Scholz flew to Moscow in a bid to stop the threat of war

Scholz flew to Moscow in a bid to stop the threat of war. 

BERLIN: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz heads to Moscow on Tuesday to meet with President Vladimir Putin in a high-risk mission to avoid war. 

Russia’s most important commercial partner across Europe is warning of severe sanctions if it targets Ukraine.

After having visited Kyiv on Monday and Tuesday, Scholz’s visit of just one day is part of the hectic Western diplomacy to prevent a potential attack, as over 100,000 Russian troops converge on Ukraine’s border. 

The chancellor has indicated that he intends to reinforce his message on his side in the West. 

The West is willing to engage in dialogue on Russia’s security concerns. Still, it will apply sanctions if it decides to invade Ukraine.

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“We are prepared for expansive and effective sanctions that are coordinated with our partners,” the Russian president declared at Kyiv on Monday, before his return to Berlin.

Sanctions warnings might be more threatening from Germany, the country that is Russia’s top trading partner within Europe and the largest user of Russian natural gas. However, this could limit Scholz’s options for maneuver.

Last month, he made it clear that “everything has to be discussed if there is any military intervention” in response to questions about his plans for the Nord Stream 2 pipeline from Russia to Germany. 

It is planned to transport additional Russian gas to Western Europe, bypassing traditional transit countries Ukraine. 

However, he hasn’t pledged to shut down Nord Stream 2 or even mentioned it in connection with sanctions. 

In stark contrast, U.S. President Joe Biden declared last Monday that the pipeline would be shut down should Russia attack. 

Russia isn’t planning an invasion and is accusing the West of sending an array of official visits for Moscow and Kyiv to express their anger.

Scholz, appointed on December 1, has been the subject of some criticism over his low profile during the crisis. 

In contrast with the leadership of Angela Merkel during the 2014 annexation of Crimea. 

French, the president Emmanuel Macron, has taken the leading role in Europe and has visited Moscow last week and called Putin often.

Merkel and Putin could converse in the other’s native languages. As a result, they became his primary interlocutors throughout Europe throughout her 16 years in office. 

It will be the first time Scholz has interacted with Putin as chancellor though Scholz has had meetings with Putin in other senior positions.

“Merkel enjoyed a unique relationship with Putin. I believe that he was a fan of her, and they spent a long period to develop the relationship,” stated Jana Puglierin, Director of the Berlin office of the European Council of Foreign Relations. “For Scholz, it will be more complicated.”

Scholz’s administration has been accused of sending contradictory signals regarding the situation. 

There are disagreements between the three parties comprising the coalition and the Social Democrats (SPD) party of power.

The junior coalition, known as the Greens that hold an office in the ministry of foreign affairs, would like to end Nord Stream 2. 

The former SPD Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, who took the job in Russian power company Gazprom after stepping down in 2005, is still lobbying for the project.

The SPD’s tradition of more cooperation with Russia could benefit discussions with Putin Puglierin. Puglierin. “But Scholz cannot afford to be the weak link within the Western alliance,” he said.

On Monday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov suggested to Putin that Moscow keep following the diplomatic route as it tries to obtain security guarantees from the West.