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Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly in an interview with the “Bild” newspaper
Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and her Canadian counterpart Mélanie Joly talk to “Bild” about the Russian attack on Ukraine.
The dual interview on ...
... putting a stop to oil and gas imports from Russia.
Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock: “We need to do everything we can to stop this war. This President is evidently not to be stopped at the moment, because he is overstepping all human limits.” In the case of sanctions we must always ask ourselves how long we can uphold them. If Germany halts its oil imports from Russia, “we will no longer be mobile in the coming days.”
... Putin’s aggression:
Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly: “Of course we are seriously concerned about what is happening in Ukraine and of course it is Putin’s war, a terrible war.”
... the intervention of NATO.
Baerbock: “Here is a man who wants to destroy another country, whatever the cost. And we are doing everything in our power to prevent that. But that doesn’t mean that something that is conceivable is also the most responsible thing to do. I can understand people who say that it’s high time we put our foot down. But we now need to ensure that we isolate Putin as much as possible.” He has to “feel the massive impact on his own country.”
... the fear of a nuclear strike by Putin:
Baerbock: “Playing with fire is a game that must never be played. With regard to the nuclear question, the thing is that the radiation from these weapons also goes back, and Ukraine is Russia’s direct neighbour.” The West is currently working on “reaching an agreement through the International Atomic Energy Agency to ensure that the nuclear power plants are not targeted and to prevent a disaster there.”
... further sanctions against Putin.
Baerbock: “We are preparing a further package. But these sanctions should not just be applied by Germany and the EU but together with all the 141 countries worldwide which have spoken out against this war led by Putin.”
... China’s role in the war against Ukraine.
Baerbock: “China did not vote with Russia in the United Nations, it abstained. That is, admittedly, not a clear stance. But it showed that China does not wholeheartedly support the Russian President, at least with regard to the war in Ukraine.”
... longer lifespans for nuclear power plants.
Baerbock: “Keeping the nuclear power plants running for longer is not an option.” One of the things the war has shown is why it is right to phase out nuclear power. If one of the power plants is attacked, “there will be a huge nuclear disaster”.
Interview: Johannes Boie