Ukraine News: Scholz calls arms deliveries "far-reaching, but right" - howitzers arrived
Created: 06/22/2022, 04:50
By: Bedrettin Bölükbasi
Germany's self-propelled howitzers have arrived in Ukraine.
Habeck accuses Putin of an "economic attack" on Germany and Europe.
The news ticker.
Ukraine conflict:
The Panzerhaubitzen 2000 promised by Germany have arrived in the Ukraine.
Union faction leader Friedrich Merz is calling on Chancellor Olaf Scholz to enforce Ukraine's candidate status at the upcoming EU summit.
Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck
accuses Russian President Vladimir Putin of attacking Germany "economically".
This
news ticker on German reactions to the Russia-Ukraine war
is continuously updated.
Update from June 21, 8:38 p.m .:
Chancellor Olaf Scholz described the decision for German arms deliveries to Ukraine as far-reaching but correct.
"It is now necessary," said Scholz on Tuesday evening at the traditional asparagus drive of the Seeheimer Kreis of the SPD parliamentary group.
This was the unanimous opinion in the SPD parliamentary group and is supported by the citizens.
Almost four months after the start of the war, the first heavy weapons arrived in the Ukraine from Germany in the form of seven 2000 self-propelled howitzers.
It is the most modern artillery piece of the Bundeswehr.
Scholz said Russia must end the war and Ukraine must stand in freedom.
"Everything we do is aimed at that." The decision to deliver weapons to such a country was far-reaching.
"Nevertheless, it was right to decide now and in this situation."
Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD).
© IMAGO/Bernd Elmenthaler
Energy supply: Habeck attests to Putin's "economic attack" on Germany
Update from June 21, 6:32 p.m .:
Economics Minister Robert Habeck has described the throttling of Russian gas supplies through the Nord Stream Baltic Sea pipeline as an “attack” by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The Green politician spoke of a new dimension on Tuesday at Industry Day.
The reduction in gas supplies by Nord Stream is an "economic attack on us".
Putin uses energy as a weapon.
In doing so, he wants to trigger a debate in Europe and in Germany about fear, for example of material losses, in order to ultimately trigger a debate as to whether Putin should not be allowed in Ukraine.
According to Habeck, the war against Ukraine is an attack on individual freedom.
Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) at the Day of German Industry.
© Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa
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Putin's "Hunger Plan" in Three Acts: Historian Declares Next "Stage of War" and Predicts Unrest
Ukraine-News: Merz demands enforcement of Scholz's EU accession candidate status
Update from June 21, 6:08 p.m .:
The Union faction leader Friedrich Merz asked Chancellor Olaf Scholz to send clear messages about the necessary reform of the European Union in his government statement in the Bundestag this Wednesday.
"This European Union is currently not capable of absorbing other member states," said the CDU chairman on Tuesday before a parliamentary group meeting in Berlin.
Against the background of the debate about the status of an EU accession candidate for Ukraine, however, he explained that the Union expects Scholz to enforce the candidate status for Ukraine and Moldova at the EU summit on Thursday and Friday in Brussels.
Ukraine-News: German tank howitzer arrived in Ukraine in 2000
Update from June 21, 3:03 p.m .:
According to Ukrainian information, the Panzerhaubitze 2000 promised by Germany is now in the possession of the local military.
It was "finally part of the 155mm howitzer arsenal of Ukrainian artillery," Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov wrote on Twitter on Tuesday.
The weapon is now being used by Ukrainian artillerymen to "bring heat to the battlefield".
He thanked Secretary of Defense Christine Lambrecht "for all the efforts" to support Ukraine.
The Ukrainian Ambassador Andriy Melnyk confirmed to the German Press Agency that the guns had arrived in Ukraine.
With the Panzerhaubitze 2000, Germany delivered a heavy weapon system to Ukraine for the first time.
At the beginning of May, Lambrecht had announced the sale of seven units from Bundeswehr stocks.
The Netherlands should provide five more examples of howitzers mounted on a tank chassis.
On Tuesday (June 21), the German government published for the first time on its website a list of all weapons that have been and are to be delivered to Ukraine.
