Germany's Scholz defends providing weapons to Ukraine against Russian targets.
Ukraine has the lawful authority to safeguard itself from assaults on its land, towns, and people, as stated by Scholz. This rule applies to incidents like those near Kharkiv, where Russia is instigating hostility from positions close to the Russian border.
The German government permitted Ukraine, after careful deliberations, to use German weapons against locations in the Russian border area. A similar move was made by the United States.
"Consulting with our partners and allies on crucial decisions is crucial," Scholz highlighted. "Acknowledging caution is crucial. Evaluating all potential risks is important." Russia was advised to take back its soldiers from Ukraine, which would facilitate a fair settlement.
As per the Chancellor, upholding peace involves assisting Ukraine. It does not involve "surrendering or yielding to violence and injustice." However, diplomatic endeavors are also essential. Therefore, he will be attending the Ukrainian peace summit in Switzerland the upcoming week.
The CDU chairman, Friedrich Merz, concurred with the permission allowing Ukraine to use German weapons to target regions in the Russian border area. Nevertheless, he criticized Scholz's Ukraine policy as displaying "'hesitation and fear," not prudence. Merz claimed that Scholz's entire Ukraine policy was flawed, citing "faulty assessments" of the situation.
Merz recalled Scholz's past warning against providing Ukraine with its first armored vehicles before "a dreadful escalation." Nevertheless, Russian aggression in Ukraine caused the escalation for Ukrainians. "Hesitating and hesitating and arriving too late," Merz told Scholz.
Another contender for the FDP at the European election, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, attributed the escalation of Russian warfare in Ukraine to "the West not being decisive enough." She favored unwavering support for Ukraine rather than "drawing red lines."
Green parliamentary leader Britta Haßelmann referenced Ukraine's legal right to defend itself from attacks emanating from Russian territory. Employing German weapons is justifiable in this context. The BFA chairman Sahra Wagenknecht accused the German federal government of "turning Germany into a war power" and jeopardizing Germany in the process.
Putin criticized Western weapon deliveries to Ukraine on Wednesday as "potentially hazardous." He was especially harsh on the German military support for Ukraine. This action would, according to him, "definitely worsen German-Russian relations." Putin also issued threats to supply other countries with Russian weapons that could be directed against Western targets.
Putin rejected culpability for instigating the war in Ukraine. The root cause, according to him, was the pro-Western uprising in Ukraine in 2014. He also ruled out any further "Russian imperial ambitions" or attack plans on NATO countries. However, he had also denied any pre-2022 assault intentions against Ukraine.
The Ukrainian Ambassador to Germany, Oleksii Makeiev, expressed admiration for the expanded agreement to use Western weaponry. "This is undoubtedly significant for the inhabitants of Kharkiv," he remarked to RTL and ntv about the matter. It will notably modify the conditions.
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Scholz emphasized the importance of consulting with allies before making crucial decisions regarding Ukraine and the conflict. The Federal Government, following careful consideration, granted Ukraine permission to use German weapons against targets near the Russian border, similar to the decision made by the USA.
Olaf Scholz defended this use of weapons, stating that it was essential to uphold peace and not surrender to violence. The German CDU chairman, Friedrich Merz, while agreeing with the permission, criticized Scholz's Ukraine policy, claiming it showed hesitation and fear instead of prudence.
German politicians from other parties also weighed in on the issue. The FDP's Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann condemned the West for not being decisive enough and urged unwavering support for Ukraine. Meanwhile, the Green party's Britta Haßelmann supported Ukraine's right to defend itself from attacks coming from Russian territory.
However, the BFA chairman, Sahra Wagenknecht, criticized the German federal government for turning Germany into a war power and jeopardizing its own safety. Russian President Putin, in response, criticized Western weapon deliveries to Ukraine, warning that they could escalate tensions and potentially harm German-Russian relations.
Ukraine's Ambassador to Germany, Oleksii Makeiev, appreciated the expanded agreement to use Western weapons, noting its significance for the inhabitants of Kharkiv and how it would change the conditions on the ground. Meanwhile, in Moscow, Putin continued to deny any responsibility for instigating the conflict in Ukraine and ruled out any further imperial ambitions.
Scholz emphasized the importance of diplomatic efforts in addition to military support, announcing his attendance at the Ukrainian peace summit in Switzerland the following week. The Federal Government's decision to provide weapons to Ukraine against Russian targets continues to be a contentious issue in German politics, with ongoing debates and criticisms from various party leaders.
