Chancellor Olaf Solz reiterated tonight that Western sanctions against Russia will be lifted only by a Kiev-Moscow agreement and not by a simple ceasefire by Russia. He stressed that his goal is the immediate cessation of hostilities and the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine and warned that NATO would not be involved in the war, but would defend “every inch” of its territory.
“Russia must not win the war and Ukraine must not lose it,” Solz said in an interview with German public television station ZDF. from his attack on Ukraine will simply be accepted. “We will not accept the annexation of Crimea. This is a violation of international law. “Even if Putin confines himself to a partial occupation of Ukraine and then turns to a ceasefire, nothing will be resolved for him,” he said. achieve this with a dictated peace. “
The German chancellor also said that the Russian side underestimated both the Ukrainian defense and the determination and unity of the West and assured that Germany would continue to provide Ukraine with financial, military and humanitarian assistance. This help, from Germany and other countries, has helped the Ukrainian army, “which is really operating with great success,” to be able to withstand such a strong opponent for so long. “The Ukrainian army will continue to be supported,” he said.
Asked about his criticism of “hesitation” in the crisis, Olaf Solz said: “I always decided quickly, along with everyone else, in coordination with the allies. But my view is to act with prudence and a clear mind. The government does not make “public relations decisions” and, referring to the final delivery of the “Gepard” tanks, admitted that it was a difficult but necessary decision, calling the “heavy weapons” debate “somewhat comical”. As he said, “from the beginning we are already delivering dangerous weapons and it is not possible to do a four-hour seminar every time on what” heavy weapons “means. However, the same applies to Ukraine, as it did to Afghanistan, he explained: “As Germany defended its freedom in Afghanistan, so now it defends it in Ukraine.” He reiterated, however, that NATO would not be involved in the war. “It does not make sense to act hastily, just because someone is shouting,” he said.
As for the attitude of former Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, who refuses to resign from his positions in Russian energy companies, Olaf Solz spoke of “completely unacceptable” behavior, especially after the start of the war. “A former chancellor cannot continue to carry out these duties,” he said, adding, however, that he could not give orders to a former chancellor. However, with his other predecessor, Angela Merkel, Mr. Soltz stated that he is in frequent telephone communication.
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