Scholz urged to keep the “thread of negotiations” with Russia despite differences

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz urged, despite disagreements with Russia, to maintain the possibility of negotiations. About this he declared in an interview with the Sueddeutsche Zeitung.

In his opinion, the end of the conflict in Ukraine “will become even more unlikely” if the dialogue is not maintained. “It is important that, despite serious disagreements, we do not allow the thread of negotiations with Russia to break,” said Scholz (quote according to RIA Novosti).

The chancellor noted that after the completion of Russia’s special operation in Ukraine, interaction with the Russian Federation may become possible, but “not now.” Scholz did not give a direct answer to the question of whether his visit to Moscow in 2023 is possible.

December 5, the German chancellor in his article for Foreign Affairs magazine declaredthat Germany should become a guarantor of security in Europe, and also noted that there would be no return to the past world order and the EU would face the question of maintaining independence from other political players. On December 12, during a speech at the 70th anniversary of the Eastern Committee of the German Economy, Scholz announced the possibility of resuming economic cooperation with Russia after the end of the conflict. About it wrote TASS. “However, Russia that will end the war, and the citizens of the Russian Federation, who are striving for a different future for themselves, also need the opportunity to start economic cooperation again at another time,” he said.

At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Russia in response to Scholz’s statements notedthat he is thus trying to justify himself for the economic problems of Germany. “One gets the impression that he (Olaf Scholz) is trying to justify the German government and himself for the failure of policy in the Russian direction and the growing economic problems in the country. Emphasis was placed on supporting the Kyiv regime and the speculation that after the end of the “war” in Ukraine, Russia would ask for the resumption of economic relations with Germany. But we will not ask for anything, and German politicians must understand this once and for all, ”the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The Foreign Ministry also recalled that the gap in cooperation between the countries, including economic, was due to German policy and added that Scholz bashfully avoids discussing the consequences of anti-Russian sanctions for Germany.