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Chancellor Scholz in Bucharest at a campaign event of the European Socialists (PES) for the European elections
Photo: Daniel Mihailescu / AFP
According to Chancellor Olaf Scholz, there is only a chance for peace in Ukraine if the West resolutely supports the country with military aid against Russia. "The war in Ukraine will end the moment President Putin decides to withdraw his troops," said the SPD politician on Saturday at a campaign event of the European Socialists (PES) for the European elections in Bucharest.
"However, Putin will only make this decision if he realizes that he cannot win the war on the battlefield, that he cannot dictate an unjust peace, (that) time is not in his favor," said the Chancellor.
Scholz struck a different tone than some other SPD politicians who had emphasized the need for negotiations. Western support for Ukraine is “the key to restoring peace” in Europe. “We will maintain it as long as it is necessary,” emphasized the Chancellor, recalling that Germany, with 28 billion euros in military aid, was the second largest supporter after the USA. "The best way to prevent escalation is to have an effective deterrent."
Scholz called for a consolidation of the European arms industry, which is considered fragmented compared to the USA because of the national orders from the respective national arms manufacturers. The Europeans must collectively invest more in their own security and defense so that no one dares to attack. "This also means that we put aside narrow-minded self-interests and build a strong and truly European defense industry," said Scholz. This will be one of the most important tasks for the EU after the upcoming European elections on June 9th.
Scholz also sees dark times ahead if right-wing populists grow in influence in Europe. »Right-wing populists are opposing our united Europe and its values in their election campaigns. They are ready to destroy what we have built over decades. They stirred up resentment against refugees and minorities. Right-wing populists are endangering the prosperity of European citizens, which is based on the common market, the Chancellor warned.
At the beginning of March in Rome, the European Social Democrats appointed the current EU Labor Commissioner Nicolas Schmit as the PES' top candidate for the upcoming European elections. The delegates voted Schmit with great approval as the top man for the election at the beginning of June. The Social Democratic Party of Europe (SPE) wants to take over the leadership of the EU Commission with the Luxembourger and replace Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. In times of crisis, people need a social Europe - that's what Schmit stands for, said Scholz in Bucharest.
mwo/wit/Reuters/dpa