Weapons deliveries: Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleba demands a quick commitment from Scholz

Created: 04/15/2022 13:29

By: Max Schaefer

The war could have been prevented if Germany's position on arms deliveries had changed earlier, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba is convinced.

(Archive photo) © Evelyn Hockstein/dpa

Olaf Scholz acts cautiously when it comes to arms deliveries to Ukraine.

Dmitry Kuleba settles accounts with German policy in the Ukraine war.

Berlin/Kyiv – The Ukraine war* was to be accompanied by a turning point in German foreign and security policy.

Among other things, Olaf Scholz also promised arms deliveries to the country attacked by Russia*.

In the meantime, however, the Chancellor has shown himself to be more reserved – but the pressure from Ukraine is growing.

The Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba now asked Olaf Scholz* for a quick commitment to further German arms deliveries to Ukraine.

"I hope that Scholz will make a positive decision on this," said Kuleba on Thursday evening in the ARD daily topics *.

Arguments against the delivery of the required weapons are not valid and do not take into account the reality on the ground.

War in Ukraine: Foreign Minister calculates with German position on arms deliveries

Dmytro Kuleba was also convinced that the war could have been avoided if Germany's position on arms deliveries in the Ukraine conflict* had changed earlier.

The former German policy towards Russia had failed.

"Balancing relations with Ukraine and Russia has led to war," the Ukrainian foreign minister said in the Daily Issues.

The Ukrainian Ambassador to Germany, Andriy Melnyk, made a similar statement.

Kuleba also criticized the discussion about the delivery of defensive or offensive weapons.

All weapons used by the Ukrainian army on Ukrainian territory are of a defensive nature, Kuleba said.

So far, Germany has – as far as is known – mainly delivered rocket-propelled grenades, machine guns, anti-aircraft missiles and helmets to Ukraine.

When asked about heavy weapons such as tanks, Olaf Scholz reacted differently.

War in Ukraine: Robert Habeck is also reluctant to deliver heavy weapons

Not only the Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba criticized the attitude of the German Chancellor.

Olaf Scholz was also criticized within the traffic light coalition for reluctance to deliver further weapons.

Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann (FDP*) traveled to Ukraine* on Tuesday together with the chairmen of the Foreign Affairs Committee and the European Committee, Michael Roth (SPD*) and Anton Hofreiter (Greens).

All three then spoke out in favor of further arms deliveries.

Hofreiter also criticized Olaf Scholz for the lack of leadership *.

"More weapons must come," said Vice Chancellor and Economics Minister Robert Habeck * (Greens *) to the newspapers of the Funke media group on Friday (April 15, 2022).

When asked about the delivery of heavy weapons, Habeck also referred to “a responsibility not to become a target for attack.

That's the framework within which we deliver everything that's possible.” That framework “so far doesn't include large tanks or fighter planes,” added Habeck.

(ms/dpa)