- Title: No one can assume Russia will not attack other countries – Germany’s Scholz
- Date: 3rd May 2022
- Summary: GRANSEE, GERMANY (MAY 3, 2022) (REUTERS) FINNISH PRIME MINISTER SANNA MARIN, GERMAN CHANCELLOR OLAF SCHOLZ AND SWEDISH PRIME MINISTER MAGDALENA ANDERSSON WALKING OUT OF GERMAN GOVERNMENT’S GUEST HOUSE SCHLOSS MESEBERG CASTLE NORTH OF BERLIN TO ADDRESS REPORTERS SCHOLZ SPEAKING, SEEN THROUGH FLOWERBED (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN CHANCELLOR, OLAF SCHOLZ, SAYING: “It was clear to all of us that borders would not be moved by force and that countries’ sovereignties must be respected. Russia broke this law and that’s why no one can assume that the Russian president and the Russian government will not break the law with violence in other countries on another opportunity. That’s the reason why we all decided to expand our defence spending.†SCHOLZ SPEAKING (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN CHANCELLOR, OLAF SCHOLZ, SAYING: “Finland and Sweden are friendly countries. The two prime ministers are also close friends of mine (smiles) if I may say so. We are in close contact which is why it’s important to me to say that we are closely watching the debates in both countries on possibly joining NATO. Those are decision and discussions which must take place in the respective countries. But it is clear for us that if these two countries decide to join the NATO alliance then they can count on our support.†GERMAN VICE CHANCELLOR AND ECONOMY MINISTER ROBERT HABECK SPEAKING ON MOBILE PHONE IN GARDEN (SOUNDBITE) (English) FINNISH PRIME MINISTER, SANNA MARIN, SAYING: “Whether Finland’s decision will be joining NATO or not, it will be based on our will to contribute to our common security.†MARIN SPEAKING (SOUNDBITE) (English) FINNISH PRIME MINISTER, SANNA MARIN, SAYING: “Germany’s leadership is now more important than ever in this current situation. The EU sanction regime against Russia has already started to show its effects and it’s necessary to continue expanding the sanctions. Russia needs to understand that we are in this for the long term.†SWEDISH PRIME MINISTER MAGDALENA ANDERSSON ADDRESSING REPORTERS IN GERMAN REPORTERS OUTSIDE SCHLOSS MESEBERG CASTLE WITH NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (English) SWEDISH PRIME MINISTER, MAGDALENA ANDERSSON, SAYING: “Sweden is, as other countries, adapting to the new circumstances. The build-up of our national defence is being accelerated and we are mirroring the German bold decision to increase our defence expenditures to 2% GDP and we will do this as soon as is practically possible.†HEALTH MINISTER AND EPIDEMIOLOGIST KARL LAUTERBACH SPEAKING ON MOBILE PHONE IN GARDEN MARIN, SCHOLZ AND ANDERSSON ENDING NEWS CONFERENCE AND ENTERING BUILDING VARIOUS OF MARIN AND ANDERSSON ATTENDING GERMAN CABINET MEETING, FILMED EARLIER
- Embargoed: 17th May 2022 12:32
- Keywords: Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin German Chancellor Olaf Scholz Sweden Swedish Magdalena Andersson Ukraine war defence spending 2% GDP
- Location: GRANSEE, GERMANY
- City: GRANSEE, GERMANY
- Country: Germany
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,Europe,Military Conflicts
- Reuters ID: LVA001539503052022RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Tuesday (May 3) no one could assume that Russia would not attack other countries and Germany would support Finland and Sweden if they decided to join NATO.
"If these two countries decide they should join the NATO alliance then they can count on our support," Scholz told reporters after hosting the Swedish and Finnish leaders at a two day cabinet retreat north of Berlin.
Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin said the European Union’s sanctions against Russia should be expanded while Swedish Premier Magdalena Andersson vowed to increase her country’s defence spending to 2% of the GDP “as soon as is practically possible.â€
(Production: Martin Schlicht, Stefan Remter, Michele Sani) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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