Scholz's visit to Ukraine: Chancellor wants EU accession status for Ukraine - "It's about hope"
Created: 06/17/2022, 05:31
By: Patrick Mayer, Bettina Menzel, Christian Deutschländer, Franziska Schwarz
Olaf Scholz arrived in Kyiv in the middle of the Ukraine war.
The Chancellor is in favor of EU accession status for Ukraine.
Criticism comes from the Union.
The news ticker.
Olaf Scholz
(SPD) in
Ukraine
: The Chancellor is committed to granting Ukraine EU accession status, but also mentions conditions.
Chancellor in Kyiv: Scholz promises Ukraine further arms deliveries - the Union is disappointed at the lack of concrete delivery commitments for heavy weapons.
The Chancellor
's trip to
Kiev
: Scholz makes it clear that Russia should not enforce a dictated peace.
This
news ticker on the Chancellor's talks in Kiev with Zelenskyy
is continuously updated.
Update from June 16, 9:07 p.m.:
“It is important that I make my second visit here,” Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) summarized his visit to Kiev in an interview on the ARD program “Brennpunkt” on Thursday evening.
During his trip to Ukraine, the chancellor had his clear statement on the country's EU accession candidate status with him.
However, Scholz made it clear in the ARD interview that there were conditions for this status.
“Everyone here agrees on that.
We and the Ukrainian government know that it is absolutely necessary to take the pre-conditional path connected with the prospect of EU membership.
It's about the rule of law, democracy and all these rules that we have in Europe," said Scholz.
When asked to what extent candidate status would help Ukraine now that accession negotiations would take a long time, the chancellor replied: “This is about hope.
Europe is a good idea.
But of course, when it comes to other questions, it’s about getting very specific,” Scholz continued.
He cited financial aid, humanitarian aid, arms deliveries and sanctions against Russia as examples.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) in an interview with ARD focal point presenter Ellen Ehni on Thursday evening.
© ARD / focal point
Scholz's visit to Ukraine: Chancellor defends strategy for arms deliveries
Scholz has contradicted the impression that German arms deliveries were too late for Ukraine in the current war situation.
On the fringes of his visit to the Ukrainian capital, Scholz explained his strategy and attitude in an interview with
RTL/ntv
by “making the right decisions bit by bit.” Do what is necessary – and do it carefully.
This has ensured that Germany has made a "very efficient contribution" so far.
Scholz's visit to Ukraine: CSU criticizes the Chancellor's trip to Kyiv
Update from June 16, 6:55 p.m .: Clear
criticism of the Chancellor’s trip to Kiev comes from the CSU.
"Basically, it was high time that Scholz traveled to Kyiv," says foreign policy expert Florian Hahn in an interview with our editors.
"I can only hope that his impressions will help to give up his hesitancy in actually supporting Ukraine." Germany must finally "go from slowdown to turbo" in helping the country under attack.
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The member of parliament sharply criticizes the commitment to support EU accession.
This is “pure symbolism that can still fall at our feet”.
Hahn says he doesn't think Ukraine, Georgia or Moldova "have a chance of being admitted to the EU in the next 20, 30 years".
In the Union parties, however, there are different views.
Several politicians from the CDU and CSU are also in favor of a speedy accession, at least for Ukraine.
Scholz's visit to Ukraine: clear criticism from the Union
Update from June 16, 6:23 p.m.:
After Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s (SPD) visit to Kiev, the Union in the Bundestag expressed disappointment at the lack of concrete delivery commitments for heavy weapons.
During the visit, it would have been "high time to finally make a clear commitment to the immediate delivery of heavy weapons," said Union parliamentary group vice-president Johann Wadephul (CDU) of the
world
.
"Only Olaf Scholz's commitment to immediate EU accession candidate status for Ukraine and Moldova is a good signal," Wadephul continued.
However, the Left Party sees it differently: "The debate about Ukraine's accession to the EU is a bogus debate," said parliamentary group leader Dietmar Bartsch to the newspapers of the Funke media group.
"It is clear to everyone involved that the prerequisite for an accession process, in addition to domestic political reforms, is a prior and lasting peace process."
Scholz's visit to Ukraine: Chancellor assures further arms deliveries - without concrete commitments
Update from June 16, 5:24 p.m .:
Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) promised Ukraine further arms deliveries during his visit to Kiev, but made no new concrete commitments.
"We also support Ukraine with the supply of weapons, and we will continue to do so as long as Ukraine needs our support," Scholz said after talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on Thursday.
Scholz confirmed: "We are currently training the Ukrainian military on the most modern weapons, on the Panzerhaubitze 2000 and on the Gepard anti-aircraft vehicle." Scholz, and the special radar Cobra.
