Olaf Scholz does not like the role of moderator in the traffic light

This impression has prevailed since the beginning of the Ukraine crisis. There are no clear announcements, the federal government is apparently still sorting itself out, it is said abroad. And surprise at the chancellor can also be heard in his own coalition and party. This is less about the course and more about communication in the Ukraine crisis. “It’s more than bad,” complains a comrade.

Even during the election campaign, Scholz had the reputation of copying a lot from Angela Merkel in terms of style and appearance. Now, in the Ukraine crisis, it is becoming increasingly clear how correct this impression is. “If there is a military action, it will have high costs,” said the Chancellor after the first cabinet meeting. He did not name specific content.

The Greens and the Social Democrats are trying to blur the impression that foreign policy is rumbling. Jürgen Trittin, foreign policy spokesman for the Greens parliamentary group, rejected the impression of a split within the traffic light. “There are no differences within the federal government on this issue,” said Trittin.

Scholz makes irritating statements

But grumbling is now unmistakable in the coalition. According to the more conservative wing of the SPD, Scholz’s Russia policy is absolutely correct. But Scholz let things go too long. “Now he’s having a hard time getting ahead of the curve in terms of communication.”

While Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock made clear statements in the direction of Moscow at the beginning of the crisis, Scholz irritated with statements that the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline was a private-sector project. It took Scholz two weeks to explain that the gas pipeline could not go into operation if the conflict with Russia escalated – too late, many Social Democrats also think.

It is also viewed critically that Scholz unnecessarily ruled out disconnecting Russian banks from global financial flows. Scholz should also have made it clear that there are other countries besides Germany that currently do not want to deliver weapons to Ukraine. “But only Germany is held responsible,” complains a Social Democrat.

The SPD believes that the restrictive course on arms exports is the right one, even when there was international ridicule on Wednesday because the federal government said it would deliver 5,000 helmets to Ukraine.

The idea that German weapons could be used against Russia horrifies many Social Democrats. Many are therefore skeptical about the idea of ​​supplying old GDR howitzers to the Ukraine. The topic was on the agenda of the Federal Cabinet on Wednesday, but no decision was made for the time being.

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“It was the German commitment that opened the door for diplomacy again,” says SPD foreign policy expert Nils Schmid, for example that the so-called Normandy discussion format is taking place again. Deliveries of arms threatened to damage these delicate successes again.

In fact, the harsh criticism of Germany in Brussels contrasts with the recognition given to the Federal Republic there for its role in voting on a sanctions package. Germany does not shy away from pro-Russia positions, but is participating constructively and making it clear that it will support effective deterrence.

And this despite the fact that Germany would be much more economically affected by a trade war with Putin than other European countries. From the point of view of EU officials, it is all the more astonishing that the federal government has not managed to communicate its position in a publicly understandable way.

More: A giant militarily, a dwarf economically: This is how Putin is gambling away Russia’s economic potential.