Ukraine, however, continues to criticize the plans.

Germany in the Ukraine war: Strack-Zimmermann reports on "very constructive" talks with Scholz

Update from May 13, 10:10 a.m.:

Even after the end of the defense committee, Chancellor Olaf Scholz did not comment on the cameras.

Together with the chair of the defense committee, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann (FDP), Scholz left the room where the meeting was held.

Strack-Zimmermann had previously accused the Chancellor of being hesitant to deliver arms to Ukraine.

After a short exchange with each other in front of the hall, Scholz said goodbye with quick steps.

Instead of Scholz, the FDP politician made a statement in front of the cameras.

"It was a very constructive conversation," was her first assessment.

The Chancellor offered to visit the committee again and stay in close contact.

With a view to NATO membership for Finland and Sweden, Strack-Zimmermann emphasized that if these countries applied, the Bundestag would have to meet “as soon as possible” in order to act as a “model” for other NATO countries.

Here one will cooperate closely with the Federal Chancellery.

Scholz also said that Germany stands by Finland and Sweden within the framework of the EU to provide support in the event of a "security problem".

The Chancellor also said that "as long as this war is raging in Ukraine", Germany will stand by Ukraine with humanitarian, economic and military aid.

Regarding further deliveries of weapons, the FDP politician said: “The weapons that were mentioned remain so.

There is no prospect of going beyond these guys.”

Germany and the Ukraine war: FDP demands coordinator for Ukraine weapons

Update from May 13, 9:15 a.m .:

The FDP calls for the appointment of a coordinator for arms deliveries to Ukraine.

"There has to be someone who does it," said committee chairwoman Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann (FDP) before the defense committee meeting in Berlin.

There are currently “a lot of misunderstandings” within the federal government on the subject.

"I think you can make one or the other thing a little smoother so that the weapons can be delivered very quickly," said the FDP politician.

Germany in the Ukraine war: Greens co-founder wants "a sense of proportion" in arms deliveries

Update from May 13, 9 a.m.:

Greens co-founder Hans-Christian Ströbele urges more judgment in the debate about the delivery of heavy weapons to Ukraine.

Ströbele told the

: "There must be no automatic delivery of heavy weapons." The long-standing member of the Bundestag continued: "For many decades we tried to prevent a war between East and West.

Unfortunately, 77 years after the end of the Second World War, the risk of a full-scale military confrontation has increased again.

And that keeps me from saying you now also have to supply heavy weapons that are suitable for an attack and that are mostly used.”

He also commented on the Greens' weapon turnaround.

By agreeing to the delivery of heavy weapons, the Greens are moving away from the principles of the peace movement today, Ströbele said.

According to Ströbele, he would like the Greens to “above all do what you have unfortunately failed to do after having previously participated in the war, for example after 20 years of war in Afghanistan: At the latest after the end of the war against Ukraine, the Greens must have a discussion about how the radical change in green positions on this issue came about.

I hear and read with great astonishment and sometimes incomprehension that the Greens of all people are at the forefront of the pro-gun movement today.”

Germany in the Ukraine war: Scholz before the Defense Committee - Chancellor arrives

Update from May 13, 8:05 a.m .:

Chancellor Olaf Scholz has now arrived at the Defense Committee.

The Chancellor did not comment before entering the meeting.

Due to the explosive issues on the agenda, the Defense Committee meets behind closed doors.

Germany and the Ukraine War: Debate on the delivery of heavy weapons

First report from May 13:

Munich - With a view to the Ukraine war, hardly any other topic was discussed as much in Germany as arms deliveries to Ukraine.

The heavy fighting in Ukraine continues and is becoming increasingly violent in the east of the country.

This map shows where the Ukraine war is raging.

In order to be able to defend itself against the troops of Kremlin boss Vladimir Putin, the Ukrainian government demanded heavy weapons - also from Germany.

In a historic go, the Bundestag decided to supply heavy weapons.

In Kyiv, however, it caused outrage that the delivery was only approved around two months after the start of the war and long discussions.

The action taken by the federal government also met with criticism from some quarters in German politics.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) now wants to answer further questions about his government's course in Ukraine.

Germany in the Ukraine war: Scholz in the Defense Committee - Chancellor answers Ukraine questions

Accordingly, on Friday morning

, Scholz will answer questions from the Bundestag Defense Committee about his Ukraine policy.

The session will start at 8 a.m.

The occasion is an invitation from the committee chairwoman Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann (FDP) in April.

She had vehemently advocated the delivery of heavy weapons to Ukraine and accused Scholz of hesitation on the issue.

In the meantime, the federal government has given the green light for the provision of decommissioned Gepard anti-aircraft tanks.

Berlin then also announced the delivery of seven Panzerhaubitzen 2000.

Another possible topic of the talks with Scholz could be the planned special fund of 100 billion euros for the Bundeswehr.

Negotiations are underway here with the Union to enable a planned amendment to the Basic Law.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) will answer questions in the defense committee about the government's Ukraine course.

© Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa/archive image

Germany and the Ukraine war: warning of a "double crisis" - Heil skeptical about the gas embargo

A possible gas embargo against Russia is another topic of discussion in the background of the Ukraine crisis.

In the debate, Federal Labor Minister Hubertus Heil (SPD) warned of a new economic crisis in Germany.

"A unilateral gas embargo by Germany against Russia, for example, would plunge us into a double crisis, then we would be in stagflation, i.e. in an economic crisis and prices rising even more," Heil told the

.

Stagflation is "the horror of all economists and politicians," he added.

"This must be prevented.

And thank God our economy is still growing,” says Heil.

If the situation “escalates economically”, the federal government will act and, for example, further extend short-time work, the SPD minister said.

The President of the Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHK), Peter Adrian, also warned of the effects of a possible stop to gas deliveries from Russia.

"The federal government must do everything possible to ensure security in the energy supply in Germany," Adrian told the

.

"Because a failure of Russian gas supplies would not only hit the energy-intensive industry hard," emphasized the DIHK President.