German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) turned heads earlier this week when he suggested that economic relations between Russia and Germany could resume once more if Moscow finally brings the Russo-Ukraine war to an end.
On Monday, December 12th, while speaking at an event marking the 70th anniversary of the German Committee on Easter European Economic Relations, Chancellor Olaf Scholz, despite pledging that further sanctions would be imposed on Russia, also said that Russo-German economic cooperation could begin anew once the war has ended, the German news outlet BR24 reports.
“At present, the relationships we have are being reduced, reduced, reduced. Now we are tightening up the sanctions. Everyone needs to know that. But a Russia that ends the war … also needs the chance that in other times it is possible to start economic cooperation again,” Chancellor Scholz said.
But the time for this “is not now. Now we are tightening sanctions.” Russian President Vladimir Putin, Scholz said, is destroying not only Ukraine’s infrastructure, cities and villages with his war, but also many human lives and Russia’s future.
While mentioning that the German government is in the process of drafting a new set of sanctions, the chancellor highlighted that, even after the war has ended, Russia will remain the largest country on the European continent and will continue to be a major power in Europe. “It is therefore very important that we prepare for this time,” he said.
Scholz also spoke of the emerging multipolar world, saying: “The world in the 21st century will not again fall into a few centers of power, let alone two.” Bearing that in mind, Germany must seek to position itself accordingly and diversity its economic and political partners, he continued. “The world is full of new potential partner countries,” the chancellor said.
