Russia is responsible for the risk of war in Ukraine, declared German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Sunday (13), at a time of growing fear, on the part of Europeans and Americans, of a Russian invasion of the neighboring country. .
“There is a danger of military conflict, a war in eastern Europe, and Russia bears responsibility for that,” the head of state said after being re-elected for another five years in office.
A Social Democrat close to Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Steinmeier tried to dispel doubts about his country’s position. In recent weeks, Germany has been criticized by Ukraine and several of its Western partners for being too complacent with Moscow.
In front of the parliamentarians who re-elected him, Steinmeier mentioned Russia’s growing “distance” from Europe and called for firmness against Moscow.
“As we can see, peace cannot be taken for granted. We always have to act to preserve it, in dialogue. But, when necessary, it is necessary to say things clearly, showing determination”, he stressed.
Steinmeier was first elected in 2017 – the German president can serve a maximum of two terms.
The post of president in Germany is primarily honorary, with power concentrated in the hands of the head of government and parliament. Still, it has the value of the country’s moral authority.
In the same vein as the head of state, Chancellor Olaf Scholz was firm this Sunday, the eve of his trip to Kiev. On Tuesday (15), he will head to Moscow.
“A military aggression against Ukraine, which would jeopardize its sovereignty and its territorial integrity, would lead to tough sanctions, which we have carefully prepared and which we will be able to apply immediately with our allies in Europe and NATO,” Scholz said after his re-election. from Steinmeier.
In a sign of Berlin’s growing concern about the situation in Ukraine, an official source acknowledged that “the concern [do governo] increased” regarding an eventual invasion.
“We think the situation is critical, very dangerous,” said the source, who spoke to the press on condition of anonymity, alluding to the warnings issued by the United States about an imminent Russian invasion.
“Many elements point, in a very worrying way, in the [dos temores atuais]”, he stated.
Also according to the source, the German government intends to increase its economic aid to Ukraine, but maintains its refusal to deliver lethal weapons to Kiev.
Berlin examines “whether we still have possibilities, at the bilateral level, to contribute in terms of economic support”, the source reported.
On the issue of supplying “lethal” weapons, Ukrainians and Germans remain on opposite sides. Based on its post-Nazi policy of not exporting such weapons to conflict zones, Germany opposes Kiev’s request.
Ukraine sent a list of requests to Germany, but, according to the source in Berlin, for this Monday (14) “there is still nothing to expect” in this matter. In any case, it is not excluded that equipment considered non-lethal may be sent.
In an interview given on Sunday (13) to German public radio, the Ukrainian ambassador to Berlin, Andrij Melnik, claimed the announcement of an aid plan “worth several million” euros, in the context of Scholz’s visit to Kiev.
“It’s about time Germany took off her Russian glasses … in her policy towards Ukraine, because they cloud her vision,” the ambassador said.
