German Chancellor Olaf Scholz assured today that Germany will not send fighter planes to Ukraine, at a time when Kiev is asking the West for more weapons to contain the Russian invasion.
After several weeks of hesitation, Berlin decided on Wednesday to send 14 German-made Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine and allow other European countries to supply similar tanks to Kiev.
Asked in an interview today with the Tagesspiegel newspaper about his reaction to a request from Kiev for fighter planes, Olaf Scholz replied: “The question of fighter planes does not even arise. I can only advise against going into constant bidding when it comes to weapons systems.”
“If as soon as a decision (on the tanks) is taken, a new debate starts in Germany”, about something else, “this is not serious and undermines the citizens’ confidence in the government’s decisions”, said the chancellor.
The decision to send German tanks to Ukraine was accompanied by the decision by the United States to supply the Ukrainian army with American-made Abrams tanks.
In thanking Berlin and Washington, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky asked for more, including fighter jets and long-range missiles.
In his interview today, Olaf Scholz again warned against the “risk of escalation” with Moscow.
“There is no war between NATO and Russia. We will not allow such an escalation.”
According to the German Chancellor, it is “necessary” to continue the dialogue with Russian President Vladimir Putin, having assured that he will “talk to Putin on the phone again”, without specifying a deadline.
The last meeting dates from the beginning of December.
“But it is clear that as long as Russia continues to wage war, relentlessly attacking (Ukraine), the current situation will not change,” he concluded.
