https://arab.news/mvsfn
- Olaf Scholz: 鈥榃hat is correct is that Volodymyr Zelensky is the elected head of state of Ukraine鈥�
- Annalena Baerbock: 鈥楴o one but Putin started or wanted this war in the heart of Europe鈥�
BERLIN: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Wednesday that it was 鈥渨rong and dangerous鈥� of US President Donald Trump to call Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky a 鈥渄ictator.鈥�
鈥淲hat is correct is that Volodymyr Zelensky is the elected head of state of Ukraine,鈥� Scholz told the Spiegel news site.
Earlier on Wednesday Trump called Zelensky 鈥渁 dictator without elections.鈥�
Zelensky鈥檚 five-year term ended last year but Ukrainian law does not require elections during wartime.
Scholz condemned any attempt 鈥渢o deny President Zelensky democratic legitimacy.鈥�
鈥淭he fact that proper elections can鈥檛 be held in the middle of the war is reflected in the Ukrainian constitution and electoral law,鈥� he said.
Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock also hit back at Trump鈥檚 comments, branding them 鈥渁bsurd.鈥�
鈥淚f you look at the real world instead of just firing off a tweet, then you know who in Europe has to live in the conditions of a dictatorship: people in Russia, people in Belarus,鈥� Baerbock told broadcaster ZDF.
Earlier Berlin had also pushed back against Trump鈥檚 claim that Kyiv had 鈥渟tarted鈥� the fighting.
鈥淣o one but Putin started or wanted this war in the heart of Europe,鈥� Baerbock said in a statement, adding that 鈥渨e are working with all our might to further strengthen Ukraine.鈥�
She said 鈥渨e are at an existential waypoint for security and peace in Europe鈥� and that the goal was 鈥渁chieving lasting peace for Ukraine 鈥� safe and protected from future Russian aggression.鈥�
Baerbock said that any 鈥渇alse peace ... would only give Russia a respite for new military campaigns.鈥�
Regarding the fast-moving events since Trump spoke directly with Putin about ending the conflict, she said that 鈥渨e must not allow ourselves to be confused鈥� and 鈥渒eep a cool head.鈥�
Downplaying Europe鈥檚 role on Ukraine 鈥渙nly plays into the hands鈥� of Russia, she said.
鈥淚 therefore advocate acting confidently toward the US administration.鈥