Scholz and Johnson promise Ukraine further armaments

Chancellor Olaf Scholz and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson at a joint press conference (08.04) in London showed demonstration in unanimity and promised Ukraine further arms supplies. NATO countries are unanimous not to become a party to the war, but to help Ukraine defend itself, Johnson said after talks with Chancellor Scholz. The UK will supply everything that has a defensive character. He mentioned air defense missiles. Scholz also said that Germany would “continuously” supply Ukraine with weapons to strengthen the defensive fight against the Russian invasion.

Chancellor Scholz reacted reservedly to Kiev’s request to send “Marder” type defense tanks from the German arsenal to Ukraine. “We try to supply weapons that help and can be put to good use. “We have done this in the past, and we will continue to do it,” said Scholz. These supplies are mainly anti-tank protection and anti-aircraft weapons as well as ammunition. “The successes that the Ukrainian Army has achieved show that the weapons we have supplied are efficient.” But Schoz said they agree with Johnson that we should always look at “what can be put to effective use.” “These questions can only be answered by professionals.”

Scholz: “High-efficiency” sanctions

The chancellor considers Western sanctions against Russia due to the attack on Ukraine to be “highly effective”. The freeze on assets will also affect the “power clique” in Moscow, Scholz said. He reiterated his call on Russia to open humanitarian corridors in Ukraine so that people can leave the war-torn areas. Referring to the recent rocket attack on the train station in Kramatorsk in eastern Ukraine, Scholz said the killing of civilians was a war crime. “The Russian president is responsible.” He called on Vladimir Putin to declare a ceasefire. “The war must end, even immediately.”

Germany aims to secede from Russian raw materials

Referring to the controversial German energy imports from Russia, Scholz defended the German position, not to immediately give up gas supplies from Russia. We are working to end this addiction. Scholz also stated that Germany would secede from Russian energy imports even after the end of the war. Russian President Vladimir Putin, with his attack on the neighboring country has made wrong calculations, Scholz said after meeting with Johnson in London. He accused Putin of endangering the future of his country with this war. Western sanctions will have “dramatic costs” for Russia. Germany will replace Russian oil imports within this year, Scholz said. As for gas, this is not possible.

Johnson defended Germany over criticism that it was not committing enough to break free from its dependence on Russian energy supplies. Johnson referred to the federal government’s goal of no longer importing Russian gas by mid-2024.

Post-Brexit process and Northern Ireland side topics on the agenda

The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Johnson, despite the close cooperation with Germany and other European partners regarding the Ukraine crisis, does not consider the Brexit dispute with Brussels over the regulation of relations with Northern Ireland over. “There is a problem,” Johnson said. But on other issues, we agree, he added. For months the UK has been threatening to repeal the Article 16 emergency clause in the so-called Northern Ireland protocol. Johnson stressed now that this has not been resolved.

This protocol is part of the Brexit agreement signed by London and Brussels. It guarantees that the border between Ireland, which belongs to the EU, and Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom, remains open. London will reconsider this protocol. Brussels denies this and insists on implementing the agreement.

The UK is for Chancellor Scholz the sixth station of official visits outside a European Union country since taking office four months ago. He has previously been to the United States, Ukraine, Russia, Israel and Turkey

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