Ukraine war Olaf Scholz urges China to use its influence to get Russia to withdraw its troops from Ukraine

One year after the Russian invasion of Ukraine and with no end in sight, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has made an urgent appeal to China from the Bundestag rostrum to "not supply weapons to the aggressor Russia" while praising Beijing to use his influence in Moscow "to press for the withdrawal of Russian troops"

Ukraine war Olaf Scholz urges China to use its influence to get Russia to withdraw its troops from Ukraine

One year after the Russian invasion of Ukraine and with no end in sight, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has made an urgent appeal to China from the Bundestag rostrum to "not supply weapons to the aggressor Russia" while praising Beijing to use his influence in Moscow "to press for the withdrawal of Russian troops".

"It is positive that the People's Republic has spoken out against the use of nuclear weapons, but that is not enough," Scholz said in a government statement entitled "A year of turning in time." On February 27, 2022 - three days after the start of the war - Scholz announced in a special session of Parliament a program of 100,000 million euros to arm the Bundeswehr. Already on the eve of that declaration, consummating what he called "change of era", the first deliveries of arms to Ukraine had already been decided for the defensive war against Russia, a breaking of the taboo.

Scholz reiterated that there must not be "a peace agreement above the heads of the Ukrainians", since "a dictatorial peace against the will of the victims" is not only out of place for moral reasons, but also for the interests of Germany security. "What a fatal stimulus for the aggressor it would be if the violation of international law and the European peace order were rewarded!" Scholz said, later renewing Germany's commitment to Ukraine to achieve its goals.

The chancellor considered that this is also the opinion of the majority of Germans, despite the fact that critical voices are increasing and becoming more and more audible. On Saturday, some 13,000 people gathered at the Brandenburg Gate to call for peace by speeding up negotiations with Russia. The demonstration, called by the left-wing politician Sahra Wagenknecht and the feminist Alice Schwarzer, was criticized from the outset as political discourse is victory and not peace. The day before that concentration another one was celebrated, in the same place, with the support of the parties in the Government and the embassy of the Ukraine in Germany. They shouted 'Russia is a terrorist state' and a video of President Volodomyr Zelensky was shown. Some 12,000 people attended.

"Peace is not created by shouting 'Never again war!' here in Berlin, and at the same time demand that all arms deliveries to Ukraine be stopped," was the only reference to that Saturday demonstration by the Scholz in his government statement.

In return and aware that "there is diversity of opinion among the population, Scholz reiterated his support for arms deliveries to Ukraine. "More Gepard anti-aircraft tanks and an Iris-T system will be delivered in the coming weeks, while work is being done on with the industry to provide Ukraine with more ammunition," he said.

The foreign minister assured that his government never makes decisions on arms deliveries lightly "even though these are important for an eventual end to the war. "You do not negotiate with a weapon pointed at your temple, except for your own submission."

Scholz promised to continue supporting the Bundeswehr. "We are ending the abandonment of the military," he said. Important procurement measures have been put in place, for example for the F-35, he said, adding that together with the defense minister he was talking about "a real change of course" in the procurement of material for the Bundeswehr.

Criticism of Scholz came from opposition leader Friedrich Merz. According to the president of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Scholz had rightly described the Russian invasion a year ago as a "turning point in time", but since then, too little had happened. "Without the support of the United States, Ukraine would be in Russian hands today for a long time," said Merz, who, as a convinced Atlanticist, declared that "we will have to organize security in Europe not with Russia but against Russia for years, if not decades." ".

Merz stressed that "this requires decisions and not government declarations", which is what in his opinion has happened so far and in this context warned against the "challenge" of China. "What Russia has done with Nord Stream, China has been doing for years with its New Silk Road, an imperial project to gain economic influence and political weight, and on a much larger scale than Russia would have been capable of."

Merz also accused Wagenknecht and his followers of "almost deliberately" confusing perpetrators and victims in this war. And the fact that left-wing politics presents rape by soldiers as something almost normal in war is "cynical, inhumane, simply despicable and shameful for our country."

The CDU leader criticized the policy of the federal government, which he described as a divided coalition, on several specific points: For example, he said that it was a mistake that Scholz had made the delivery of tanks to Ukraine dependent on the United States also provide to. At the same time, he did not follow his words with deeds in defense policy: In fact, less money is spent on the Bundeswehr this year than in 2022, Merz criticized: "We are moving away from the 2% target." Of the special fund of 100,000 million euros, only 600 million have been spent. "What has actually happened in the second half of 2022 to ensure that these promises that they have made are actually put into practice?" he asked.

The opposition leader's latest criticism of Scholz is the trip he will undertake this weekend to "Washington, alone, without journalists and without having explained the objectives of that trip." The bench of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) protested, which Merz said he understood as support because "I understand that they are raising their voices because you don't know either."

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