A Panzerhaubitze 2000 of the Bundeswehr drives on a training ground.
Scholz had announced that the Bundeswehr would be upgraded as a result of the Russian attack on Ukraine.
© Philipp Schulze/dpa
Because of the Ukraine war: SPD leader Klingbeil wants Germany to become militarily stronger
Update from June 21, 12:10 p.m .:
SPD leader Lars Klingbeil has called for a reorientation of German foreign and security policy in view of the Ukraine war.
Germany must give up decades of restraint and become militarily strong, said Klingbeil on Monday (June 20).
In the competition for international relations, Europe must also become “the most attractive center in the world”.
Germany must "have the right to be a leading power."
SPD leader Lars Klingbeil calls for Germany to play a leading role.
© Kay Nietfeld/dpa/archive image
The turning point triggered by the Ukraine war will have an impact on politics "for the next 20 years," said Klingbeil in a keynote speech at an event hosted by the Friedrich Ebert Foundation.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the West felt “too sure” that a state and social model would prevail.
And "a war between states in Europe seemed unimaginable."
The Ukraine war on February 24 changed that.
The West must now ask itself "what we can do better now, with a view to the future".
Strengthening the Bundeswehr is important for Germany, said Klingbeil.
Because peace policy also means "regarding military force as a legitimate political means", even if it has to remain "the last resort".
Klingbeil admitted that Germany had "made mistakes" in dealing with its Eastern and Central European partners and had not correctly interpreted the signals from Russia after the annexation of Crimea in 2014 at the latest.
"If we hear from the Baltic states or Poland that they are afraid that they could be Russia's next targets, then we have to take it seriously."
Ukraine-News: Lambrecht calls for European defense capability even without NATO
Update from June 21, 12:05 p.m .:
Federal Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht (SPD) has called for an independent European defense capability, if necessary even without NATO, in view of the Ukraine war.
It is true that Europe has "a very reliable partner" in the current US government, said Lambrecht.
However, the years under former US President Donald Trump have shown that this can change and “how fragile” the military alliance can become.
It could be "dangerous" to "rely solely on the fact that NATO will always stand up for us with the great protective power America," said Lambrecht at an event organized by the Friedrich Ebert Foundation.
The Europeans should therefore also “think beyond NATO”.
"We have to be able to deter ourselves, we have to be able to do it."
Update from June 21, 11:22 a.m .:
In view of the Ukraine war, the foreign policy spokesman for the Union faction in the Bundestag, Jürgen Hardt (CDU), called for more economic and military pressure on Russia.
On the other hand, talks with Russia's President Vladimir Putin currently make no sense, Hardt told NDR Info on Tuesday.
He opposed Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD), who still thinks such talks make sense.
Rather, the aim must be to increase the pressure on Putin to such an extent that Putin wonders whether continuing the war in Ukraine does not pose a greater risk for him than the willingness to engage in concrete negotiations, Hardt said.
"I think that's the most realistic perspective with a view to containing this conflict," emphasized the CDU politician.
So far, Putin is still counting on the attack on Ukraine being successful and the sanctions against Russia being lifted or weakened.
Ukraine is still waiting: Scholz's tank plan threatens to collapse - Slovakia rejects the deal
Update from June 21, 9 a.m.:
German Leopard tanks for Slovakia, Slovakian T-72 main battle tanks for Ukraine: This is what the ring exchange should look like, on which the federal government agreed two months ago.
But as is now known, there are again problems with German arms deliveries in the Ukraine war.
Germany apparently offers too few tanks, reports
Business Insider
.
Germany had proposed 15 Leopard 2A4 tanks for 30 T-72 tanks.
Slovakia finds this too little and rejected the deal.
A Defense Ministry spokeswoman told
Business Insider
: "Slovakia has 30 T-72 tanks.
Therefore 15 Leopard main battle tanks cannot be a solution for us as we need 30 main battle tanks for a tank battalion.”
According to the spokeswoman, negotiations are still ongoing, but it remains questionable whether and when there will be an agreement.
