A false story is spreading on Mastodon and other social media, claiming that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz believes, Ukraine cannot join NATO in the next 30 years.
I investigated this, and it is a lie. As anyone can see from this video, Scholz is talking about how Putin used a potential NATO membership as an excuse for attacking Ukraine, and Scholz is saying that AT THE TIME, he did not expect Ukraine to join NATO in the next 30 years.
@amayer the point is, the story is based on words taken out of context. So we simply do not know, what Scholz thinks. He could have realized, that now there is no other way to protect Ukraine than to get them into NATO.
@randahl He could have. As I said, I’d like to hear some clear words from him on the matter. He only has clear words when defending his decisions for not helping Ukraine (Taurus etc.).
It is important to note that Scholz is talking about the past. Quote:
"At the time, [Putin] chose the reason for the war, that Ukraine was about to join NATO. You all know the deal, this is not a near term decision. Probably not in 30 years — I said that in public — and still, Putin went with this reason. At the time I also told Ukraine in Kyiv, that a NATO membership was not on the horizon”
This is NOT the same thing as Ukraine not being able to join NATO now that we see the need for it.
@randahl You're right. It sounded to me that Scholz is qualifying a dubious policy position, adding the 'but facts have changed, so NOW.. ' addendum which puts the world to rights i.e he's in favour of Ukraine joining NATO.
We live in a time when almost nothing can be believed without research. On the one hand, it's good to look up where information comes from, and to learn more around, but on the other hand, it also takes up a lot of time.
Reliable sources are therefore very valuable, and at this point I simply say thank you, Randahl! ☘️
You're the grid that separates the wheat from the chaff! ☀️
I don't want to presume to speak for everyone, because I can't, and I'm not allowed to, but I speak from what I read from many answers.
You are one of the pillars in the storm that we can hold on to, but this is mutual, because many are also happy to be there for you and this makes us all strong.
The ancients knew it, we are learning it again, in hard times we move closer together. ☀️
@randahl Thank you Randahl to bring this piece of misinformation to my attention, it is the first time it has made it into my carefully designed bubble.
Maybe I'll have to create another account in order to catch that kind of stuff earlier (without suffering mental harm).
Scholz argued that “a negotiated solution between #Israel and the #Palestinians that amounts to a two-state solution” with a #PalestinianAuthority responsible for both the #WestBank and the #Gaza Strip is needed instead.
“But we’re still a LONG way off that…”
What is important now is “to achieve a long-term ceasefire” and “for all parties to commit to the #TwoStateSolution,” he said.
@randahl using a little bit of commom sense, even without research, one ought to know it was ‘highly unlikely’ (given everything that’s been reported) that it would have meant anything else but in the past. Critical thinking skills should kick in when reading ‘bombshell’ toots folks! Don’t forget that Russia is bery, bery active in social media and has decades of propaganda experience.