The federal government has announced an increase in the Bundeswehr and arms deliveries to Ukraine. Chancellor Olaf Scholz answers Maybrit Illner’s questions.
- Olaf Scholz*: The Chancellor speaks to Maybrit Illner on ZDF* about the situation in the Ukraine war. The broadcast is 10:15 p.m. on Thursday (see first report).
- He also commented on ex-Chancellor Gerhard Schröder (see update from March 3, 8:58 p.m.).
- Weapons deliveries to Ukraine were also an issue (see update from March 3, 8:40 p.m.).
Update from March 3, 10:30 p.m: Germany is now supplying arms to the Ukraine after all. Could earlier government action have prevented the war? Scholz denies. “No one sees it that way.” After the escalation in the Ukraine conflict, however, it would have been wrong to maintain this course. From the point of view of the time, it was correct that Germany did not deliver any weapons until the very end. That it does it now anyway, but also.
Update from March 3, 10:20 p.m: Scholz is questioned by Illner about the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selenskyj*. With a view to the allegedly foiled assassination, Scholz says: “Of course that’s one of the things that is very terrible. When it is discussed that representatives of democracy have to reckon with persecution.” Zelenskyj is considered Russia’s number one goal.
With a view to his own situation, Scholz demands: “We need a ceasefire. We need a situation in which negotiations take place.”
Update from March 3, 10:15 p.m: “Maybritt Illner” is running. ZDF is currently showing the (recorded) interview with the Chancellor.
Scholz on “Illner”: Chancellor goes to Schröder – and demands immediate resignation
Update from March 3, 8:58 p.m.: After the leadership of the SPD, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) also asked the former head of government and party leader Gerhard Schröder to resign from his post at Russian state-owned companies. “My advice to Gerhard Schröder is to withdraw from these offices,” said Scholz on Thursday in the ZDF program “Maybrit Illner”, which was recorded earlier. He also stressed that this question is not a private matter. One is committed to such a public office as Schröder held, even after his term of office. “This commitment does not end when you leave office, it continues.”
Specifically, it is about Schröder’s posts at the Russian energy companies Nord Stream 1 and 2 and the oil company Rosneft, where he is the head of the supervisory board. In addition, Schröder is to take on a supervisory board position for Gazprom. The former chancellor has long been criticized for his ties to Russia. He is considered a longtime friend of President Vladimir Putin, who launched a war of aggression against Ukraine last week.
Scholz on “Illner”: Chancellor rejects accusation at the time of arms deliveries to Ukraine
Update from March 3, 8:40 p.m.: Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) has rejected the accusation that Germany waited too long to deliver arms to Ukraine. “Nobody sees it that way,” said Scholz on Thursday evening in a recording of the ZDF program “Maybrit Illner”. After the Russian attack on Ukraine, however, it would have been wrong to continue Germany’s restrictive course on deliveries to war zones there. The aim now must be a ceasefire and the withdrawal of Russian troops. It is right to continue to put pressure on with sanctions and to maintain scope for diplomacy.
Chancellor’s appearance on “Illner” – Scholz speaks on ZDF about the Ukraine war and the consequences for Germany
First report from March 3rd: Berlin – Strengthening of the Bundeswehr and weapons for Ukraine: The federal government has embarked on a new course. With a view to the Ukraine war*, Olaf Scholz spoke of a “turning point in time” on Sunday in the Bundestag. On Thursday evening at 10:15 p.m., the Chancellor is now expected to be the only guest on Maybrit Illner on ZDF. It’s about Ukraine and the consequences of the current situation and decisions for Germany.
Olaf Scholz at Maybrit Illner: What’s in store for Europe and Germany?
War is raging in Eastern Europe. Germany has decided to deliver arms to Ukraine after all. “There could be no other answer to Putin’s aggression,” said Scholz on Sunday. A further 18,000 protective helmets were already delivered to Ukraine last weekend, and a final go is still pending for parts of the approved 2,700 anti-aircraft missiles. This is Germany’s reaction to the Ukraine war.
The Bundeswehr in Germany is also to be strengthened. Olaf Scholz announced that a one-off amount of 100 billion euros and more than two percent of the gross domestic product should flow into defense every year. “The goal is an efficient, highly modern, progressive Bundeswehr that protects us reliably,” said the Chancellor.
The SPD committees presented themselves on Thursday unanimously behind the course of Chancellor Olaf Scholz. It is about “that we catch up on what has been neglected in recent years,” said party leader Lars Klingbeil on Thursday at an online press conference. National and alliance defense must be more in the foreground again.
A new foreign and security policy and an increase in the Bundeswehr: What does this mean for Ukraine, for Europe and especially for Germany? Chancellor Olaf Scholz wants to ask himself these questions at Maybrit Illner. Robert Habeck had also recently spoken to Maybrit Illner about the Ukraine war. He called it pure “idiocy”. (chd/AFP) *Merkur.de is an offer from IPPEN.MEDIA.
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