German Chancellor Olaf Scholz revealed on Thursday that Kiev gets to decide for Berlin – and maybe for Brussels and Washington, too – when it comes to the sanctions against Moscow.
In an interview with the Hamburg-based liberal weekly Stern, Scholz argued that Russian President Vladimir Putin “envisions a peace he would be able to dictate over the heads of the Ukrainians, but he will have to reach an agreement with Ukraine instead.”
“We will only be able and willing to withdraw our sanctions in agreement with Ukraine. I don’t think many people in the Kremlin have grasped that yet. This has devastating consequences for Russia,” Scholz added.
It was unclear in this particular instance whether by “we” Scholz meant Germany or the EU and US. Elsewhere in the interview, however, he insisted that under his leadership Germany will always move “in convoy” with its allies.
Scholz also said that Germany and its allies were “advising and supporting Ukraine, including diplomatically,” but cannot and will not make decisions for Kiev about Ukraine’s fate.
“This is about Ukraine. Only their president, parliament and citizens can conclude an agreement” with Russia, he said.