War in Eastern Europe: Scholz defends course for arms deliveries to Ukraine

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Scholz on Putin: “The hunger crisis that the war he instigated is triggering, he then tries to blame those who are supporting Ukraine”

Photo: ANDREAS GEBERT / REUTERS

Olaf Scholz has defended the German government's course on arms deliveries to Ukraine.

For him, it was "very clear: Putin must not get away with his cynical, inhumane war," said the Chancellor at the German Catholic Convention in Stuttgart.

That is why there are tough sanctions against Russia as well as humanitarian, economic and financial support for Ukraine, according to Scholz.

"And therefore also the delivery of weapons to such a war zone - something that we have never done as a Federal Republic."

This raises politically, ethically and personally difficult questions and must be discussed.

His position on this is clear, Scholz emphasized: "We have decided to help the victims of this war of aggression, so that injustice does not triumph over right, so that brute force does not prevail as a means of politics." Peace does not come about "through violent submission".

Ultimately, it is also a "principle of solidarity with the weaker," emphasized Scholz.

In the debate about the planned special fund of 100 billion euros for the Bundeswehr, Scholz was optimistic.

The coalition is still in talks with the opposition.

The special fund requires an amendment to the Basic Law, and "I am quite confident that this will succeed," said the Federal Chancellor at a panel discussion at the Catholic Day.

The special fund was announced by Scholz after the Russian invasion of Ukraine to eliminate deficits in the Bundeswehr.

A two-thirds majority in the Bundestag and Bundesrat is required for the amendment to the Basic Law, which is why the traffic light coalition is dependent on votes from the Union.

Putin's war is against "never again"

Scholz stressed that Germany has an obligation to support Ukraine.

The war is not only directed against Ukraine, but generally against the values ​​of Western democracy.

"Putin's war is directed against a peace order that arose from the commitment 'Never again' after two devastating world wars.

He wants to go back to the law of the strongest.« That should not be allowed under any circumstances.

According to the Chancellor, "Putin's narrative" must be refuted.

“He found a formula for it.

He always speaks of us as the global West,” said Scholz.

By that, Putin means his enemies, against whom he wants to ally himself with all other countries.

"The hunger crisis that the war he instigated is triggering, he then tries to blame on those who support Ukraine," said the social democrat.

It is therefore important to face the countries of the Global South on an equal footing.

Scholz warns of a global crisis over China loans in Africa

With a view to the extensive granting of Chinese loans to poorer countries, especially in Africa, Scholz warned of a global economic and financial crisis.

Germany coordinates with western creditor countries that are members of the so-called Paris Club and provides information about lending in order not to repeat previous mistakes.

"One of the very, very big ambitions that we are pursuing is to include China, as a country that is issuing many loans in a new way," said Scholz.

There is a "really serious risk that the next major debt crisis in the Global South will come from loans that China has issued worldwide and does not have an overview of itself because there are so many players involved," warned the Chancellor.

"That would then plunge both China and the Global South into a major economic and financial crisis, and incidentally would not leave the rest of the world unaffected." It is a serious concern to change this.

asa/AFP/dpa