Chancellor
Scholz on Ukraine policy: hasty action suspect
Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) in Berlin. Photo: Michael Kappeler/dpa-pool/dpa
© dpa-infocom GmbH
The Chancellor is sticking to his line in dealing with the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine – and warns against acting too quickly.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz defends his Ukraine policy against accusations that he is acting too hesitantly and fearfully in the face of Russian aggression.
“I make my decisions quickly – and coordinated with our allies. I am suspicious of hasty action and German going it alone, »said the SPD politician of the «Bild am Sonntag».
CDU leader Friedrich Merz accused the chancellor of being anxious and hesitant about German arms deliveries to Kyiv this week. The Ukrainian ambassador Andriy Melnyk also called Scholz’s policy sluggish. “Olaf Scholz probably does it like Angela Merkel: first wait, watch and decide later – or not. What is missing is imagination and courage,” he told the “Bild am Sonntag” with a view to the German reaction to the invasion of the Russian army.
After the report, Scholz made it clear that he wanted to stick to his course. “I’m not scared enough to be impressed by such allegations,” he said. At the same time, he emphasized that harsh criticism of his decisions was legitimate. “In a democracy, it is part of being robustly approached by the opposition. That’s what she’s there for.”
Germany supplies heavy weapons
On Tuesday, the federal government approved the delivery of Gepard anti-aircraft tanks to the German defense industry. They are the first heavy weapons to be delivered directly from Germany to Ukraine. Before the Ukraine war, the principle applied was not to hand over weapons to crisis areas.
During a subsequent visit to Japan, however, Scholz did not answer the question of whether the federal government would also approve the delivery of Leopard battle tanks, Marder infantry fighting vehicles or self-propelled howitzers requested by Ukraine.
Even his personal survey crash in popularity with the citizens does not make Scholz rethink: “You should take note of surveys, but you must not make your actions dependent on them. That would be extremely dangerous, especially in questions of war and peace.”
According to a representative Insa survey for the “Bams”, a majority of 54 percent of citizens are dissatisfied with Scholz’s work. That’s a record since he was sworn in and the first time more than half are dissatisfied.
Baerbock: “Truce is only the first step”
Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) told the “BamS” that a prerequisite for lasting peace in Europe and an end to sanctions against Russia was the withdrawal of all Russian soldiers from Ukraine. “A ceasefire can only be a first step.” “We must help Ukraine to be strong enough to make its own decisions,” said the minister. “No one has the right to dictate to them.”
The aim of Germany and Europe in the Ukraine war is peace. But it is about more than the absence of war. Rather, it is about the security of living in freedom. “But the peace order that we knew in Europe was irretrievably shattered by Putin. As much as we might wish, there is no going back to before February 24th. We can never again rely on Putin’s promises alone.”