Chancellor Olaf Solz warns of the risk of “sustained bidding” for weapons systems
Leopard 2 and… finally for Germany. There is no question of delivery fighter jets or sending ground forces to Ukraine, Chancellor Olaf Solz emphasizes, and warns of the risk of “permanent bidding” for weapons systems. He reiterates that a condition for the normalization of the situation in Ukraine is the withdrawal of Russian forces and that the goal remains to prevent a confrontation between NATO and Russia.
“I will talk to (Vladimir) Putin again, because it is necessary to talk to each other. It is up to him to withdraw the troops from Ukraine and end this terrible and senseless war that has cost the lives of hundreds of thousands of people. As long as Russia continues the war with unabated aggression, the current situation will not change,” states Mr. Soltz in an interview with Tagesspiegel and clarifies that his talks with the Russian president so far “are not conducted in a rude tone”, but the Mr Putin has repeatedly made it clear that he intends to “integrate parts of his neighboring country by force”. This is unacceptable, says the chancellor.
Asked about the possibility of Western allies sending fighter jets or ground forces to Ukraine, Olaf Solz spoke of “the risk of continued bidding on weapons systems” and made it clear that Berlin would continue to make decisions in coordination with its international partners, but the question of aircraft or army is not even raised.
“When it hasn’t had time to be received one decision and the next debate begins in Germany, this is not a sign of seriousness and shakes the citizens’ trust in government decisions. Such discussions should not be held for the sake of boosting the domestic political profile,” he points out with an eye on the recent decision to send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine.
“A German chancellor who takes his oath seriously must do everything to ensure that Russia’s war against Ukraine does not turn into a war between Russia and NATO,” Mr. Scholz underlines, adding that at the moment there is no such a war is being waged and he “will not allow this kind of escalation.” That goal is shared by everyone in the government, he clarifies, in an indirect reference to Foreign Minister Analena Burbok, who last week caused a backlash with her statement that “we are not fighting among ourselves, but against Russia.”
The chancellor is still mentioned to Germany’s “dynamic” reaction in the energy crisis, with the development of alternative sources, the supply of natural gas from Norway and other countries and the measures to contain prices. “Thanks to all these initiatives, the ‘shameful attempts’ of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) and the Left to capitalize on citizens’ fears have failed. “We didn’t have a ‘Winter of Rage.’ At this point, the strength of our democracy, our economy and our social state was shown”, says Olaf Solz.
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With a wealth of experience honed over 4+ years in journalism, I bring a seasoned voice to the world of news. Currently, I work as a freelance writer and editor, always seeking new opportunities to tell compelling stories in the field of world news.
