European Politics > Unexpected wisdom and courage from Germany's Scholz

 

Not talking with Putin ‘absurd’

– Germany’s Scholz

Nevertheless, it has been two years since anyone in the American State Dept. has talked to Putin or Yavrov... As the doomsday clock counts down the seconds to midnight.

The Chancellor has defended last month’s phone conversation with the Russian president

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz takes part in the questioning of the Federal Government in the plenary chamber of the Bundestag in Berlin on December 4, 2024. ©  Kay Nietfeld/Getty Images

It would be absurd not to communicate with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the Ukraine conflict, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has said. Germany and other EU states would be consigning themselves to irrelevance if they failed to do so, he told lawmakers in Berlin.

Scholz held a phone conversation with Putin in mid-November, which was their first in almost two years. The German head of government urged the Kremlin to withdraw its troops from territories claimed by Ukraine, reiterating his determination to support Kiev for “as long as necessary.” The Russian president, in turn, attributed the escalation of hostilities in 2022 to NATO’s “long-standing aggressive policy aimed at creating an anti-Russian bridgehead on Ukrainian territory.”

According to a readout published by the Kremlin, Putin also expressed readiness to engage in talks with Ukraine, stressing, however, that new territorial realities should be taken into account and the “root causes of the conflict” eliminated.

During a Q&A session in the German parliament on Wednesday, an opposition MP from the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) voiced skepticism over last month’s call. Scholz responded by stating: “Everybody knows that it would be absurd and a sign of unbelievable political weakness, if we in Germany and in Europe now waited for others to conduct these phone conversations, and we sort of commented on the news shown on TV.”

Scholz further insisted that Western European nations must talk to Moscow, despite a difference of opinion.

This is definately not NATO devised narrative. The last thing they want is to talk to Moscow and accidentally have peace break out. Not good for profits for the West's War Industry storefront.

READ MORE: Germany’s Scholz warns of ‘Russian roulette’ over Ukraine

Previously commenting on the conversation, the German chancellor similarly dismissed criticisms that his outreach could undermine Western unity, arguing that diplomatic channels should remain open and saying that he expected to talk to Putin again.

Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky has criticized the phone call between Scholz and Putin, claiming that it could weaken the Kremlin’s “isolation.”

Putin said in late November that “there was nothing unusual” about his call with Scholz, with both officials laying out their positions on the Ukraine conflict.

The Russian president added that some other Western leaders were “willing to resume” dialogue, stressing that he remained open to such overtures.

The phone conversation between Scholz and Putin received mixed reactions in the West.

In a post on X, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk claimed that “no-one will stop Putin with phone calls.”

PM Tusk still thinks the Russia is the aggressor in Ukraine and a threat to all of Europe. NATO is the aggressor and the only threat Russia is to Europe comes from their assistance in NATO's aggression.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau emphasized the importance of maintaining a “level of engagement with counterparts who in many cases we disagree with.”

Now that's an unusually astute observation by Trudeau. Might be the smartest thing he has said in 9 years.

Not talking to Putin is an example of today's cancel culture. It''s extremely immature and really stupid.

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European Politics > 1st Minister resigns - N.I.; UK energy bills increase 50%; Stoltenberg to go back to Oslo; Scholz & Macron to go to Moscow

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Northern Ireland’s first minister resigns

The Democratic Unionist Party’s Paul Givan quit over post-Brexit checks

Former First Minister Paul Givan (FILE PHOTO)

© Photo by Liam McBurney/PA Images via Getty Images

The first minister of Northern Ireland, Paul Givan, on Thursday announced his resignation from the post, as the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) escalated their protest over elements of the Brexit deal that impact on the province’s relationship with the rest of the UK. 

The DUP objects to the Northern Ireland Protocol, created under the UK’s Withdrawal Agreement with the EU in an effort to prevent forming a hard border between the region and the Republic of Ireland. However, the Protocol effectively created a border down the Irish Sea by establishing checks on goods coming into Northern Ireland from Great Britain.

