BERLIN (AFP) – Prime Minister Olaf Scholz on Thursday called on China to refrain from supplying Russia with arms and instead use its leverage to persuade Moscow to withdraw Russian troops from Ukraine.
“My message to Beijing is clear.Do not use your influence in Moscow to encourage the withdrawal of Russian troops and supply weapons to the aggressor Russia,” Scholz said in a speech to the German Bundestag.
The Chancellor also pledged that Germany will continue to provide humanitarian and military assistance to Ukraine to protect the country from Russian aggression.
Addressing those calling for Ukraine to negotiate a ceasefire with Russia to end the war, he said, “Peace-loving does not mean submission to a larger neighbor. If Ukraine ceases to defend itself.” , it will be the end of Ukraine, not peace.”
“Our European peace order is legitimate,” Scholz added. “Our ‘never again’ means that aggressive war as a political tool will never happen again. I mean.”
“There is no bargaining with guns at your temple except for your own submission,” he said.
Scholz also said Germany is working to meet her NATO defense spending targets.
“This pledge I made here on February 27 last year stands,” Scholz said, adding that the government would increase the overall defense budget to meet this goal. Scholz’s “Turning Point” speech, three days after the start of the full-scale invasion of Russia on February 24, 2022, triggered a significant increase in arms shipments to Ukraine and German military spending.
Since that speech, Germany has become one of Ukraine’s main arms suppliers. Lawmakers, including the largest opposition bloc, strongly supported his €100bn funding for military procurement announced by the prime minister in June.
