Before Russia launched a large-scale war, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz assured Vladimir Putin that Ukraine would definitely not be able to join NATO in the next 30 years..

However, according to the head of the German government, the Russian autocrat launched the invasion anyway “on absolutely absurd grounds.”. Die Welt writes about it.

“NATO has never posed a threat to Russia,” Scholz said, dismissing accusations that the alliance allegedly violated Russian security interests before the war..

Scholz recalled that before the invasion, he assured Putin that Ukraine would not join the alliance.. However, Putin did not want to put up with liberal and open societies in Europe.. The Russian autocrat had “absurdly absurd” ideas and told Scholz that Belarus and Ukraine supposedly should not be separate states.

“Putin started this war with the clear intention of taking over the neighboring country. I think that was the initial goal,” Scholz said..

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Die Welt writes that Russia is now interested in conquering territories in eastern Ukraine. However, there is no guarantee that this will be the end of it.. Therefore, giving in is not a smart strategy..

“Putin really believes that you can draw a marker across the territory of Europe, and then say: this is yours, and this is mine.. But that's not how it works,"

At the same time, the German Chancellor stressed that he would continue the dialogue with Putin..