Due to the power-sharing agreement at Stormont – Northern Ireland’s seat of government – Givan's departure forces the parallel resignation of Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill of Sinn Féin.

The move comes after DUP agriculture minister, Edwin Poots, on Wednesday ordered a surprise suspension on the Brexit checks concerning food and farm products arriving in Northern Ireland from Great Britain.

Rival parties have been quick to condemn Givan’s resignation, with the region’s finance minister, Sinn Féin’s Conor Murphy, labeling it “reckless and self-serving.”

Northern Ireland is set to go to the polls for local elections in May.

British energy bills about to skyrocket

People may have to pay twice as much for gas and electricity

after the regulator lifts the cap on energy bills

© Getty Images / Matt Cardy

The UK’s Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem) is lifting the price cap for domestic energy bills by 54%, the regulator said in a press release on Thursday.

“The energy price cap will increase from 1 April for approximately 22 million customers. Those on default tariffs paying by direct debit will see an increase of £693 from £1,277 to £1,971 ($2,670) per year,” the press release reads.

The energy price cap sets a maximum amount energy suppliers can charge customers for the gas and electricity they use. According to Ofgem, the cap “stops energy companies from making excessive profits, ensuring customers pay no more than a fair price for their energy.”

Ofgem sets the cap every six months based on the underlying costs to supply energy, with the previous rise in October hiking energy bills by 12% to an all-time high of £1,277 ($1,731) a year for around 15 million households.

Ofgem says the latest cap hike is made in response to a “record rise in global gas prices over the last 6 months, with wholesale prices quadrupling in the last year” and resulting in closures of dozens of utilities.

“Over the last year, 29 energy companies have exited the market or been put in special administration in the wake of soaring global gas prices, affecting around 4.3 million domestic customers,” the regulator states.

Ofgem expects the cap lift to affect default tariff customers, who haven’t yet switched to a fixed deal on energy consumption.

“This is because energy companies cannot afford to supply electricity and gas to their customers for less than they have paid for it,” the press release says. The regulator, however, noted that it is preparing other measures in order to tackle the worsening energy crisis, including changing the frequency of price cap updates “to ensure that it still reflects the true cost of supplying energy.”

UK consumers are already suffering from soaring prices on everything from energy to consumer goods as inflation races toward its fastest pace in three decades. Ofgem’s announcement also came mere hours before the Bank of England revealed a new interest-rate hike of 0.5%.

On the bright side, UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak has just announced a package to help households pay their power bills, which will provide £350 ($476) to the “vast majority of households” to offset Ofgem’s cap hike. However, many experts say this will only cushion the impact, with social media users already dubbing Ofgem’s cap move “black Thursday.”

West ‘only makes things worse’ in row over Ukraine – Turkish president

Recep Tayyip Erdogan said US President Joe Biden failed to make

a positive impact on the crisis in Europe

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at an event in Ankara, January 20, 2022. © Adem Altan/AFP

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Western countries haven’t succeeded in trying to resolve the current crisis with Russia. He made his remarks on Friday after returning from a visit to Ukraine.

“Unfortunately, the West until now has not made any contribution to resolving this issue. I can say they are only making things worse,” Erdogan said, as quoted by the Daily Sabah.

Erdogan added that US President Joe Biden “has not yet been able to show a positive approach to this process as of now.”

The Turkish leader said he wanted Ankara to be given the role of mediator in the current tensions between Russia and the West. Last month, Erdogan invited Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky to meet on Turkish soil.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed to Russian media on Friday that Putin’s visit to Turkey was in the works. “We hope it will happen as soon as possible,” Peskov said. The spokesperson did not rule out a future Putin-Zelensky meeting, but said it was “very difficult” to discuss the matter at the moment.

Erdogan, nevertheless, was optimistic about bringing Putin and Zelensky together. “We will now set the date. Then, hopefully, we want to hold this meeting in order to bring together Mr. Putin and Mr. Zelensky at a high level. Our agreement with Mr. Zelensky is in this direction,” he said on Friday.

