Bundestag MP Stegner says Putin's meeting with Scholz will contribute to de-escalation
Photo: Valentyn Ogirenko / Reuters
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz may contribute to the de-escalation of military tensions on the Russian-Ukrainian border during meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky. Ralf Stegner, a member of the Bundestag foreign policy committee from the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD), shared these expectations in a commentary to Lente.ru.
The German politician noted that in recent weeks Germany has assumed responsibility for continuing diplomatic contacts designed to prevent further escalation. “Germany and its European partners will work together and strengthen diplomatic ties, including in the recently activated Normandy format,” he said.
According to Stegner, Berlin is convinced that now is not the time for verbal threats. At the same time, he warned that Russia would face harsh consequences if Ukraine's territorial integrity was violated.
On February 15, a meeting of the leaders of Russia and Germany will take place in Moscow. Scholz is expected to denounce a Russian troop buildup on the border with Ukraine and warn of a readiness to impose “painful sanctions” in the event of an invasion of the country.
On the eve of February 14, negotiations between Scholz and Zelensky took place in Kiev. Speaking to reporters, the German chancellor said that Germany continues to support Kiev and is firmly on its side. He also stressed that the Minsk agreements are the basis for negotiations to resolve the Ukrainian crisis, and said that Zelensky promised to provide draft laws on special status and elections in Donbass.