Scholz also referred to tripartite talks with the US and UK with the result that Ukraine would receive multiple rocket launchers.
"Germany is giving Ukraine massive support," was the Chancellor's summary.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyj at a press conference in Kyiv.
© Sergei Supinsky/AFP
Scholz's visit to Ukraine: Chancellor in favor of bringing Western Balkan countries closer to the EU
Update from June 16, 5:06 p.m .:
Chancellor Olaf Scholz has spoken out in favor of bringing the Western Balkans closer to the European Union in view of Ukraine’s prospects of joining the EU.
"It is a question of European credibility that we are finally keeping our promise to the states of the Western Balkans, which have been on this path for years, now and in concrete terms," said the SPD politician on Thursday in Kyiv.
"There are clear criteria for accession to the European Union, which all candidates must meet," he added.
This applies in particular to the common rules with a view to democracy and the rule of law.
Scholz's trip to Ukraine: "Russia must not be able to enforce a dictated peace"
Update from June 16, 4:47 p.m .:
From the perspective of Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Russia should not be able to enforce a dictated peace in the Ukraine war.
That must be meant for Russia, Scholz said on Thursday in Kyiv.
Only Ukraine, the president, the government, parliament, the people can decide what is right within the framework of an agreement on peace - from which one is still "very, very far away", said Scholz.
Scholz's trip to Ukraine: Chancellor speaks out in favor of EU accession status for Ukraine and Moldova
Update from June 16, 4:15 p.m .:
Chancellor Olaf Scholz has campaigned for Ukraine and its small neighboring Republic of Moldova to be granted the status of EU accession candidates.
“Germany is for a positive decision in favor of Ukraine.
That also applies to the Republic of Moldova," said the SPD politician at a press conference in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv on Thursday.
"Ukraine is part of the European family," he added.
Scholz's visit to Ukraine: NATO Secretary General welcomes the Chancellor's visit to Kyiv
Update from June 16, 3:53 p.m.:
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s (SPD) long-awaited trip to Kiev.
"This is a message of solidarity," said Stoltenberg on Thursday in Brussels at the meeting between Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selenksky.
"This shows how the European Union and NATO are working together and how allies and NATO partners are making efforts to support Ukraine," Stoltenberg added.
"This visit is part of that message."
Scholz's visit to Ukraine: air alert is triggered for the second time
Update from June 16, 3:14 p.m .:
When Chancellor Olaf Scholz visited Kiev on Thursday, the air alarm was triggered for the second time in the Ukrainian capital.
This was reported by a reporter from the German Press Agency on site.
French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi were also in the capital with Scholz.
Already after their arrival in the morning there had been an air raid alert.
Chancellor Scholz's visit to Ukraine: Moscow warns of further arms deliveries
Update from June 16, 2:02 p.m
.: Against the background of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s visit to Ukraine, Moscow warned of further arms deliveries to the country.
These would be "absolutely useless" and would only "further harm the country," said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
Ukraine visit shakes Scholz: "It's terrible what this war is doing"
Update from June 16, 1:39 p.m
.: Scholz was shaken in Irpin, after which quotes that the federal government has now published also sound.
“Innocent civilians have been affected, houses have been destroyed.
An entire city was destroyed in which there was no military infrastructure at all," said the Chancellor.
That says a lot "about the brutality of the Russian war of aggression, which is simply out for destruction and conquest".
Russia is driving the war "with the greatest brutality without regard to human life".
The purpose of Western aid for Ukraine and the sanctions against Moscow is to end this, Scholz said.
Scholz in Kyiv: Chancellor meets with Macron and Draghi the Ukrainian President Selenskyj
Update from June 16, 1:14 p.m
.: Scholz, Macron, Draghi and Iohannis were received at the Presidential Palace in Kiev.
After a joint photo session in front of the building, the top politicians sat down with Zelenskyj at a round table.
Volodymyr Zelenskyj welcomes Olaf Scholz in front of the Presidential Palace in Kyiv.
© Kay Nietfeld/dpa
Scholz in Kyiv: Strack-Zimmermann hopes for a "clarifying discussion" on arms deliveries
Update from June 16, 12:59 p.m
.: Scholz' trip to Kiev is also a concern of the FDP defense politician Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann.
"I am deeply convinced that this war can only be resolved militarily," she told the Funke media group, adding: "Everyone has to give what they can."
Strack-Zimmermann also called for more arms deliveries to Ukraine and “concrete commitments” from Macron (France) and Draghi (Italy).
The question should "not only focus on Germany." She saw the visit as an opportunity for a clarifying conversation.
Zelenskyj could “explain the situation and say which weapons he wants and needs.