Russia has repeatedly denied claims by NATO members that it is preparing to invade Ukraine. The US and the EU, nevertheless, threatened to impose new sanctions on Russia if it attacks its neighbor.

Moscow wants the US-led bloc to provide legally binding assurances that it will not expand closer to Russia’s borders. NATO rejected Russia’s demand to officially abandon its ‘open-door policy’ of accepting new members, but, along with the US, offered other steps to reduce tensions in Eastern Europe.

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NATO chief gets another job

Jens Stoltenberg will take the top post at the Norwegian Central Bank

after finishing his term at the military organization

Jens Stoltenberg © Christian Marquardt - Pool / Getty Images

Norwegian authorities named Jens Stoltenberg, the current NATO secretary general, as the new Central Bank governor on Friday. The current chief, Oystein Olsen, will resign on March 1, and Stoltenberg will take over only after his mandate as NATO chief expires this September.

Another candidate for the position, Norges Bank Deputy Chief Ida Wolden Bache, who was Stoltenberg’s main rival, will take over management from March until the new governor steps in.

The head of Norway Central Bank will lead the work in setting interest rates and maintaining the country’s financial stability. He will also be in charge of Norway’s sovereign wealth fund, which is estimated at $1.4 trillion and is the largest in the world.

Stoltenberg’s candidacy has previously sparked criticism from Norwegian economy experts, who are concerned that this appointment could weaken the Central Bank’s independence, despite his training and experience.

Jens Stoltenberg, an economist by education, acted as Norwegian prime minister from 2000 to 2001 and in 2005-2013, before being appointed NATO secretary general the following year. He will be the first politician to occupy the post since the 1990s.

French & German leaders to visit Moscow amid Russia-NATO tensions

Emmanuel Macron and Olaf Scholz will discuss the situation around Ukraine with Vladimir Putin

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (R) and French President Emmanuel Macron at a joint press conference in Berlin, Germany, January 25, 2022. © Kay Nietfeld/AFP

Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet with his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron on February 7, and with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on February 15, the Kremlin said on Friday.

Both events will be followed by joint press conferences.

Putin and Macron last spoke on Thursday evening, which was their third conversation over the phone in a week. They discussed the current tensions around Ukraine and Moscow’s demand for the West to provide “long-term security guarantees” to Russia, according to the Kremlin. 

AFP reported that Macron will visit Ukraine next week.

Speaking to German media, Scholz said, referring to Russian soldiers: “The situation is very serious, and you can’t ignore the fact that many troops have been deployed along the Ukrainian border.” Western countries have been accusing Russia of massing troops and military hardware with the intent to attack Ukraine, which Russia has repeatedly denied. 

German media reported that Scholz will visit Kiev on February 14 to hold talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. 

The visits by European leaders will take place after a flurry of talks Russian officials had with the US and NATO last month.

Moscow views the Western military infrastructure close to its borders as a threat and wants the US and NATO to provide legally binding assurances on the matter. Russia also seeks guarantees that NATO will not expand further eastward, which would bar Ukraine’s potential membership in the bloc.

NATO and the US each sent written responses to Russia’s demands that were then leaked to the Spanish media this week. The documents confirmed that NATO refused to abandon its so-called ‘open-door policy’ of accepting new members, but, along with the US, proposed other steps to reduce military tensions in Eastern Europe.

European Politics > US sanctions anti-NATO Ukrainians; USA to evacuate Ukraine Embassy staff; Scholz stands up to Biden? Ukraine's impossible 'to do' list

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US sanctions anti-NATO Ukrainian politicians

The Biden administration accused the two opposition politicians of working

for Moscow to undermine Ukraine’s Western-backed government

Ukraine's parliament building in Kiev © Wikipedia

The US Treasury Department on Thursday sanctioned two Ukrainian MPs – Taras Kozak and Oleg Voloshyn – and two former officials – Volodymyr Oliynyk and Vladimir Sivkovich, accusing them of participating in a Moscow-backed conspiracy to destabilize the pro-Western government of Volodymyr Zelensky.

