Zeitenwende speech

The Zeitenwende speech was an address delivered to the Bundestag by Olaf Scholz, the Chancellor of Germany, on 27 February 2022. His speech was a reaction to the Russian invasion of Ukraine on 24 February. Scholz described the attack as a "historic turning point" (German: Zeitenwende, literally: "times-turn", referring to the change from one age or era to another) and announced that in response his government would use a €100 billion off-budget fund to significantly increase military spending, reversing Germany's previously cautious defence policy. Scholz's speech was well-received by most German and international politicians, and was endorsed by the leader of the opposition Friedrich Merz. The speech represented a major turning point for Germany’s policies in the areas of energy, relations with Russia, and security.