Support for Ukraine means matter of historical justice for Germany - Scholz
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (photo: Getty Images)
Support for Ukraine is a matter of historical justice for Germany, states German Chancellor Olaf Scholz
On Saturday, July 20, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz delivered a speech marking the anniversary of the failed assassination attempt on Adolf Hitler.
During his address, Scholz highlighted the courage of Ukrainians resisting the full-scale Russian aggression.
"Given our history, there is only one place for Germany in this situation: on the side of Ukraine. In 2024, we cannot commemorate July 20 without thinking about the brave citizens of Ukraine who have resisted the criminal Russian aggressive war for over two years," he said.
Scholz also referenced Russian President Vladimir Putin, noting that the current conflict is a war where Russian rulers are openly pursuing the goal of conquering Ukraine and destroying it as a sovereign country. This is occurring "79 years after the end of World War II and 79 years after the adoption of the United Nations Charter.
The Chancellor urged Germans to remain vigilant in protecting democracy.
"Democracy depends on the participation of citizens, their respect for one another, and the fight against all forms of misanthropy and extremism. Those who fight against our democracy will always face our resolute resistance," Scholz assured.
Assassination attempt on Hitler
On July 20, 1944, an assassination attempt was made on Adolf Hitler, who was targeted with a bomb. The attempt was orchestrated by Wehrmacht officers led by Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg. Hitler survived and continued the war initiated by Germany for over nine more months.
Germany's support for Ukraine
During the recent European Political Community summit in the UK, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged partners to enhance Ukraine’s air defense and allow the Ukrainian Armed Forces to strike Russian territory with Western weapons.
In response, Olaf Scholz rejected the idea of lifting restrictions on strikes against Russia with Western weaponry and did not support calls to intercept Russian missiles and drones over Ukraine.
At the same time, Germany will not support a ceasefire that would lead to Ukraine’s capitulation.
Berlin plans to halve its military aid to Ukraine in 2025.