“Russia has directed its intelligence services to recruit current and former Ukrainian government officials to prepare to take over the government of Ukraine and to control Ukraine’s critical infrastructure with an occupying Russian force,” read a statement from the Treasury, which followed the White House’s line that Russia is preparing to invade Ukraine.

Kozak, who owns several news networks and has already been sanctioned by Zelensky, is accused of using these outlets to criticize Zelensky, but the Treasury Department justified the sanctions against him by accusing him of spreading “false narratives” about the 2020 US election.

ie. narratives not in keeping with the official narrative.

Kozak is a member of ‘For Life’, Ukraine’s largest opposition party. The party is headed by Victor Medvedchuk, who was already sanctioned by the US for siding with Moscow while Crimea rejoined Russia in 2014. Both men have been accused of treason by Zelensky and were sanctioned last year, in a move that the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights condemned as a politically-motivated attack on free speech.

Medvedchuk is currently under house arrest, on the charges, which he claims are politically motivated. 

Voloshyn is accused by the US of working with “Russian actors to undermine Ukrainian government officials and advocate on behalf of Russia,” and of attempting to influence US elections.

The former officials, Olinyk and Sikovich, are accused of gathering information on behalf of Russia’s FSB security service.

Tensions between Washington and Moscow remain at boiling point over Ukraine. At the core of the crisis is the issue of NATO expansion: the US insists that Ukraine should be free to join the Western military alliance, while the Kremlin considers the idea of NATO troops and arms on its border unacceptable. Discussions aimed at resolving the crisis remain deadlocked, and the US is claiming that Russian President Vladimir Putin is preparing an invasion.

In response to this alleged threat, which Russia has denied, the Biden administration is threatening further sanctions, and weighing the possibility of arming anti-Russia factions within Ukraine.

US State Department orders families of Embassy personnel in Ukraine

to begin leaving as soon as Monday

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER and GINA MARTINEZ FOR DAILYMAIL.COM

PUBLISHED: 14:44 EST, 22 January 2022

The U.S. State Department has ordered families of U.S. Embassy personnel living in Ukraine to start evacuating as soon as Monday, according to officials.

The department is also expected to tell Americans in the country next week to leave via commercial flights 'while those are still available,' an official told DailyMail.com on Saturday.

The order comes after U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met in Geneva on Friday for crunch talks over the Ukraine crisis.

Obviously, they worked really well.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has predicted a 'large-scale' war with Russia if the superpower attempts to occupy the industrial city of Kharkiv - which he believes is a target due to its large Russian-speaking population.

Blinken said there were 'no breakthroughs' in the talks with the United States' former Cold War rival in a bid to prevent an imminent war with Ukraine.

Kharkiv, in Eastern Ukraine, is the former Soviet republic's second biggest city with a population of about 1.4 million, and Zelensky believes it is a 'feasible' target for Vladimir Putin.  

After meeting with President Zelensky, Blinken warned that Russia could attack Ukraine on 'very short notice' during remarks at the American embassy in Kyiv on Wednesday.

Blinken's insistence on a 'severe' response came a day after President Joe Biden drew widespread criticism for saying retaliation would depend on the details - and that a 'minor incursion' could prompt discord among Western allies. 

Blinken met with President Zelensky earlier this week as the Biden administration said it would provide an additional $200 million in defensive military aid to the country amid growing fears of a Russian invasion. 

Blinken told embassy staff in Kyiv: 'We know that there are plans in place to increase that (Russian) force even more on very short notice.' 

'That gives President Putin the capacity, also on very short notice, to take further aggressive action against Ukraine,' Blinken said.

He also maintained that a peaceful, diplomatic solution was still the priority, but stressed the situation was entirely reactive to Russian President Vladimir Putin's actions.

'I strongly, strongly hope that we can keep this on a diplomatic and peaceful path, but ultimately, that's going to be President Putin's decision,' Blinken said.

