Russia, Ukraine, Africa: Scholz' foreign policy misery never ends - turning point Davos?

Created: 05/27/2022, 05:40

By: Christoph Gschossmann

Russia's President Vladimir Putin (left) and Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) met in the Kremlin before the outbreak of war in Ukraine.

Scholz' warnings were unsuccessful.

© Mikhail Klimentyev/dpa

Chancellor Olaf Scholz remains unsuccessful in his behavior around the escalated Ukraine conflict.

Will he turn things around in his speech in Davos?

Munich - The escalated Ukraine conflict is probably the greatest challenge for the recently incumbent Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD).

While his Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) seems to be growing in the crisis, Scholz is making some unfortunate appearances.

On February 15, he traveled to Moscow as one of the last heads of state before the Ukraine war broke out, where he consulted with Russia's ruler Vladimir Putin and also called for de-escalation at the following press conference in the Kremlin.

The result is well known: Putin's troops invaded Ukraine just nine days later.

Scholz' phone calls with Putin remain fruitless - just like his last visit there

Before Russia invaded Ukraine in February, "strategic ambiguity" was one of Scholz's favorite words.

He explained why he did not want to publicly commit to an end to the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline if Russia invaded Ukraine.

Scholz is accused of having encouraged Putin rather than deterred this lack of clarity.

The visit to Moscow was not Scholz's only attempt to dissuade Putin from his advance in Ukraine.

The Chancellor also tried a few times by telephone, but the talks were fruitless.

It was not until May 16 that government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said Scholz had called Putin after weeks of radio silence.

He's trying to "walk the diplomatic path again, no matter how difficult it is."

Scholz had agreed with Putin to continue the conversation.

The situation is very difficult and muddled, but nothing should be left untried.

Disagreements with Ukraine: Scholz was still not in Kyiv

Scholz also had some irritations in contact with the attacked Ukraine.

The Ukrainian side refused a visit to Kyiv by Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who they accused of once pursuing a pro-Russian policy as SPD foreign minister.

Scholz then did not want to go to Kyiv.

According to the governments, the tensions were resolved with clarifying talks in early May.

After all: On May 18, the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj described a telephone call with Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) as “quite productive”.

In the same statement, Zelenskyi described a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron as "substantial and long".

For some, Scholz' rhetoric in the Ukraine conflict does not go far enough.

The military historian Sönke Neitzel criticized that Scholz's constant warnings of an escalation were "unwise in terms of foreign policy, even risky.

Scholz is showing Putin his fear,” said the professor of military history at the University of Potsdam in an interview with the

Criticism from the opposition for Chancellor Scholz: "He hesitates, he hesitates"

The opposition did not shy away from criticism of Scholz's Ukraine policy either.

"What kind of game are you playing with the German public when it comes to arms deliveries?" CDU leader Friedrich Merz asked in the Bundestag on May 19, for example.

Ukraine still needs humanitarian and financial aid, but also arms supplies.

The country needs the solidarity of the international community.

The "brutal killings" in Ukraine go on every day.

Merz also criticized the fact that, unlike other German politicians, Scholz has not yet traveled to Ukraine.

On May 24th, Merz added: Scholz is “not perceived as someone who leads powerfully and thinks strategically.

He dithers, he hesitates, and he shows too much regard for the SPD's Russia network."

Discrepancies also in Scholz' Africa trip

Things didn't go smoothly for Scholz on his trip to Africa either.

In South Africa, President Cyril Ramaphosa claimed at the joint press conference that Scholz had shown understanding for countries like South Africa, which were suffering from the sanctions against Russia.

South Africa was among 17 African countries to abstain from voting on a 141-nation-backed UN resolution condemning Russia's war of aggression in March.

According to Ramaphosa, the Chancellor "understood very well the reasons expressed by these countries".

Scholz vehemently disagreed.

This situation also showed once again: Scholz's foreign policy has definitely not yet been characterized by success and clarity.

At the World Economic Forum in Davos (negotiation ticker on the Ukraine conflict), he again has the opportunity to do better in a speech.

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