Scholz dampens expectations for Ukraine peace conference
Published: Tuesday, May 14th 2024, 00:20
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German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) has tempered expectations for the Ukraine peace conference in Switzerland in June. "Nobody should have exaggerated expectations: We are not negotiating the end of the war there," said Scholz in an interview with the magazine "Stern". "At best, it's the start of a process that could lead to direct talks between Ukraine and Russia. In Switzerland, it will be about the safety of nuclear power plants, grain exports, the issue of prisoner exchanges and the necessary taboo on the use of nuclear weapons. Once again, this is all still in its infancy."
Following his appeals for more arms deliveries, the Social Democrat was disappointed with Europe's involvement in the war in Ukraine. It was "frankly still not enough", he summed up. "That is depressing, because Ukraine urgently needs more air defense systems. Putin obviously wants to destroy Ukraine's infrastructure."
Scholz also expects further attempts by Russia to exert influence in Germany. "The Federal Foreign Office has just temporarily recalled the German ambassador from Moscow - as a clear signal to Russia. But we shouldn't fool ourselves: Russia's attempts to exert influence will tend to increase ahead of the upcoming European elections this year and the Bundestag elections next year. The authorities must be very vigilant," he said. The ambassador was recalled earlier this month after the German government made public cyber attacks on the SPD and German companies that had taken place some time ago. It blamed a unit of the Russian military intelligence service.
©Keystone/SDA
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