On top of the military forces sent to Ukraine by Britain, the Biden administration today said it is providing an additional $200 million in defensive military aid to the country, with the US having previously supplied small arms, ammunition, secure radios, medical equipment, spare parts and other equipment. Biden has also previously ruled out sending US forces into Ukraine, but special forces already operate under rotation there to train Ukrainian soldiers

Russian military vehicles arriving in Belarus are seen in this photograph distributed by the Belarus Ministry of Defense on Tuesday, ahead of joint exercises

On Thursday, Biden cautioned that any Russian troop movements across Ukraine's border would constitute an invasion and that Moscow would 'pay a heavy price' for such an action.

'I've been absolutely clear with President Putin,' Biden said. 'He has no misunderstanding: Any, any assembled Russian units move across the Ukrainian border, that is an invasion.'

Asked whether Russia was intimidated by Ukraine, Lavrov said on arriving for the talks on a cold and blustery day in Geneva: 'We're not afraid of anyone, even not of the U.S.'

In Moscow, the Kremlin reacted coolly to a parliament initiative to recognise two pro-Russian breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine as independent states, saying it was important to avoid steps that could increase tensions.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said it was important not to try and score political points in such a fragile situation.

Scholz and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson shared a phone call on Thursday evening, putting out a statement today that warned Russia would pay a 'considerable and serious price' if it invades Ukraine.

Moscow has for weeks been massing tens of thousands of troops, tanks and artillery pieces along its eastern flank, sparking fears of an invasion, though the Kremlin has insisted it is merely a defence force (pictured, Russian forces currently massed in border regions)

The two leaders agreed that 'further military aggression by Russia against Ukraine must be averted' and there would be consequences if the situation were to escalate, the German chancellery said.

Even while rejecting the core Russian demands, the Biden administration has said it is willing to speak to Moscow about its security concerns.

One proposal by the United States is to revive restrictions on missiles in Europe that had been set by the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, a Cold War deal trashed by former President Donald Trump's administration as it accused Moscow of violations.

The Biden administration has also offered more transparency on military exercises. Russia has not rejected the proposals but says that its core concern is Ukraine.

U.K. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, speaking in Australia amid talks on the new AUKUS submarine pact, today warned Putin to 'desist and step back' from Ukraine before making 'a massive strategic mistake'.

'Invasion will only lead to a terrible quagmire and loss of life, as we know from the Soviet-Afghan war and conflict in Chechnya,' she said.

'We need everyone to step up. Together with our allies, we will continue to stand with and urge Russia to de-escalate and engage in meaningful discussions. What happens in eastern Europe matters for the world.'

Moscow insists it has no plans to invade but has at the same time laid down a series of demands - including a ban on Ukraine joining NATO - in exchange for de-escalation.

Washington has rejected Moscow's demands as 'non-starters' and NATO Chief Jens Stoltenberg this week insisted that the alliance 'will not compromise on core principles such as the right for each nation to choose its own path.'

Upping the ante, Russia announced new naval drills that will see it deploy to the Atlantic, Pacific, Arctic and Mediterranean 'more than 140 warships and support vessels, more than 60 aircraft, 1,000 pieces of military equipment, and about 10,000 servicemen.'

The announcement followed an angry condemnation from the Kremlin of what it described as 'destabilizing' remarks from Biden, after the American leader vowed a 'severe' response to any invasion of Ukraine.

Russia already held joint military drills Wednesday with forces of ex-Soviet republic Belarus, which also neighbors Ukraine.

A U.S. official said the exercises could presage a permanent Russian military presence involving both conventional and nuclear forces in Belarus.

The West has repeatedly warned Russia it would pay a 'high price' of economic and political sanctions should it invade Ukraine.

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German chancellor snubs Biden – Der Spiegel

Olaf Scholz turned down the US president’s call for talks due to a busy schedule,

German media claims

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has reportedly turned down an invitation for talks sent by US President Joe Biden at short notice. According to Der Spiegel, Scholz cited a busy schedule as the reason why he could not discuss the situation around Ukraine with his counterpart in Washington.  

