German Chancellor Scholz calls refusal to dialogue with Russia 'weak'
Chancellor Olaf Scholz said it would be absurd for Germany and the EU not to talk to Russian President Putin.
According to RIA Novosti, in a speech at the Bundestag, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that refusing to talk to Russian President Vladimir Putin would show the political weakness of Germany and the EU.
This is how Chancellor Scholz responded to criticism, following his recent phone call with the Russian leader.
“Everyone knows that it would be absurd and a sign of incredible political weakness if we in Germany and Europe simply waited while others made such calls and we only commented on the news on TV,” the German chancellor said.
At the same time, Mr. Scholz pointed out the big difference between his approach and that of Russian President Putin in assessing the Ukraine crisis.
The German chancellor called the Russian president on November 15, their first conversation in nearly two years. Berlin said Chancellor Scholz urged President Putin to show his readiness to negotiate with Ukraine to achieve a just and lasting peace.
In addition, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz plans to set up a Ukrainian administration in Germany to coordinate refugee issues from Ukraine between Kiev and Berlin.
According to Chancellor Scholz, the German government advocates that refugees from Ukraine living in the country for several years will get jobs, learn the language and culture. Germany should try to provide jobs for as many Ukrainians living in Germany as possible through language learning and other measures.
On December 3, German Chancellor Scholz traveled to Kiev to meet with Ukrainian President Zelensky. During the visit, Scholz announced a new aid package for Ukraine worth 650 million euros, which mainly includes previously promised weapons - Leopard 1 tanks, combat drones, Iris-T air defense systems.