Scholz can say openly what works and what doesn't work."
Ukraine regularly accuses Germany of not supplying the country with heavy weapon systems sufficiently or quickly enough to stop the Russian advance.
There are a number of commitments from the federal government, but nothing has been delivered so far.
The Ukraine Ambassador Andriy Melnyk also made demands on the Chancellor before Scholz's trip to Kyiv.
Scholz in the destroyed Irpin: Chancellor puts his hand on the wrecked car
Update from June 16, 12:12 p.m
.: Olaf Scholz was concerned in the ruins of Irpin.
An AFP reporter described the scene as follows: In silence, with a closed face, the chancellor listened to a Ukrainian official pointing to a wrecked car and explaining that a mother and her children had been killed inside.
Scholz put his hand on the fender of the wrecked car for a while and kept his eyes down.
When asked by journalists how he felt about it, he did not answer.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) on a badly damaged car in Irpin © Kay Nietfeld/dpa
Scholz' trip to Ukraine: Chancellor visits Irpin with Macron, Draghi and Iohannis
Update from June 16, 11:27 a.m
.: The first station of Scholz, Macron and Draghi in Ukraine: the Kiev suburb of Irpin.
Romania's President Iohannis, who had traveled separately, also accompanied them.
Hundreds of civilians were killed in Irpin and other places in the region, such as Bucha.
International investigations are currently underway to identify those responsible for these war crimes.
The visit of the heads of state and government of the three most populous EU countries had been long awaited.
Scholz in the Ukraine: Chancellor visits the neighboring town of Butscha with Irpin
Update from June 16, 10:41 a.m
.: It wasn’t just the atrocities in Bucha.
Other Ukrainian locations were also affected.
Chancellor Scholz has now visited the partially destroyed Kiev suburb of Irpin.
Almost 300 civilians, some of whom were executed, were found there after the Russian troops withdrew at the end of March.
Scholz trip to Ukraine: air alert in Kyiv lifted
Update from June 16, 10:33 a.m
.: The air alarm in Kiev was lifted after about half an hour.
This was confirmed by a reporter from the dpa news agency on site.
Scholz meets Selenskyj with Macron and Draghi in Kyiv - Romania's President is also there
Update from June 16, 10:19
a.m .: Selenskyj will probably receive five leaders in Kiev: Romania's President Klaus Iohannis also arrived in the city during the Ukraine war, he said on Twitter.
Together with Scholz, Macron and Draghi he wants to meet the Ukrainian President.
In view of the Russian attack, he wanted to express his solidarity with Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian people.
"This illegal Russian aggression must end," Iohannis tweeted.
Macron with Scholz and Draghi in the middle of the Ukraine war in Kyiv: "Message of European unity and support"
Update from June 16, 10:05 a.m
.: Chancellor Scholz with his counterparts Macron and Draghi in Kiev: French President said upon his arrival that it was about a “message of European unity, addressed to the Ukrainians, as well as support, at the same time to talk about the present and the future because we know that the next few weeks will be difficult".
Chancellor Scholz in Kyiv: Apparently an air alarm in the Ukrainian capital
Update from June 16, 9.47 a.m
.: Scholz trip to Kiev: Shortly after the Chancellor's arrival, an air alarm was apparently triggered in the Ukrainian capital.
Scholz visit to Kyiv: Mayor Vitali Klitschko "happy and proud"
Update from June 16, 9:21 a.m
.: "As mayor, I am happy and proud that the German Chancellor is visiting our city together with the French President and the Italian Prime Minister": With these words, Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko Scholz' trip in conversation with who
comments on the
picture .
"This is a sign of great support at a time when visiting Kyiv is still a risk because missiles can still fall at any time," he added.
According to Klitschko, the visit “is of great symbolic importance and shows support for Ukraine in times of war”.
There can only be stability in Europe "when Putin finally ends this cruel war against our country".
Chancellor Scholz in Kyiv: want to demonstrate solidarity with Ukraine
Update from June 16, 9:03 a.m .:
Olaf Scholz (SPD) has assured Ukraine of further full support in its fight against Russia's attack.
"It is important when the heads of government of the three big countries, who were involved in the founding of the European Economic Community, go to Kyiv and show their support for Ukraine and the citizens of Ukraine in this very special situation of war." , said the Federal Chancellor on his journey to Kyiv on a special train.
Scholz, who is accompanied by French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, has already arrived in the Ukrainian capital.
"But we don't just want to demonstrate solidarity, we also want to assure that the help we organize, financial, humanitarian, but also when it comes to weapons, will be continued," added Scholz.
Support will continue for as long as is necessary for Ukraine's struggle for independence.
