In a televised address marking the 77th anniversary of the end of World War II, the German Chancellor announced that he was sending heavy military equipment to Ukraine to fight the Russian aggressor.
On the anniversary of the end of World War II German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has promised Ukraine further support in the fight against Russia, which has waged war against it, DW reports.
By providing assistance to Ukraine, the Federal Republic, for the first time in its history, “sent weapons to the war zone” and “carefully thought out” the supply of heavy equipment, Scholz said in a televised address to citizens on Sunday (May 8th). “We will continue to do so,” he said. As he went on to say, he has no doubt that “Putin will not win the war.”
“For me, May 8 is a very special day,” Scholz said, referring to the end of World War II. The silence of the guns, which came 77 years ago, was like a “cemetery silence,” the chancellor said. “Millions of people have been killed in their towns and villages, in concentration camps or death camps. This crime against humanity was committed by the Germans,” he recalled.
law in central Europe – how the Russian army kills men, women and children in Ukraine, destroys cities and even attacks refugees, “Scholz said.
The fact that Russian President Vladimir Putin even equates “his aggressive barbaric war with the struggle against National Socialism” is a “falsification of history and a disgrace,” Scholz said. Putin wants to “subjugate Ukraine, destroy its culture and identity,” the German prime minister said.
The fact that Europe is at war again can mean only one thing for Germany: it will defend law and freedom – “on the side of the attacked,” Scholz said. “We support Ukraine in the fight against the aggressor,” the German prime minister said. In addition to arms supplies, he also mentioned Germany's support for Germany in unprecedented sanctions against Russia and the reception of Ukrainian refugees.
In his televised address, Scholz also expressed fears that the war could spread beyond Ukraine and that “the world could be threatened in our country as well.” In his opinion, it would be “wrong to just brush it off.” But “fear should not paralyze us,” the politician warned. At the same time, he warned of his firm position: by supporting Ukraine, “we are not obliged to do absolutely everything that this or that side requires.”
Scholz emphasized that he would continue to be guided by four principles: no unilateral action by Germany, only in coordination with NATO partners; maintaining Germany's own defense capabilities; not to pursue any policy that will harm Germany “and our partners more than Russia”; and, fourth, it will not make any decision “that will make NATO a participant in the war.” “The fact that there should be no more world wars – and especially between nuclear powers – is also a lesson on May 8,” the chancellor is convinced.
Scholz admitted: “One thing is clear: there will be no world dictated by Russia. Ukrainians will not accept this – and neither will we.”
Scholz expressed “deep conviction” that Ukraine will survive and that freedom and security will win – “just as freedom and security won 77 years ago over slavery, violence and dictatorship.” And the legacy of May 8 is that everyone makes a significant contribution, said in his video address, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Read also: Volodymyr Zelenskyy invited Olaf Scholz to visit Kyiv on May 9
Earlier, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said he does not plan a visit to Ukraine in the near future and considers it wrong for Kyiv to refuse to receive President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. He stated this in an interview with the public broadcaster ZDF.
Commenting on a possible visit to Ukraine, he mentioned the refusal of the administration of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky to approve German Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and He noted that this “interferes with the case.” strong>All victims of World War II and the tyranny of the National Socialists and held political talks.
On May 10, German Foreign Minister Annalena Berbok will arrive in Ukraine. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier agreed on Burbock's visit during a “conciliatory” telephone conversation.
See special topic: The Ukrainian Armed Forces reported how many Russian ships are still in the Black Sea The military warned of a high probability of new rocket attacks from the sea. The bodies of the dead are decomposing, the wounded are dying of infectious gangrene – in “Azov” they told about the blockade of Mariupol Azovstal “, which are not fulfilled. Javelin could double missile production due to high demand – Reuters Lockheed Martin believes that their products will be in demand after the war in Ukraine. Over 100 Russian servicemen killed in two days in Mykolayiv and Kherson regions The Ukrainian Armed Forces also prevented the enemy's attempt to withdraw an intelligence group > Canada will provide additional $ 41 million in military aid to Ukraine Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also promised new sanctions against the Russians.
