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Visit to the White House: Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz
Photo: Susan Walsh/AP
Russian President Vladimir Putin underestimated the unity of the West in supporting Ukraine, said Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) in an interview with US broadcaster CNN that was broadcast on Sunday.
"He misjudged the unity of Europe, the United States and all of Ukraine's friends, as well as the constant supply of arms that we provide to Ukraine," the Chancellor said after his visit to US President Joe Biden.
That is why the Ukrainians were able to defend their country.
"And they will also be able to do this in the future," said Scholz, confirming that there would be further arms deliveries in addition to financial and humanitarian aid.
"We are now Ukraine's strongest supporter in continental Europe and we will continue to be," emphasized Scholz.
"And that's also because of the weapons, which we're coordinating with the United States and other friends." Last year, Germany spent 14 billion euros in one way or another to support Ukraine.
Putin should withdraw troops
Negotiations on ending the war in Ukraine will begin only after Russian President Vladimir Putin understands that he will not win.
"In my view, it is necessary for Putin to understand that he will not be successful with this invasion and his imperialist aggression, that he will have to withdraw his troops," Scholz said in an interview with CNN journalist Fareed Zakaria.
When asked if there would be an agreement that would end the war, perhaps with Ukraine's admission that it would not recapture Crimea or parts of the eastern Donbass region, Scholz replied: "We will not take any decisions on their behalf .
We support them.«
No gas shortages thanks to independent supply
Scholz emphasized that Germany had made itself independent of the supply of gas, coal and oil from Russia.
"A year ago, nobody really expected that we would easily survive economically in a situation in which there were no more gas supplies from Russia to Germany and many parts of Europe," said Scholz.
But Germany has increased imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from western parts of Europe, built new terminals in northern Germany and extended the lifespan of nuclear power plants.
'And that's how we did it - and nothing that some people expected happened.
There is no economic crisis in Germany, there is no gas shortage or anything like that.«
Regarding possible support for China with arms deliveries to Russia and new sanctions as a result, Scholz said: "We have asked you not to deliver arms to Russia (...), and I am relatively optimistic that we will be successful with our request in this case .«
Praise for US President Joe Biden
In an interview, Scholz praised his counterpart Joe Biden as a great transatlantic.
"I think he is one of the most capable presidents who knows how things are going in the world, which is important in times that are becoming increasingly dangerous and when we are experiencing many changes."
Biden is "really a good man when it comes to the transatlantic partnership," which is so important for Europe, world peace and NATO.
The interview was recorded on Friday in the US capital Washington, shortly after the Chancellor's visit to Biden in the White House.
It was the second meeting in the White House in almost 15 months of his previous tenure.
At the beginning of February 2022, Scholz was in Washington for an inaugural visit.
jpa/dpa
