After his visit to US President Biden in Washington on Monday and before a trip to Kiev and Moscow early next week, Olaf Scholz, faithful to German tradition, is discussing with the countries of Eastern Europe. After receiving Polish President Duda and Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday, the Chancellor received the leaders of the three Baltic countries on Thursday evening.
With our correspondent in Berlin, Pascal Thibault
Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia are at the forefront with common borders with Russia. These former Soviet republics are on a very hard line with Moscow. ” We must not make any concessions to Moscow as long as we have the gun to our heads said Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas.
Olaf Scholz assured the three countries of the solidarity of Berlin and Europe. “ Today it is a question of avoiding a war in Europe. The Baltic countries are directly affected by the worrying military activities of Russia. »
The three Baltic countries rely above all on NATO to ensure their security. But they expect a more important role from Germany, the leading European power. They paid tribute to Berlin’s role in monitoring their airspace within the framework of NATO and to the presence of the Bundeswehr in Lithuania, which must be reinforced. But the Baltic countries expect more from Berlin in general and more specifically weapons for Ukraine, a request rejected by Germany.