'‘No one but Putin' wanted Ukraine war: German FM

By AFP
February 20, 2025
Russian President Vladimir Putin chairing a Security Council meeting via a video conference at the Kremlin in Moscow on August 4, 2023. — AFP
Russian President Vladimir Putin chairing a Security Council meeting via a video conference at the Kremlin in Moscow on August 4, 2023. — AFP

BERLIN: Germany said on Wednesday that it was Russian President Vladimir Putin who launched the Ukraine war, contradicting US President Donald Trump´s claim that Kyiv had “started” the fighting.

“No one but Putin started or wanted this war in the heart of Europe,” said Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock in a statement, adding that “we are working with all our might to further strengthen Ukraine”.

She said “we are at an existential waypoint for security and peace in Europe” and that the goal is “achieving lasting peace for Ukraine -- safe and protected from future Russian aggression”. Baerbock said that any “false peace ... would only give Russi­.