Status: 06.04.2022 14:52
“War crimes”, “terrifying images”, “deeply shaken”. Chancellor Scholz once again condemned the Russian war against Ukraine and the atrocities in Bucha. He announced more weapons deliveries.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz has accused the Russian military of war crimes in the Ukrainian city of Bucha. Russian soldiers “carried out a massacre of Ukrainian civilians there, including children, women and the elderly,” the SPD politician in the Bundestag said. “The murder of civilians is a war crime.”
Authors “should be held accountable”
Butscha’s “terrible photos” “shocked us deeply,” Scholz said. He strongly rejected the Russian leadership’s claims that such recordings were fake: “The cynical claim spread across Russia that this topic is an act falls on those who spread these lies.” The perpetrators and their clients “must be held accountable,” Scholz demanded.
“The killing of Russian soldiers” in Ukraine, however, continues unabated, the chancellor said. It is to be hoped that there will be more pictures like that of Butscha. Scholz again called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to immediately end the “destructive and self-destructive” war in Ukraine.
Bundestag President Bärbel Bas had previously condemned the events in Butscha. “Incomprehensible atrocities” were committed there, the SPD politician said at the start of the Bundestag session. In many parts of Ukraine, cities are under siege, “evacuation and humanitarian aid are blocked, and supplies of food, water and electricity are being systematically cut off.” It’s “obviously about terror against the whole people,” Bas said, adding, “The German Bundestag strongly condemns these war crimes.”
Arms deliveries in coordination with the EU and NATO
Scholz also announced more arms deliveries to Ukraine. In coordination with EU and NATO partners, Ukraine will continue to receive weapons and pressure on Russia will be increased through sanctions. “Anything that makes sense and works quickly will be delivered,” he said. His government will “take all that is right and sensible along the way”. These deliveries should contribute to the German government’s objective of “that Russia does not win this war”. This objective is “behind the activities we carry out when it comes to arms deliveries”, said the Chancellor.
Chancellor Scholz announces more weapons deliveries to Ukraine during Bundestag interrogation
Kirsten Girschick, ARD Berlin, Daily News at 4pm, April 6, 2022
Scholz expressly defended Federal Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht against the charge that she was not reacting quickly enough to Ukraine’s weapons needs. Lambrecht is doing “all that is feasible in view of the decisions made by our allies and the capabilities of the Bundeswehr,” the chancellor said. He emphasized that his government had broken with previous governments’ practice of not supplying weapons to war zones. This is a “break with long traditions,” Scholz said. “It’s the right decision, which we weighed, but we also made quickly.”
German weapons have already made a “considerable contribution” to the fighting in Ukraine. As examples, Scholz cited the anti-tank and anti-aircraft systems and ammunition supplied by Germany. Other deliveries are already being negotiated with Ukraine, Scholz said. This applies not only to weapons in Bundeswehr stockpiles, but also to systems that can be purchased recently on the armaments market.
Reduce dependence on Russian energy
Scholz also fundamentally supported the planned new sanctions against Russia, but did not comment on the details. The fifth sanctions package is in the final debate, “once again it will make a precise contribution for Russia to feel the consequences of this war, also to end the war,” he said.
At the same time, the chancellor emphasized the objective of reducing dependence on Russian energy imports. “We all know that these facilities have grown over decades and cannot be closed overnight.” That’s why a common European course is important here. The course was set, “and they will continue to set the course we must take after the war.” The EU Commission has proposed an embargo on Russian coal. However, the EU Parliament cannot approve such sanctions; EU states do this.
However, Scholz spoke out against the use of nuclear power plants in Germany any longer. “It’s not a good plan,” he said. Nuclear power plants are not ready for continued operation, and Germany has also decided “for good reasons” to shut down operations. If you want to let nuclear plants run longer, new fuel rods and other nuclear resources are needed, Scholz said. However, these are not readily available. Scholz spoke of a “dairy bill” and pointed out that not all fossil imports could be replaced by nuclear power. For example, oil imports are also used to manufacture chemicals.
Security guarantees “not yet made explicit”
From Scholz’s point of view, the neutrality offered by Ukraine in the event of an end to the Russian war of aggression is a “great concession to the aggressor”. As far as negotiations between Russia and Ukraine are concerned, he made it clear at the same time: “It must not come down to a dictated peace.” When he speaks to Russian President Putin, he always makes it clear: “It is the Ukrainians who negotiate what they are willing to agree to. No one else.”
The issue of security guarantees for Ukraine that has arisen “has not yet been explained”, said the SPD politician. “Of course we talk about this – but also with the necessary confidentiality – with Ukraine and we do the same with others who have been approached.” However, this cannot be further specified at this time. First, the issues that must be secured would have to be resolved.
appeal to states
The day before the federal and state meeting, Scholz asked states not to get embroiled in a funding dispute when taking in refugees from Ukraine. “I wish we didn’t have a long, long discussion about financial issues between different levels of our country, but that we quickly come to an agreement between the federal government and the states,” he said. The real task is to help refugees who have sought protection in Germany.
The great solidarity of the civilian population must be an incentive. “This help is important and is good,” said the chancellor. At the federal-state summit, among other things, the costs of aid provided to Ukrainian refugees and the distribution between the federal and state governments must be discussed.
Bundestag: government survey – Scholz on arms deliveries
Lothar Lenz, ARD Berlin, 6 April 2022 15:05