Scholz sees Putin's "colossal misjudgment" - harsh words about the future with Russia

Created: 06/23/2022, 04:45 am

By: Franziska Schwarz

The Ukraine war is the main topic of Chancellor Olaf Scholz' government statement in the Bundestag.

The news ticker for his speech.

• government statement

  by Chancellor

  Olaf Scholz

  (SDP): The focus is on the Ukraine war.

• Traffic light criticism

  from the

  Union

  : Johann Wadephul (CDU) calls for more leadership in Germany.

• Summit

  in

  June 2022

  : EU, NATO, G7 in Elmau - the schedule.

• This

  news ticker on Scholz' government statement

  is continuously updated.

Update from June 22, 3:59 p.m

.: Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) made a government statement in the Bundestag.

The most important points at a glance:

• Scholz does not see any negotiations with Russia on peace in Ukraine in the foreseeable future.

• Germany will therefore continue to support Ukraine “massively”.

• However, the fact that NATO should not become a war party itself through its support also applies.

• Scholz supports Ukraine's EU accession candidacy.

• Scholz calls for a "Marshall Plan" for the reconstruction of war-torn Ukraine.

• In order to organize the help, Scholz wants to convene an international conference of experts as part of Germany's G7 presidency. 

• Against the background of the dispute over the Baltic Sea exclave of Kaliningrad, Scholz assured the eastern NATO partners of Germany's full alliance solidarity.

Merz criticizes Scholz after government declaration: arms deliveries “could have gone earlier”

Update from June 22, 3:52 p.m

.: Then comes an interjection that currency stability is from the day before yesterday.

Merz rumbles: "So I like to record the interjection of the SPD in the minutes."

.: Friedrich Merz is the first to ask in the subsequent debate about the government statement.

He praises Scholz for being "finally" in Kyiv.

However, he criticizes the pace of German arms deliveries to Ukraine: "It could have happened earlier."

Scholz government declaration: "Climate protection as a competitive advantage"

Update from June 22, 3:38 p.m

.: Scholz also comes to the topic of climate protection: he proposed an international market with the same standards as a goal.

"Climate protection is thus becoming a competitive advantage."

Update from June 22, 3:31 p.m

.: The EU must prepare for the accession of new members, explains Scholz.

This requires reforms.

"We have to make the EU receptive." That requires institutional reforms.

You need the Western Balkans in the EU, says Scholz.

.: Cities like Irpin or Bucha are places of horror, Scholz recalls his recent trip to Kiev.

He assured Selenskyj there: Only Ukraine will decide what is right for them in possible negotiations with Russia.

However, they are "far, far away" from Russia-Ukraine negotiations, because Putin still believes in the possibility of a dictated peace.

They will remain steadfast until Putin recognizes "his colossal misjudgment".

This requires staying power. Like war-ravaged Europe, Ukraine now needs a Marshall Plan.

You will need billions for the reconstruction - for years.

That's only possible together.

He invited Zelenkyj to the G7 summit in Elmau on the subject.

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Olaf Scholz making his government statement © John MacDougall/AFP

Scholz government statement: Chancellor addresses arms deliveries

Update from June 22, 3:27 p.m

.: This is how the training of Ukrainian soldiers on the Gepard anti-aircraft tanks works, says Scholz.

Training on the promised multiple rocket launchers will begin in the coming days.

A few days ago, the contract for the Iris-T air defense system, which could protect an entire city from air raids, was signed between Ukraine and industry.

A first ring exchange of weapons with the Czech Republic is in place, talks with other exchange partners are being conducted at high pressure, emphasizes Scholz.

Update from June 22, 3:27 p.m

.: Scholz promises continued German and European support to Ukraine – also with weapons.

"Ukraine is getting the weapons that it particularly needs in the current phase of the war." Germany is supplying the weapons - "today and in the future," emphasizes Scholz.

Scholz' government statement: "Partnership with Russia under Putin unimaginable"

Update from June 22, 3:24 p.m

.: NATO accession for Finland and Sweden?

Scholz says he is certain that both countries will soon be part of the defense alliance.

Update from June 22, 3:20 p.m

.: Security is the most fundamental promise a state makes to its citizens, Scholz emphasizes in his government statement.

The federal government renewed this in view of the turning point.

It is also a benchmark for the new Bundeswehr.

The German reorientation of security policy is recognized in the world, explains Scholz.

"Our message is understood." In the security crisis, Germany is taking on a very special responsibility.

Scholz talks about his trip to the Baltic States.

There he made it clear: "An attack on you is one on all of us." Scholz refers to the planned increased presence of the Bundeswehr in Lithuania.

One wants to support Slovakia in airspace security.

"We will defend every square meter of our alliance territory."

Applause in plenary.

The NATO partners in the east could rely on Germany, Scholz emphasized.

This will take you to the NATO summit - "A signal of cohesion will go out from there," says Scholz with conviction.

And emphasizes: "A partnership with Russia is unimaginable with Putin's Russia for the foreseeable future."

Government statement by Scholz in the Bundestag: scheduled for 20 minutes

Update from June 22, 2:58 p.m

.: Chancellor Scholz’s 20-minute government statement is to be followed by a one-and-a-half-hour debate.

The government statement is scheduled to begin at 3:15 p.m.

Before Scholz's government statement, Merz insisted on further arms deliveries

Update from June 22, 2:16 p.m

.: Union faction leader Friedrich Merz also expresses expectations of Scholz’s government statement.

The CDU chairman insisted on the rapid delivery of more heavy weapons to Ukraine.

The decisive factor is "what is actually delivered," he said, according to the dpa.

Despite the publication of the delivery list by the federal government, the parliamentary group is sticking to its Bundestag proposal, with which it wants to keep up the pressure for the delivery of further heavy weapons. 

EU, NATO, G7 - and the Ukraine war: Scholz declared himself in the Bundestag today

First report from June 22

: Berlin - Many high-level meetings, one central topic: the escalated Ukraine conflict.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz wants to explain to the Bundestag from 3 p.m. what attitude he is taking in the talks.

The Ukraine war and its consequences are the focus of the EU summit, the NATO summit and the G7 summit in Elmau. 

The CDU/CSU faction has been accusing the ruling traffic light coalition for weeks of being too hesitant about delivering arms to Kyiv.

Even before Scholz, Federal Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht (SPD) has to answer questions from the Bundestag in a government survey from 1 p.m.

Scholz government statement: Wadephul demands arms deliveries

Union parliamentary group leader Johann Wadephul (CDU), for example, calls for more leadership in international politics before Scholz's government statement.

With his predecessor Angela Merkel (CDU), "Germany was the leader of the free world," he said in the ARD "Morgenmagazin".

"There is still room for improvement for Scholz."

With a view to the Ukraine war, Wadephul welcomed Scholz's trip to Kyiv, but at the same time called for more arms deliveries.

Here is a Merkur commentary on Scholz's meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

"Ukraine is in a really dramatic military situation," Wadephul said.

In order to put the country in a negotiating position vis-à-vis Russia, Kyiv must be put in a position to defend itself militarily.

After Scholz' government statement, the summit marathon in the Ukraine war follows: the dates in June 2022

At the EU summit from June 23, the main focus will be on the decision on the status of Ukraine and Moldova as EU accession candidates.

The G7 with the USA and other large industrialized countries, which will follow on June 26, will also deal with aid for Ukraine and with climate policy.

At the NATO summit on June 29th, the strengthening of the alliance on the eastern flank and the admission of Finland and Sweden, which is currently blocked by Turkey, are on the agenda.