+ A
A -
dpa
Berlin
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Wednesday defended his government’s reaction to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, hitting back at opposition claims that Germany was not delivering enough weapons to Kiev.
Christian Democrat (CDU) leader Friedrich Merz on Tuesday called for Germany to send heavier weaponry such as tanks to Ukraine, and conservative lawmakers challenged Scholz on the issue in the Bundestag on Wednesday.
Scholz responded that a lot of weapons and equipment had been sent already and that further deliveries would follow.
“We will deliver whatever we can in terms of weapons from the current stocks of the Bundeswehr, everything that makes sense and has a rapid impact,” he said.
He rejected criticism that his defence minister had not organized the weapons deliveries quickly enough.
“I know that Defence Minister Christine Lambrecht is doing everything feasible, taking into account decisions by our allies and the capabilities of the German army,” Scholz said.
Scholz addressed the killings in Bucha, saying that “Russian soldiers committed a massacre of Ukrainian civilians there before their withdrawal.” “The murder of civilians is a war crime,” Scholz said.
Germany’s readiness to send weapons to war zones is a major change to years of restrictive arms export policies. The war in Ukraine has meanwhile led German leaders and the public to reassess previous policies towards Russia.
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who served as foreign minister under Merkel between 2005 and 2009, has admitted to misjudgements in his dealings with Russia and President Vladimir Putin.
However, former chancellor Angela Merkel has declined to comment extensively on the war or her past policies, and her spokesperson said on Wednesday that she was not planning to issue any further statements on the issue.
Merkel has strongly condemned the war and has lent her support to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
At the same time, however, she says she stands by her 2008 decision to block Ukraine’s bit to join NATO, which Zelensky has strongly criticized.
Her written statements “still remain valid. Therefore no further statement from the retired chancellor is planned,” Merkel’s spokesperson said.
Berlin
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Wednesday defended his government’s reaction to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, hitting back at opposition claims that Germany was not delivering enough weapons to Kiev.
Christian Democrat (CDU) leader Friedrich Merz on Tuesday called for Germany to send heavier weaponry such as tanks to Ukraine, and conservative lawmakers challenged Scholz on the issue in the Bundestag on Wednesday.
Scholz responded that a lot of weapons and equipment had been sent already and that further deliveries would follow.
“We will deliver whatever we can in terms of weapons from the current stocks of the Bundeswehr, everything that makes sense and has a rapid impact,” he said.
He rejected criticism that his defence minister had not organized the weapons deliveries quickly enough.
“I know that Defence Minister Christine Lambrecht is doing everything feasible, taking into account decisions by our allies and the capabilities of the German army,” Scholz said.
Scholz addressed the killings in Bucha, saying that “Russian soldiers committed a massacre of Ukrainian civilians there before their withdrawal.” “The murder of civilians is a war crime,” Scholz said.
Germany’s readiness to send weapons to war zones is a major change to years of restrictive arms export policies. The war in Ukraine has meanwhile led German leaders and the public to reassess previous policies towards Russia.
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who served as foreign minister under Merkel between 2005 and 2009, has admitted to misjudgements in his dealings with Russia and President Vladimir Putin.
However, former chancellor Angela Merkel has declined to comment extensively on the war or her past policies, and her spokesperson said on Wednesday that she was not planning to issue any further statements on the issue.
Merkel has strongly condemned the war and has lent her support to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
At the same time, however, she says she stands by her 2008 decision to block Ukraine’s bit to join NATO, which Zelensky has strongly criticized.
Her written statements “still remain valid. Therefore no further statement from the retired chancellor is planned,” Merkel’s spokesperson said.