Federal Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht (SPD) had previously stated that the exchange of rings with NATO partners, who could give older Soviet-designed weapons to Ukraine and get replacements from Germany, was “on the right track”.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) and Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens): The Greens overtake the SPD in the polls.
© IMAGO/Stefan Boness/Ipon
Update from June 20, 8:45 p.m .:
The Ukrainian journalists Mstyslav Chernov and Evgeniy Maloletka have been awarded the Deutsche Welle (DW) Freedom Prize.
They accepted the "DW Freedom of Speech Award" for their reporting on the Ukraine war on Monday in Bonn during an international media conference.
The Freedom Prize has existed since 2015. It honors people or initiatives for their outstanding promotion of human rights and freedom of expression.
AP journalist and author Chernov and freelance photojournalist Maloletka hail from eastern Ukraine.
News about the Ukraine war from Germany: According to Scholz, Putin is aiming for the dissolution of NATO and the EU
Update from June 20, 7:12 p.m.:
“Putin is apparently afraid that the spark of democracy could fly to Russia,” writes Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) on the Ukraine war on Twitter.
That is why for years he has been pursuing a policy aimed at dissolving NATO and the EU.
He wants to go back to a policy of zones of influence.
"But he won't be able to do that," Scholz continued.
Update from June 20, 2:25 p.m .:
In a historic case in Munich, the real estate of a supporter of Putin’s Ukraine invasion was confiscated for the first time.
This is apparently a Duma deputy on the sanctions list.
News about the Ukraine war from Germany: Söder wants a "real political" approach
Update from June 20, 2:20 p.m .:
According to the Bavarian Prime Minister and CSU leader Markus Söder, the process of Ukraine’s possible accession to the European Union will drag on.
"It will be a long process," said Söder after a meeting of the party executive in Munich.
"We want to keep an eye on everything," said the CSU leader.
All the conditions would have to be met for such an accession to be possible.
A holistic approach is necessary.
"Holistic means whether the European Union would be able to take such a picture at all at the moment - we are skeptical to a large extent, including Manfred Weber, whether this can succeed now," emphasized Söder.
The CSU European politician Manfred Weber is head of the European People's Party (EPP).
"Therefore: Don't rush things, but approach the whole thing in a real political way," recommended Söder.
Germany news on the Ukraine war: Debate about Ukraine in the EU - Baerbock wants to create perspective
First report from June 20th:
Berlin/Munich - While the Ukraine conflict is raging through the country with all its severity, the prospect of Ukraine joining the EU is being debated at the political level.
Kyiv has long expressed a desire to become part of the European Union.
Although some countries were initially critical of Ukraine's accession to the EU, the tide is gradually turning.
This map shows where the Ukraine war is raging.
Most recently, the EU Commission spoke out in favor of officially appointing Ukraine as a candidate for accession to the European Union.
The corresponding decision could be made at the EU summit on June 23-24.
A few days before this potentially decisive summit, Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) has now advocated concrete EU accession prospects for Ukraine.
Ukraine war: Baerbock on the EU debate - "Must use historic moment"
"It is now important not to proceed according to scheme F, but to use this historic moment and make it clear to Ukraine with regard to its perspective: You belong in the middle of the European Union," said the Green politician, according to the German Press Agency on the sidelines of a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg.
The challenges and tasks for the accession process are "incredibly great", but nobody wants to look back in a few years and say: "How could we not use this course?".
Baerbock also supported the EU Commission's proposal to nominate Ukraine's small neighbor Moldova as an EU accession candidate.
"We have to see what situation Moldova is in these times," she said.
The government not only does everything to live European values in its own country, but also supports Ukraine, which has been attacked by Russia.
Ukraine war: Zelenskyj addresses the world via video
View photo gallery
News about the Ukraine war from Germany: Baerbock wants majority decisions in the EU
With a view to possible EU expansion, Baerbock spoke out in favor of adapting decision-making processes in the community.
"It is now not just about putting more chairs in the European circle, but we have to strengthen the European Union together," said the Green politician.
In perspective, this means that majority decisions must also be reached in foreign and security policy so that in the years and decades to come we have the strength we need to defend European values.
(bb with dpa)
