BERLIN, Dec 12 Economic cooperation with Russia must become possible after the end of the conflict in Ukraine, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said before the Committee on Economic Relations of Eastern Europe in Berlin, quoted by the newspaper Zeit. — the newspaper reports the words of the chancellor.
According to Scholz, Russia, «which will end the war, also needs a chance to start economic cooperation again in other times.» «Just not now,» he said.
Scholz added that at present the relations that exist between Germany and Russia are declining. «Now we are tightening sanctions,» the chancellor reminded.
At the same time, he added that Russia would remain the largest country on the European continent even after the end of the conflict in Ukraine. «Therefore, it is very important that we prepare for this time,» Scholz concluded.
Russia launched a military operation in Ukraine on 24 February. President Vladimir Putin called its goal «the protection of people who have been subjected to bullying and genocide by the Kyiv regime for eight years.» For this, according to him, it is planned to carry out «demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine», to bring to justice all war criminals responsible for «bloody crimes against civilians» in Donbass.