Scholz voiced four steps to end the war as soon as possible and not to become a victim of the "predator Russian Federation"

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that the West can take four steps to make the Russian Federation's war against Ukraine end faster. These are providing aid to Kyiv, unity of leaders on both sides of the Atlantic, preventing NATO from getting involved in a war with Russia, and a reliable collective deterrence and defense of the North Atlantic Alliance.

The German Chancellor wrote about this in an article for The Wall Street Journal. He warned that if Russia wins in Ukraine, it will "radically change the face of Europe" and "deal a serious blow to the liberal world order."

Other authoritarian leaders around the world could follow suit with Russia's "brutal attempt to steal territory by force." Therefore, "even more countries are at risk of falling victim to the nearest predator."

"Our message is clear: we must do everything we can to prevent Russia from winning. If we don't, we may soon wake up to a world that is even more unstable, threatening, and unpredictable than it was during the Cold War," the politician said.

Scholz called for continued support for Ukraine. According to him, the Ukrainian Defense Forces may soon face a serious shortage of weapons and ammunition. "Some financial commitments have already been exhausted, while others need to be extended," the chancellor said.

He reminded that on February 1, 2024, the EU Council approved an additional $54 billion in financial assistance to Ukraine over the next four years.

"This should be complemented by additional military assistance," Scholz emphasized.

If Ukraine can maintain a well-equipped modern army, and if it manages to repel Russian aggression, it will "increase the security of everyone," he said.

Second, the West must resolve its differences and continue to move forward strategically on both sides of the Atlantic.

"Putin is trying to undermine our unity and turn our citizens against supporting Ukraine," Scholz said. The West must show that Russia is wrong, and citizens must understand that a Kremlin victory will make the world much more dangerous. "It will also strain our budgets and jeopardize the freedom and prosperity of each of us," the politician explained.

He emphasized that the West will resist any attempts to drag NATO into a war with the Russian Federation.

"Thirdly, we do not see ourselves in a state of war with Russia and do not seek confrontation with it. We will resist any attempts to involve the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in Russia's aggressive war against Ukraine," the official said.

Fourth, NATO must develop a collective deterrence and defense posture.

"The sooner Putin realizes that we are in this for the long haul, the sooner the war in Ukraine will end. The only way we can contribute to a lasting peace is through our support, unity, and determination. We must support Ukraine for as long as it takes," Scholz wrote.

As reported by OBOZ.UA:

– On February 9, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will travel to Washington to meet with US President Joe Biden. Ukraine will be one of the main topics of the talks, namely international support for Kyiv, the prospects for the adoption of a new aid package by the US Congress, and the situation on the battlefield.

– Earlier, Scholz called on the United States, together with Europe, to send a signal to dictator Vladimir Putin: the Kremlin leader's calculation that Russia will be able to wait until the West leaves Ukraine face-to-face with the aggressor will not work.

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