Vice Chancellor Habeck calls the situation in Ukraine “extremely precarious” – and exceeds Scholz’s rhetorical limits. Baerbock calls for dialogue. News ticker.
- The situation in the Ukraine conflict is tense – despite all international mediation attempts. But the talks continue (see update of February 11, 3:35 p.m.).
- Russia is now openly criticizing Germany as well. Meanwhile, Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck is verbally on the offensive, also in terms of Nord Stream 2. (see first report)
- Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock* calls on Moscow to engage in dialogue despite further escalation (see update from February 11, 3 p.m.).
- This news ticker on the Ukraine crisis is continuously updated.
February 11 update at 9:48 p.m: After a phone call with top international politicians, the German government assesses the situation in Ukraine as “very, very serious”. Nevertheless, they wanted to continue trying to persuade Russia to de-escalate with diplomatic efforts, the German side said after the conference. “It is important to prevent a war in Europe,” wrote government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit on Twitter. The United States has meanwhile begun to move another 3,000 soldiers from the United States to the NATO state of Poland.
Ukraine crisis: Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock sees no signs of de-escalation
February 11 update at 4:52 p.m: After the talks between Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France on Thursday, Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock expressed regret on Friday: “Yesterday we had difficult talks in Berlin that lasted more than ten hours,” she said on Friday during a visit to Jordan . “Nevertheless, we are not seeing any signs of de-escalation at the military level, on the contrary, the Russian troop build-up is continuing.”
The so-called Normandy format was launched during the first Ukraine crisis in 2014 to mediate between Russia and Ukraine. The next meeting of foreign policy advisors is scheduled for March.
Ukraine conflict: Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) on the phone with Biden, Macron and other heads of state and government
Update from February 11, 3:35 p.m.: Chancellor Olaf Scholz* (SPD) will take part in a high-level telephone exchange with US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron and other heads of state and government on Friday afternoon (February 11). According to AFP in Berlin, this became known from government circles. The background to the talks, in which the heads of NATO and the EU, as well as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, are also taking part, is likely to be the Ukraine conflict.
Update from February 11, 3 p.m.: According to Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, Russia is considering withdrawing its diplomats from Ukraine. On the sidelines of her visit to the Middle East, Baerbock says the federal government is preparing for all eventualities. “But at the same time we are working with all means on the dialogue,” Baerbock said at a press conference with Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi in Amman.
There are no signs of de-escalation at the military level, quite the opposite, “Russian troop build-up is continuing,” criticized the Green politician. It is clear: “There is a red line. That is the sovereignty of Ukraine.” One prepares for all scenarios, “with all measures, with all severity”. At the same time, however, they are also working with all means on the dialogue in order to stay at the negotiating table. “Because we know that the diplomatic route is the only solution to ensure peace there on the ground.” That’s why Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) is traveling to the Ukrainian capital of Kiev on Monday and then to Moscow directly.
Ukraine crisis: Habeck crosses Chancellor line – and at the same time warns of “war”
First report from February 11th: Moscow/Berlin – There is still no solution to the Ukraine crisis in sight – and Germany is increasingly becoming the focus of international attention again. After the marathon talks in Normandy format* on Thursday in Berlin, Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov criticized the government of Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD).
Meanwhile, the traffic light coalition is also thriving on a new internal debate. Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck (Greens*) once again went beyond Scholz’ verbal red lines on Friday when it came to Nord Stream 2. He also warned of a “war” on Friday. The same word was used by the separatists in eastern Ukraine – as a reproach to the Ukrainian government.
Ukraine crisis: Kremlin is now criticizing Scholz – Habeck openly brings Nord Stream 2 into play
The talks in Berlin with Franco-German mediation did not bring any tangible results on Thursday. Russia had vowed that Germany and France would support the peace plan. However, Moscow criticized the fact that Berlin and Paris did not put pressure on Kiev to fulfill the points. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he disagreed with the deal. Russia, on the other hand, emphasizes that Ukraine has signed the peace plan and that the United Nations has also supported it with a resolution.
Meanwhile, Habeck announced that the Ukraine conflict will affect the ongoing approval of Nord Stream 2. The approval will be strictly according to European law, said the Green politician on Friday during a visit to Warsaw. “And on the other hand, the geopolitical assessment will always have an impact on the approval of Nord Stream 2.” If the geopolitical situation worsens, this will not remain without consequences for the pipeline.
Habeck stressed that he was counting on severe economic sanctions against Russia should the government in Moscow allow the Ukraine conflict to escalate. “We’re talking about war in Europe here.” Other things, such as economic interests, must take a back seat. Habeck spoke of an “extremely precarious situation”. Everything must be done diplomatically to defuse the situation. The Greens’ statements are quite explosive for the traffic light coalition – Scholz had recently avoided naming Nord Stream 2 as a sanction mass. Even after a clear statement by US President Joe Biden*, he failed to take a clear position during a visit to Washington.
Even with his rather sharp assessment of the situation as “war” dangerous, Habeck is more on US course. Biden indirectly warned of a “world war” on Friday. Large-scale Russian military maneuvers are currently underway in Belarus near the Ukrainian border.
Ukraine conflict: Separatists warn of “war” in Ukraine – Putin has already warned
The focus, especially in the West, is on concerns about a Russian invasion of Ukraine. Meanwhile, the situation is also tense in eastern Ukraine. In the regions controlled by pro-Russian separatists, leaders in the major cities of Luhansk and Donetsk say they fear that Ukrainian government troops could use military force to retake the areas. “It is obvious that Ukraine is preparing for war,” the leader of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic, Denis Puschilin, said in a press conference on Friday.
The US and other countries would supply arms and ammunition to Ukraine. “We see some more reasonable countries that do not want to supply weapons, but they are being urged to do so,” Puschilin said. Germany does not deliver weapons. Russia had made it clear that it would intervene in the event of an attack from the Ukrainian side.
According to UN estimates, more than 14,000 people have died in the conflict*, according to statistics, most of them in the separatist area. Pushilin said there were now 700,000 Russian citizens living in the Luhansk and Donetsk regions. Since 2019, hundreds of thousands of people in the region have received Russian passports in a simplified procedure following a decree by Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin. (rtr/dpa/fn) *Merkur.de is an offer from IPPEN.MEDIA.
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