Scholz warns of “outbidding competition” when it comes to arms deliveries

Chancellor Olaf Scholz

The SPD politician emphasized that the EU must not become a war party.

(Photo: IMAGO/Christian Spicker)

Berlin Chancellor Olaf Scholz has announced new EU sanctions against Russia. The EU will support Ukraine “as long as necessary” against Russian attacks, Scholz said on Wednesday in a government statement in the Bundestag according to the speech manuscript. “Putin will not achieve his goals – neither on the battlefield nor through a dictated peace,” he added.

“As the European Union, we will tighten the sanctions against Russia again on the anniversary of the beginning of the war,” said Scholz, referring to the deliberations at the special EU summit on Thursday in Brussels and the anniversary of the Russian attack on Ukraine on February 24, 2022.

Germany is one of Ukraine’s main financial supporters. “We are also far ahead in continental Europe when it comes to supplying weapons and ammunition,” emphasized Scholz in view of the debates about tank deliveries and criticism from Eastern Europe. The highest good of the western states is cohesion.

“What harms our unity is a public outbidding competition along the lines of: main battle tanks, submarines, airplanes – who wants more?” the chancellor warned at the same time. In an allusion to traffic light politicians from the SPD, Greens and FDP, he also criticized “pithy domestic political statements and criticism of partners and allies on the open stage”. Dissonance and speculation about possible differences in interests were only of use to the Russian president and his propaganda.

Scholz again emphasized that despite all the help for Ukraine, NATO should not become a war party. Weapon deliveries will continue to be coordinated very closely with partners. He again promised Ukraine future EU membership.

In addition to his statements about Ukraine, Scholz promised help for the earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria. “The federal government has promised the Turkish authorities immediate help,” he says. They are in close contact with the UN to bring help to the Syrian earthquake area. “Now it shows once again how vital this cross-border access is, which we have been campaigning for for years.” He thanks the people in Germany for their great willingness to help. This also shows “how close we feel to our fellow citizens with Turkish or Syrian roots”.

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