German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has sharply criticised the statements made by Russian President Vladimir Putin in an interview with American blogger Tucker Carlson.
"This interview is a mockery of the real actions taken by Russia in Ukraine. Putin is telling a completely absurd story about the reasons for this war," Scholz said during a visit to the US capital, Washington, on Friday, 9 February.
"There is a very clear reason – the Russian president's desire to annex part of Ukraine. And all the stories that are told in this regard do not change anything about the fact that this is the goal of his imperialist aspirations," the German Chancellor stressed.
He added that the war in Ukraine "can end at any moment, but not in the way the Russian president imagines – by Ukraine's surrender, but as a result of him ending the war and creating conditions for a peaceful solution."
In an interview with Tucker Carlson published on Thursday evening, 8 February, Putin again defended Russia's invasion of Ukraine. He also called it impossible for Russia to be defeated in this war and denied any intention to attack NATO countries such as Poland and Lithuania.
On 9 February, Scholz meets with US President Joe Biden at the White House for in-depth talks. One of the main topics is likely to be support for Ukraine, as the US Senate has blocked a new $60bn aid package for Kyiv.
