Russia maintains Ukraine's potential accession to NATO as casus belli - Scholz
This was stated by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who addressed the Munich Security Conference, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.
"Fundamental principles are not subject to bargaining and discussion as Russia has agreed with them. And these include the right to choose alliances," Scholz said.
"Russia holds the issue of Ukraine's potential accession to NATO as a casus belli. This is paradoxical situation because there is no solution at the moment… the issue is not on the agenda and will not be in the foreseeable future, and Putin is aware of this… We have a conflict in Europe over an issue that is not even on the agenda, so this is unacceptable,” the German chancellor emphasized.
He added that NATO and the EU are not aggressive organizations and "did not invite Putin to do what he’s doing."
Western partners, he said, have warned Russia that military aggression against Ukraine would be a "huge mistake" and that they "will not allow it." Scholz said that during recent talks with Vladimir Putin, he warned that any further aggression against Ukraine's territorial integrity would come at a high price – political, economic, and geostrategic.
"We are much better prepared than we have been in similar situations before. We will be able to take immediate measures on sanctions in the event of military aggression," he said.
The transatlantic community, Scholz said, is ready for negotiations, but with a clear division between unacceptable and legitimate security requirements, because no less than peace in Europe is at stake.
"As much diplomacy as possible, but without naivety," is the goal of the West. According to Scholz, the partners use all channels of communication, ready to explore "even the tiniest windows" to find a way out of the crisis. But the path to peace will not be short, the chancellor warned, reminding that everything necessary for a military invasion is in place around Ukraine.
Scholz reiterated that there was no justification for placing 100,000 Russian soldiers near Ukraine's borders.
Peace in Europe can be maintained only if borders remain recognized and inviolable – this is the only principle that can guarantee security, said the German chancellor.
He also assured that Germany is ready to remain the largest donor and financial contributor to Ukraine's economic stabilization.
The Munich Security Conference is held on February 18-20, attended by about 30 heads of state and government, including President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, and more than 100 ministers.
Photo: Twitter / Munich Security Conference
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