“It was a profound change of course for Germany when I announced that I would be supplying weapons to this war zone.”
(Photo: Getty Images)
Dusseldorf In his own words, Chancellor Olaf Scholz believes that peace in Ukraine is only possible if Russian troops withdraw. “There must be a ceasefire, the Russian troops must withdraw,” Scholz demanded in an interview with “Spiegel” published on Friday.
A peace agreement must make it possible for Ukraine to defend itself. “We will equip them in such a way that their safety is guaranteed. And we are available as a guarantor,” said the SPD politician. “There won’t be a dictated peace like the one Putin had in mind for a long time.”
The Chancellor again defended Germany’s position on arms deliveries. The possibilities of the Bundeswehr from their arsenal are largely exhausted. What is still available will be delivered.
Therefore, in discussions with German industry, a list of military equipment that could be delivered quickly was drawn up and discussed with the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense. “As before, defensive weapons and mortars for artillery battles,” said Scholz accordingly.
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Troop transporters and artillery can be deployed quickly, says Scholz. That is why Germany is ready “to help our allies with quick training on these devices” and to see “whether we can still obtain suitable equipment”.
Weapons from former Soviet stocks, with which the Ukrainians are well acquainted, make the most sense in the short term, Scholz explains. “Even with essential weapons” Germany would help Ukraine in the medium term to expand its defense capabilities.
Scholz sees no reason to review Russia policy
According to the report, the Chancellor also rejects the accusation that he is too hesitant on the issue. “It was a profound change of course for Germany when I announced that I would be supplying weapons to this war zone,” says the Chancellor, according to the report. “Many who previously categorically rejected this step are now outdoing each other with demands to deliver much more – without knowing the exact situation,” it continues. Scholz takes note of this.
The chancellor sees no reason for his party to take a self-critical look at its Russia policy over the past few years. Since Adenauer’s time, there have been “these falsifying and slanderous representations of the SPD’s European and Russian policy, that annoys me,” said Scholz.
He supports discussion about future politics. However, he rejects that “the ticket to a debate is a lie”. Scholz appeals to his party friends not to accept criticism in this direction.
More Handelsblatt articles on the war in Ukraine
Germany has been criticized internationally and in part by the traffic light coalition for not making sufficiently heavy weapons available. Scholz pointed out that Ukraine is only helped by equipment that can be used without lengthy training. “The quickest way to do that is with weapons from former Soviet stocks, which the Ukrainians are very familiar with.” That’s what he called the exchange of rings with Slovenia, which supplies Soviet-designed tanks to the Ukraine and in turn is supposed to get help from Germany for replacements.
For him, the requirement in the conflict remains that NATO does not become a party to the war: “I will do everything to prevent an escalation that leads to a third world war. There must be no nuclear war,” emphasized Scholz.
With agency material
More: The SPD’s involvement in Russia: Olaf Scholz needs a liberation. A comment.