Status: 01/29/2023 8:14 p.m
Will fighter jets follow after the “Leopard” tanks? The head of the Munich Security Conference, Heusgen, is in favor and refers to international law. SPD leader Esken does not rule it out – unlike the chancellor.
The debate about further arms deliveries to Ukraine continues. After the German government promised the 14 “Leopard 2” tanks, Ukraine has been pushing for the delivery of fighter jets since Wednesday. There is also the question of whether further commitments would contribute to an escalation. However, there is agreement that Germany must not become a party to the war.
The head of the Munich Security Conference, Christoph Heusgen, advocates the delivery of fighter jets to defend against Russia. in the ARD Europamagazin he said:
I believe that the supply of fighter jets is adequate to better protect Ukraine from Russian attacks.
According to him, American F16 fighter jets or Soviet-designed fighter aircraft from old GDR stocks could be used. Foreign forces are allowed to supply Ukraine with weapons, including main battle tanks and fighter jets, under international law, Heusgen added.
“I don’t believe in drawing red lines at all,” Christoph Heusgen, head of the Munich Security Conference, on the delivery of fighter jets to Ukraine
Europamagazin 12:45 p.m., 29.1.2023
Esken dodges
SPD leader Saskia Esken did not explicitly rule out the delivery of fighter jets to Ukraine. When asked if she ruled out the delivery, she said on ARD-“Report from Berlin” only:
It is very important that Germany and NATO are not parties to the war.
That is why the government is in very close coordination with the Americans on these issues. Germany is not a party to the war, and the government wants to avoid this “in the future.”
At the same time, it is important for Germany to make it clear to Russian President Vladimir Putin with every decision “that we reject Russian aggression.”
“It is crucial that we keep evaluating the current situation,” Saskia Esken, SPD party leader
Report from Berlin 6 p.m., 29.1.2023
The Deputy National Security Advisor to US President Joe Biden, Jon Finer, had previously made a similar statement on the US television channel MSNBC. They are not ruling out any particular weapon system and will align support based on what Ukraine needs. The US would discuss this very carefully, Finer said, citing Ukraine’s requests.
Scholz: Germany is not taking part in the war
Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz reiterated that in his view Germany was not taking part in the Ukraine war, despite extensive arms deliveries. “This is a war between Russia and Ukraine,” Scholz said at a press conference in the Argentine capital of Buenos Aires during his visit to Latin America. “That doesn’t change if we provide Ukraine with financial, humanitarian aid or deliver weapons.”
Germany will do everything to ensure that there is no escalation that leads to a war between Russia and NATO countries.
Continued direct talks with Putin
Scholz called for prudence in the debate about further arms deliveries. He warns against “entering into a constant outbidding competition when it comes to weapon systems,” he told the “Tagesspiegel” with a view to demands that Ukraine now also be supplied with fighter jets.
When, as soon as a decision has been made, the next debate begins in Germany, it doesn’t seem serious and shakes the confidence of the citizens in government decisions.
He will continue to try to influence Russian President Vladimir Putin in direct talks. “It’s up to Putin to withdraw troops from Ukraine and end this terrible, senseless war that has already claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands.” In the phone calls, Putin repeatedly made it clear that he wanted to “take parts of his neighboring country by force,” which was “unacceptable,” Scholz continued.