Russia-Ukraine conflict: German chancellor says security guarantees for Ukraine are under discussion with allies

The NATO alliance has pledged to support Ukraine as it continues to resist Russia’s aggression in its territory for the fourth month. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said over the weekend that allies are already discussing security guarantees for Ukraine.

Speaking with the broadcaster ARD Sunday, Scholz said Germany is already discussing Ukraine’s security guarantees with allies in anticipation of the situation after the war. However, Scholz said the security guarantees for Ukraine would not be the same as those of NATO member countries.

“We are discussing with close friends the question of the security guarantees we can give. This is an ongoing process. It is clear that it will not be the same as if someone were a member of NATO,” said Scholz, who has faced criticism since taking office in December for his response to the Ukraine crisis and failing to show empathy for citizens who are also struggling with the problem of inflation.

Scholz, who is from Germany’s Social Democratic Party, said he did not want to be the kind of politician who makes promises every week but “doesn’t keep 90 percent of them.”

“Especially in such difficult times, it’s not the time for people who constantly say something but for people who make sure basic decisions are made,” said Scholz.

Meanwhile, Reuters reports that customs officials in Turkey have detained a Russian cargo ship carrying grain from Ukraine, which Kyiv has said is stolen, according to Ukraine’s ambassador to Turkey Sunday. This comes as Kyiv has previously asked Ankara to detain the Russian vessel the Zhibek Zholy, according to an official and documents obtained by the outlet.

The Zhibel Zholy ship anchored around one kilometer from the shore and outside the Karasu port Sunday, showing no obvious signs of movement onboard or by other vessels nearby.

“We have full-on cooperation. The ship is currently standing at the entrance to the port, it has been detained by the customs authorities of Turkey,” said Ambassador Vasyl Bodnar in televised remarks.

Bodnar said investigators would be meeting Monday to decide what will happen to the ship and that Kyiv hopes the grain would be confiscated.