war in Ukraine
Melnyk: “We need the Air Force, the Navy”
The former ambassador and current Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine: Andriy Melnyk. photo
© Michael Kappeler/dpa
Kyiv is renewing its demand that the federal government also supply combat aircraft and support the navy. After all, the war against Russia cannot only be won on the ground.
The Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Andriy Melnyk has again called on the federal government to give more leadership in supporting Ukraine against the Russian war of aggression.
“It’s about time that Germany actually does what it has announced, namely to play this leading role,” said Melnyk in the ZDF “Morgenmagazin”. This is expected of many partners in Europe and the world.
The former Ukrainian ambassador reiterated his call to the German government to supply 14 Leopard 2 tanks as well as combat aircraft and to support the navy. “We need the Air Force, we need the Navy.” Germany is able to help with fighter jets like the Eurofighter and Tornado, he said. After all, the war against Russia cannot only be won on the ground. The federal government has so far refused to supply fighter jets to Ukraine.
Union faction leadership currently against western fighter jets
The top of the Union faction rejects a fighter jet delivery again at this point in time. Nothing should be ruled out in the medium term, said the parliamentary manager of the CDU/CSU MPs in the Bundestag, Thorsten Frei (CDU). At the moment, however, he sees no need for such deliveries to Kyiv.
The necessary steps must be taken to support Ukraine in its defense against Russian aggression, said Frei. He again criticized the traffic light coalition’s decision to supply Leopard main battle tanks from Germany as too late. These cannot be used overnight. From Frei’s point of view, an earlier decision would have enabled Ukraine to better protect its lines, especially in connection with the delivery of Marder-type infantry fighting vehicles, which was also approved.