Scholz reacts to criticism: “Others act like us”
In the dispute over the delivery of heavy weapons to Ukraine, criticism, including from government partners, is growing ever sharper. A statement by Chancellor Olaf Scholz does not change that.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz has emphasized that Germany can hardly supply Ukraine with weapons from its own stocks. “This is where our options reach their limits,” he said after virtual talks with several heads of state and government on Tuesday afternoon.
Instead, he promised Ukraine to finance direct arms deliveries from German industry. These included anti-tank and anti-aircraft weapons, ammunition and weapons for artillery combat. Details are currently being coordinated with Ukraine and the industry. “We will provide the necessary money,” promised Scholz. For all deliveries of weapons, it applies that these must be “quickly implemented and quickly deployable”.
Scholz did not speak of a direct delivery of heavy weapons from Germany. NATO partners who deliver weapons of Soviet design to Ukraine could, however, receive replacements from Germany.
Sharp criticism also from the coalition
When asked about the criticism that Germany was delivering too little, Scholz referred to other countries: “Those who are in a comparable starting position to Germany act like us.” It also makes sense to deliver weapon systems with which the Ukrainian army is already familiar. Germany did that. But the possibilities are now exhausted.
Scholz also indicated that Germany is ready to support the delivery of artillery from the US or the Netherlands to Ukraine. “We are prepared to do what is necessary there, too,” said the Chancellor, without giving any details. It could be about providing ammunition or training. The US announced the delivery of heavy artillery pieces last week. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte promised to supply heavy weapons to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday.
Hofreiter: “That’s not enough”
Green politician Anton Hofreiter criticized Scholz’s announcement as insufficient. “The support announced by Olaf Scholz for our partner countries in supplying arms to Ukraine is another step in the right direction, but it is not enough,” he told t-online.
Hofreiter again demanded the direct delivery of heavy weapons. “The war threatens to last for many more months and the old Soviet weapons are slowly going out everywhere,” said the chairman of the European Affairs Committee in the Bundestag. “Therefore, we need to quickly support Ukraine directly with Western-made heavy weapons so that the Ukrainians can familiarize themselves with them now.” In addition, “an oil embargo must come quickly so that Putin loses an important source of income”.
Politicians from the FDP, Greens and Union had recently increased the pressure on Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD). “Time is of the essence,” said the designated FDP Secretary General Bijan Djir-Saai on Deutschlandfunk. The CDU/CSU parliamentary group threatened to make its own push for arms deliveries in the Bundestag.
North Rhine-Westphalia’s Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst (CDU) accused the SPD of isolating Germany in Europe with “slow and delayed support for Ukraine”. “Never before has Germany been so isolated and apathetic in an international crisis,” Wüst told the Rheinische Post.
“Great Anger at the Russian President”
Meanwhile, Scholz has condemned the Russian military offensive that has begun in eastern Ukraine. The war had entered a new phase, he said. The suffering of Ukraine leaves no one indifferent. “We feel endless sadness for the victims and – it also has to be said – great anger at the Russian president and this senseless war.”
Scholz highlighted the close coordination with Germany’s allies in supporting Ukraine. “German solo efforts would be wrong.” Russian President Vladimir Putin did not expect this unified action. The Chancellor affirmed that NATO would not intervene in the war.
