German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has been criticized for being slow in providing arms to Ukraine both inside and outside the country.
In Western countries, Germany is the most criticized for its delay in supporting Ukraine. Europe’s leading economy still cannot separate from its strong Russian ties.
Germany is delaying the provision of military aid to Ukraine, so Chancellor Olaf Scholz has been criticized not only by foreign allies and the opposition, but also by allies in the ruling coalition.
We were all waiting for the helmet
Even at the beginning of the war, Germany promised to provide Ukraine with five thousand helmets, but has not done so so far, said Aleksey Arestovich, adviser to the head of the Office of the President.
“The Germans need to confront their politicians. It hurts that we are trying to understand what (what weapons Germany provided to Ukraine). Right now, I still want to see the five thousand helmets they gave us. , “the leader’s adviser. said the Presidential Office.
Arestovich also listed what exactly the German government had transferred for the Ukrainian army.
“They provided grenade launchers, anti-tank weapons, ammunition. They provided money for weapons, for the purchase of old Soviet equipment,” Arestovich said.
All weapons coming from the Bundestag are lightweight, that is, they have a defensive character. The country has only promised to provide heavy weapons.
Half of all Germans, not to mention many allied countries, believe that the German Chancellor can do more to help Ukraine. Chancellor Scholz, according to rumor, had to force every concession, after which he delayed deliveries.
Scholz replied
On Wednesday, June 2, Scholz had to listen to the Bundestag, Germany’s parliament, as opposition leader Friedrich Merz of the conservative Christian Democratic Party (CDU) denounced him as a worthless friend of Ukraine in the face of Russia’s aggression. .
Then it was Scholz’s turn to speak. Often, the center-left Social Democrat (SPD) uses this opportunity to read some prepared statements until his audience falls asleep. This week, however, he became assertive, Spiegel wrote.
“We’re giving full assistance,” the chancellor shouted in a trembling voice with iron eyes, “That too, recognizable.” Then he started to list what his government had already given to Ukraine, it was a pretty long list, but mostly light weapons.
Scholz also listed the heavy weapons that should be shipped: 30 guarded anti-aircraft vehicles, which should be shipped at some point this summer. Seven Panzerhaubitze 2000 self-propelled howitzers, which will also be released this summer. These deliveries have already been announced. Kyiv will also receive four MARS II multiple launch rocket systems from the warehouse of the Bundeswehr, the German armed forces.
“We’re doing everything we can,” Scholz said. And then for all who may not have understood the message, he added, “Doing what needs to be done is exactly the way this government follows.”
But pnot a single piece of heavy weapons was delivered directly by Germany to Ukraine. And even if all the systems promised today go to the country, the enormous amount of time it took Berlin to finally send significant aid will never be undone. Any weapon that arrived in Ukraine earlier could turn the tide of war in favor of Kyiv.
pulling time
The German press believes Scholz and his government are clearly playing for hours. At first, they did not believe that the Ukrainians had a chance against Russia. Later there is a mixture of incompetence and reluctance – and the desire to hide behind their allies. Not to mention the refusal to take on global leadership.
It is likely that Scholz would never have delivered any weapons without tremendous pressure from abroad and within his own ruling coalition. The chancellor must be compelled to take every step. Just two days before Scholz announced the planned delivery of anti-aircraft systems, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba told the Italian newspaper La Repubblica: “There are countries where we are waiting for deliveries, and others more countries where we are tired of waiting. for deliveries. … Germany belongs to the second group. ”
As reported by the weekly newspaper Welt am Sonntag, even light weapons have not been delivered in any significant quantities recently. Between March 30 and May 26, the paper reported, only two shipments arrived from Germany, and these consisted of smaller caliber weapons such as anti-tank mines. According to a poll by Civey, half of all Germans do not believe that Scholz is doing everything in his power to quickly provide Ukraine with the necessary weapons. And this despite the fact that Kyiv needs all possible assistance.
Afraid of the ambitions of Ukraine?
Spiegel sources close to the government said there were fears that Ukraine could become overconfident if it achieves a series of victories on the battlefield and enters Russian territory – which means tanks of The Germans will return to Russian territory. This concern highlights a certain distrust in Berlin of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. And this is also why the German defense industry has not received permission to supply battle tanks.
In London, says former UK Secretary of State for Europe David Lidington, doubts are growing about Germany’s credibility as a security partner. And in a New York Times article about Scholz, the American daily wrote that there were “questions about his leadership and … ability to help guide Europe through the continent’s most dramatic security crisis since during World War II. “
Source: korrespondent
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.