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Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the press conference in Kyiv.
Photo: LUDOVIC MARIN / AFP
After his meeting with the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj, Chancellor Olaf Scholz commented on the prospects for the Ukraine war: "One thing is clear: There will be no dictated peace by Putin's grace," said the German head of government on ZDF's "heute journal".
Chancellor Olaf Scholz has prepared Ukraine for a lengthy process before it can join the EU.
The status of an accession candidate means that hope on the way to Europe becomes concrete for the people of Ukraine, said the SPD politician on Thursday evening.
"And that's not an easy path, but a very demanding one that can also take a very long time," Scholz made clear.
Everyone in Ukraine knows that too.
Regarding the time horizon, Scholz said that nobody could seriously answer that.
"But it's worth it, that's the message."
When asked about a potential EU decision to grant Ukraine candidate status, Scholz pointed out that "we need and want a consensus." It is about making a joint decision, "so that the EU remains united and together.
That is also important for the next European summit.«
On ZDF and ARD, the Chancellor mentioned questions of the rule of law and democracy, which are the prerequisites for EU accession.
"This is about hope," said Scholz in an ARD "focus".
"Europe is a good idea," he added.
»We have decided that Ukraine belongs to the European family«
Scholz traveled to Ukraine on Thursday, accompanied by French President Emmanuel Macron, Italy's Prime Minister Mario Draghi and Romanian President Klaus Iohannis.
For the first time, Scholz and Macron campaigned for Ukraine to become a candidate for accession to the European Union.
"We have decided that Ukraine belongs to the European family," emphasized the Chancellor in an interview with RTL/ntv.
On ZDF, the Federal Chancellor also mentioned other accession candidates that need to be given prospects: “Concrete progress must be made now.
And if I may name two countries specifically: North Macedonia and Albania have fulfilled all the requirements that after the long time they have been candidates, it is now a matter of opening the accession conferences.«
On RTL/ntv, the Chancellor contradicted the impression that German arms deliveries were too late for Ukraine given the current war situation.
He did not make any concrete promises for further arms deliveries in Kyiv.
Do what is necessary, and do it carefully, said Scholz.
This has ensured that Germany has made a "very efficient contribution" so far.
ktz/dpa