The German leader had arranged an official visit to Spain by the time the invitation from the White House reached him, the outlet said on Friday. Furthermore, Scholz is allegedly eager to spend more time in Germany as the country grapples with the Omicron Covid-19 variant. The two sides are now reportedly working to arrange a bilateral meeting before mid-February.

German journalists claim to have discovered that the canceled meeting was meant to bring the two countries’ positions closer together vis-a-vis Russia. Biden had reportedly hoped to convince Scholz to adopt a tougher line on Moscow. To prepare the ground for that, CIA head William Burns reportedly paid the German chancellor a visit in Berlin last week.

Of course, 'closer together' means Germany would fall in line with USA, not the other way about. I'm proud of Scholz for not caving to every US demand.

Both the German government and the White House have officially denied the claims made by Der Spiegel.

When asked to comment on the report, a spokesperson for the White House National Security Council branded it as “completely made up,” adding that nothing of the kind “happened.” The official went on to say that the initiative to hold talks actually came from Berlin, and that Washington is expected to welcome Scholz in February.

Speaking on Tuesday, following talks with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, Scholz made it clear that Germany would not export lethal weapons to Ukraine. He stressed that “on that point, nothing has changed” since his government took over in December. 

Earlier in the week, UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace told MPs that Britain had “taken the decision to supply Ukraine with light anti-armor defensive weapon systems.” A small group of British military personnel would also be sent to the Eastern European country to provide training. The delivery flights reportedly bypassed German airspace, however.

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Ukraine must do one big thing before it can be allowed into NATO

– bloc member

Hungary’s top diplomat said that Kiev needs to look after its minority populations

NATO-Russia Council at the Alliance's headquarters in Brussels, Belgium on January 12, 2022.

© Getty Images / NATO

Hungary’s foreign minister has offered the Ukrainian government advice on joining NATO, saying that it needs to better respect the rights of minority populations if it wants to eventually be let into the military bloc.

In an interview published by TASS on Thursday, Peter Szijjarto said that Kiev still has plenty of issues to resolve before it could be inducted into NATO. “The Ukrainians need to make many serious changes, if they are seriously thinking about Euro Atlantic integration,” he explained. “I can speak concretely about one area: respecting the rights of national minorities. Because right now Ukraine has plenty of problems there.”

He clarified that Budapest is not satisfied with how ethnic minorities are being treated in Ukraine. “Their right to education in their native language and its use in administration, culture, and religion is being violated. The law prohibiting people with dual-citizenship from serving in public office is antidemocratic. We understand the challenges Ukraine is dealing with, its fight for sovereignty and territorial integrity, but we will never accept this approach to national minorities.”

A census taken in 2001 showed that about 77.8% of Ukraine’s population was ethnic Ukrainians. The largest minority groups were Russians (17.3%), Belarusians (0.6%), Moldovans (0.5%), Crimean Tatars (0.5%), and Bulgarians (0.4%). Another census was meant to be taken in 2010, but it was postponed until 2020, and then postponed again. In 2020, an official stated that it would not happen in 2021 either, saying that a census is “an expensive pleasure.”

Szijjarto has previously criticized Kiev for violating the rights of Hungarian minorities in Ukraine, pointing to a 2017 law that banned the use of foreign tongues in educational institutions. The government has also come under fire for a law drafted last year that would deny official minority status to any group considered to have a state elsewhere, including Hungarians and Russians.

Many Ukrainian laws are aimed at reducing the use of the Russian language and Russian media in Ukraine. Other minorities probably get caught up in these efforts.

There are many other areas where Ukraine needs to improve, such as its open tolerance for neo-Nazis, its habit of imprisoning opposition leaders, and its extraordinary levels of corruption. I fear that many NATO nations are willing to overlook these evils for the sake of kicking sand in Russian eyes.

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