Russian President Vladimir Putin has launched a "cold-blooded war of aggression" against Ukraine, says German Ambassador to Cyprus Anke Slim, who calls it a new reality that requires a clear response.
"Whatever is needed to ensure peace in Europe will be done. Germany will contribute to these efforts in a spirit of solidarity," says the Ambassador in an interview with the Cyprus News Agency, while expressing Berlin's full solidarity with Ukraine.
She also notes that the Russian attack on Ukraine is a violation of the most fundamental rules of international order. "No country in the world can accept that the sovereignty of another state is called into question simply because its most powerful neighbour decides to do so," she stresses.
Referring to Germany's decision to supply Kiev with weapons, the Ambassador echoes the words of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who, addressing the Federal Parliament last Sunday, said that "no other response to Putin's aggression was possible."
"February 24, 2022 is a milestone in the history of our continent."
"February 24, 2022 is a milestone in the history of our continent. With the attack on Ukraine, Russian President Putin launched a cold-blooded war of aggression. For one reason alone: the freedom of the Ukrainian people is challenging his own oppressive regime. There is nothing and no one who can justify this," she says.
The terrible injustice and pain felt by the Ukrainian people touches us all deeply, she continues, noting that the world will never be the same as before.
For Ms. Slim, Russia decided on its own to go down this path. "In recent months, the EU has tried to find a peaceful solution to this crisis through diplomatic channels. Russia has ignored many attempts to make progress through diplomacy, including through the Normandy format on the basis of the Minsk Agreements. It has not kept its word to our leaders, nor its written commitments enshrined in the Minsk Agreements.
Asked about the implications of the crisis, the Ambassador notes Putin's references to "indivisible security" and says that what the Russian President is really seeking now is "to divide the continent into the familiar old spheres of influence through the power of arms."
This, she notes, has implications for security in Europe. "In the long term, security in Europe cannot be achieved in confrontation with Russia. However, in the near future, Putin is putting this security at risk," the Ambassador adds.
President Putin has created a new reality that requires a clear response, which we have provided, she says. "As you know, Germany has decided to supply Ukraine with weapons for the country's defense. No other response to Putin's aggression was possible," she adds."
An additional challenge, according to the ambassador, relates to preventing Mr. Putin's war from spreading to other countries in Europe. "This means that we will unconditionally honour our commitment to collective defence within NATO," she says, calling on President Putin not to underestimate "our determination to defend NATO territory together with our allies. When we welcome a country into NATO, we commit to defend that country as a partner and ally, just as we would defend ourselves."
The Ambassador also refers to the "unprecedented scale" of EU sanctions targeting, among others, Russian banks and oligarchs, but also President Putin and people close to him. Asked about the impact on member states with ties to Russia, she says the whole of Europe, including Germany and Cyprus, will be affected by the situation.
"The sanctions against Russia, the rise in prices and the fall in stock markets will have an impact on all European countries, including Germany and Cyprus. We did not seek this situation. However, we cannot avoid it. Therefore, we take full responsibility," she says."
For Ambassador Slim, this presents both a challenge and an opportunity. The challenge is to strengthen the sovereignty of the European Union in a sustainable and lasting way, she explains. The opportunity, she continues, lies in maintaining the united front we have shown in recent days with the agreement on the sanctions package.
"For Germany and for all EU member states, this means not just asking what we can win in Brussels for our country, but asking 'what is the best decision for our Union'. Europe is our framework for action," she underlines.
Regarding the consequences in the energy sector, the Ambassador confirms Germany's readiness to take all necessary measures together with its allies.
"In the last week we have prepared together with our international partners a package of comprehensive and targeted sanctions. The German Government has also frozen Nord Stream 2, as we have always said that Nord Stream 2 is also on the table. We are ready to pay that price and Russia should feel the consequences. We have a very clear agreement with the United States government on gas transportation and energy sovereignty in Europe."
Slim also refers to measures the German government is taking to secure Germany's energy supply and says her country "will change course in order to eliminate dependence on imports from individual energy suppliers."
"After all, the events of recent days and weeks have shown us that a responsible and forward-looking energy policy is not only crucial for our economy and climate" but also for our security, she says, noting that the sooner progress is made with renewable energy, the better.
For the German Ambassador, there should be no illusions that Mr Putin will change course overnight. "The Russian leadership will see very soon how high a price it will pay. In the last week alone, Russian stocks have lost more than 30% of their value. This shows that our sanctions are working and we have not ruled out further sanctions - nothing is off the table."
The measures, he says, are being closely coordinated with Germany's partners and allies, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Norway, as well as South Korea, Japan and Australia. "Our unity is our strength. We stand by Ukraine and all Ukrainians," the Ambassador concluded.
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