“Without security there is no freedom”
Scholz calls on Europe to defend and deter
February 24, 2024, 2:08 p.m
In a video message, Chancellor Scholz assured Ukraine of further support. At the same time, he warns that Europe must expand its defense capabilities and return to a policy of deterrence. The CDU is meanwhile criticizing what it sees as the slow delivery of weapons.
On the second anniversary of the Russian attack on Ukraine, Chancellor Olaf Scholz called for a return to the policy of deterrence and called for a strengthening of defense capabilities in Germany and Europe. At the same time, Scholz assured Ukraine of further German support in a video message. Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock accused Russia’s ruler Putin of a desire for conquest and a lack of willingness to make peace.
“Together with our allies, we have to be so strong that no one dares to attack us,” warned Scholz. “Without security, everything else is nothing. Without security, there is no freedom, no democracy and no human rights,” said the Chancellor. This security must be defended “with determination and a sense of proportion.” “We support Ukraine in its self-defense – for as long as necessary,” emphasized Scholz. With its war of aggression, which violates international law, Russia is not only attacking Ukraine, “but is destroying the peace order in Europe,” he said in the video podcast “Kanzler Kompakt”. This includes the principle that “borders cannot be changed by force”.
Europe must invest more in defense
But Germany and Europe “must do more so that we can defend ourselves effectively,” emphasized the Chancellor. “Deterrence, defense readiness” are words “that we have not used in Germany for so long that they have almost been forgotten.” But they now stand for “a very important task” again: to defend “peace in Europe”.
“This year, Germany is investing two percent of its economic output in defense for the first time in decades. And it will stay that way in the coming years and decades,” assured the Chancellor. In addition, the European states must combine their efforts: “The most important weapons systems and, above all, ammunition must continually roll off the assembly line.” This costs money, but it is still “the right way”.
Baerbock appeals to Putin to withdraw troops
Baerbock wrote in a guest article for the “Bild” newspaper: “As shocking as it is: Putin doesn’t want negotiations. He doesn’t want peace – he wants conquests.” She called on the Russian ruler: “Withdraw your troops. End this war. Then there would be peace tomorrow.” In addition, Russia must release the Ukrainian children who were abducted there.
The Foreign Minister sharply rejected criticism of arms deliveries to Ukraine. Anyone who claims that arms deliveries are prolonging the war is “playing into Putin’s hands,” she warned. “Germany stands by Ukraine’s side as long as you need us. Until you can shape your future in peace again,” Baerbock also wrote in the online service X.
Gauck, Merz and Von der Leyen are calling for more defense capability
Former Federal President Joachim Gauck praised German support for Ukraine, but does not believe it is sufficient. “The government is still not doing enough. It is still too hesitant to deliver ammunition and weapons,” Gauck told “Spiegel”. Among other things, he referred to the lack of delivery of German Taurus cruise missiles.
With a view to the war in Ukraine, CDU leader Friedrich Merz and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also called for stronger defense efforts by Germany and Europe. The goal must be to develop the European Union into a “real defense union,” both wrote in a joint guest article for the “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.”
Russia began its major attack on Ukraine on February 24, 2022. Due to a lack of supplies for the Ukrainian armed forces from the West, the Russian troops have again achieved success in their attacks in recent weeks.