German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and his Social Democratic Party (SPD) on Sunday condemned a statement by an opposition Christian Democratic Union (CDU) lawmaker who claimed the chancellor was planning a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Roderich Kiesewetter, a CDU foreign affairs and security expert, posted on X (formerly Twitter) the day before that the alleged meeting was scheduled to take place before the German general elections scheduled for February.
“We must prepare for campaign surprises,” Kiesewetter reportedly wrote in a post that has now been deleted. He had indicated that Scholz would travel to Moscow for talks.
How did SPD react?
Mr. Scholz and his party both condemned him and Mr. Kiesewetter. Government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit denied plans for such a trip.
A government spokesperson told media group Redaction Netswerk Deutschland (RND) that it “makes absolutely no sense” and called the comments “slanderous”.
The newspaper Hebestrite said “legal action” would be taken against CDU politicians.
Scholz also harshly criticized Kiesewetter’s post at a press conference, calling it a “false allegation” and “highly inappropriate.”
SPD general secretary Matthias Miersch called the allegations “vicious and despicable”. SPD parliamentary group leader Rolf Mützenich described this as “pure fabrication”. Both parties demanded that Kiesewetter, who is also a member of Congress, retract his statements and apologize to Scholz.
Mützenich asked CDU leader and chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz to intervene.
Referring to the CDU and its sister party, the Bavarian Conservatives, Mützenich said: “With such a complete fabrication, key representatives of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group clearly believe in the wisdom of Olaf Scholz.” “They are trying to build an argument against their foreign policy.” Christian Social Union (CSU).
Scholz emphasizes support for Ukraine despite Putin’s prior call
In early November, Scholz spoke by phone with President Putin for the first time in nearly two years. The call drew criticism not only from Kiev but also from some Eastern European NATO members.
Speaking to reporters at the SPD leadership meeting on Sunday, Scholz did not rule out the possibility of holding another telephone conversation with Putin “if it can bring at least some small benefit.”
Still, the prime minister stressed that Germany remains Ukraine’s “biggest supporter” in the fight against Russian aggression.
Scholz added: “We must prevent this war from escalating into a war between Russia and NATO.”