At the same time, it will be made clear once again that the sanctions imposed on Russia are of great importance.
“Because they contribute to the chance that Russia will give up its plan and withdraw its troops again.
Because that's the goal," emphasized Scholz.
Olaf Scholz (SPD) in Kyiv: Visitors have arrived in the Ukrainian capital
Update from June 16, 8:35 a.m .:
Olaf Scholz, Emmanuel Macron and Mario Draghi arrived in the Ukrainian capital of Kiev on Thursday morning with a special train.
This is reported by the German Press Agency.
There they want to talk to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy about further support for the country attacked by Russia and about Ukraine's desire to join the European Union.
Olaf Scholz (SPD) in Kyiv: Three leaders are sitting on the train
Update from June 16, 7:53 a.m .:
Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD), French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi are on board a special train on the way to Kiev.
The Elysée Palace confirmed the start of the journey.
The heads of state and government had boarded the train in Poland and were expected in Kiev, Ukraine on Thursday morning, the Italian daily
La Repubblica
reported.
According to ZDF, the heads of state and government left Rzeszow in Poland that night.
Olaf Scholz (SPD) in Kyiv: Is a deal between Ukraine and Russia expected?
Update from June 15, 9:15 p.m .:
Before the meeting of the three Western European heads of state and government from Germany, France and Italy with the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj there is a lot of explosiveness.
French President Emmanuel Macron said during a visit to a NATO base in Romania: "The Ukrainian President and his officials will have to negotiate with Russia." Most recently, Kyiv rejected peace talks with Moscow.
Instead, Selenskyj confirmed in several interviews and video speeches that Ukraine wanted to recapture its entire territory.
Including Crimea, which was lost in 2014.
According to ZDF's "heute journal", Ukraine suspects that Macron, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi are dealing with a "basic deal".
The three largest EU member states want to persuade Kyiv to return to the negotiating table.
According to ZDF, Ukraine would only be willing to do so if there were "clear prospects for EU membership" and security policy guarantees with a view to Russia.
In this mixed situation, it is eagerly awaited what Chancellor says about a possible accession of the war-torn country to the European Union.
Olaf Scholz (SPD) in Ukraine: The German head of government will be there on Thursday
First report from June 15:
Munich/Kiev – The mayor of the Ukrainian capital has already invited Olaf Scholz (SPD): Vitali Klitschko would like to show the Chancellor Kiev.
The former professional boxer explained this in an interview with ZDF shortly before Scholz's visit to his home country, which was hit by the Russia-Ukraine war.
“I enjoy showing and presenting my city.
How beautiful the city is.
That it is a real European city.
I would be very happy if I got the opportunity to present the city to the Federal Chancellor," said the former boxing champion of the "heute journal".
Klitschko is very well known in Germany, part of his family lives in Hamburg.
The former boxing champion has been the mayor of the Ukrainian metropolis with around 2.8 million inhabitants since 2014.
The Chancellor's trip to Kyiv: Olaf Scholz travels together with Emmanuel Macron and Mario Draghi
Scholz will not come alone, the Hanseatic is expected to arrive together with French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi.
Previously, a close adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj increased the pressure on Scholz.
"You can't fight with promises, they don't help on the battlefield.
We address our partners with a simple philosophy: The world as it was before the war will never exist again.
She will be different.
And we cannot afford to lose the war and make territorial concessions," Mikhail Podoljak explained in an interview with the news magazine
Der Spiegel
: "We cannot afford to lose 100, 150 or 200 soldiers a day.
It is a depressing picture and that is why we look to our partners with hope.”
Politiker und Journalist Podoljak hält indes „wenig“ von Versuchen, über Gespräche auf Moskau-Machthaber Wladimir Putin einzuwirken. Sowohl Scholz als auch Macron hatten in den vergangenen Monaten immer wieder mit dem Kreml-Chef telefoniert und versucht, Putin zu beschwichtigen.
Kiew-Reise des Bundeskanzlers: Scholz und Macron wollen mit Selenskyj über Putin reden
„Ich bin nicht der Mensch, Macron und Scholz Ratschläge zu geben, aber diese Versuche sind so ineffektiv, dass viele Leute ins Zweifeln gekommen sind. Russland legt mittlerweile wieder ein maximal aggressives Verhalten an den Tag“, sagte er dem Spiegel und meinte: „Sie drohen allen: Mischt euch nicht ein, das ist unsere Angelegenheit, wir haben das Recht zu töten und Gebiete zu erobern. Da hat Reden keinen Sinn.“
Whether such plain text is also spoken between Scholz and Selenskyj? Follow the most important developments regarding the Chancellor's trip to Kyiv here in the news ticker.
(pm)
