6.09 a.m. is not the time when Chancellor Olaf Scholz usually sends statements.

But this Thursday morning is not a normal one.

So early in the morning there are a few lines from the German head of government that end with the sentence: "This is a terrible day for Ukraine and a dark day for Europe."

Johannes Leithauser

Political correspondent in Berlin.

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Eckhart Lohse

Head of the parliamentary editorial office in Berlin.

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Scholz cannot say much else.

He calls the Russian attack on Ukraine a "blatant breach of international law," he speaks of a "reckless act by President Putin," and the military action must be stopped immediately.

He announces a close agreement between the G-7 countries, NATO and the EU.

Finally, he pledged “our solidarity” to Ukraine.

Solidarity.

Not "unrestricted solidarity", as Scholz' Social Democratic predecessor in the Chancellery, Gerhard Schröder, assured the Americans hit by serious terrorist attacks in 2001 - the man who later became the most prominent German Putin friend and is still at his side today.

The unrestricted solidarity led to the longest German military operation of the post-war period.

In view of the Russian attack on Ukraine, Scholz and his government are a long way from a military operation.

Just like all other G-7 and NATO partners.

Three hours after the chancellor, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock expresses much more pathos: "Dear fellow citizens" is her opening phrase, followed by the statement, "Today we woke up in a different world".

This also applies to the minister herself, whose term of office for almost three months has consisted primarily of using all diplomatic energy to prevent the moment that has now arrived.

And the bitterness that comes from the fact that this effort was pointless.

You can hear it now: "Months of lies and threats" she accuses the Russian ruler Vladimir Putin.

Now he breaks "with the elementary rules of the international order".

With his war, Putin wants above all to destroy Ukraine's right to democracy, peace and a future in freedom, but he will not succeed.

She is convinced "that many people in Russia are ashamed of it too," says Baerbock, trying in this way, in the moment of stunned disappointment, to build a bridge to those who may not want to follow Putin in his own country.

The Foreign Minister then states that Germany and the other Western nations are "stunned, but not helpless".

She announces sanctions that will now hit Russia.

And like the chancellor and other German politicians and the heads of state of other western countries, they clothe the civil and economic punitive measures with martial adjectives and overtones intended to suggest a military appeal that is lacking in the content of the announcements.

While others speak of "unprecedented" sanctions, Baerbock asserts this morning that "every meter" of further action will now be coordinated with the partner countries so that a "most massive package" of sanctions can be put in place.

“Will not avoid the situation”

After a meeting of the crisis management team at the Federal Foreign Office, Baerbock also renewed practical warnings to the Germans in Ukraine: They should leave the country immediately or look for safe shelter if it is not possible to leave the country.

The German diplomats are being withdrawn from Kiev, and consideration is being given to continuing to operate the embassy from Lemberg.

In the morning, too, Baerbock addresses the consequences that will affect Germany and its population: rising gas prices, falling share prices.

And it ends with the statement: "We didn't choose this location, but we won't avoid it either."