Scholz sees Putin making "mistakes after mistakes" - but reacts annoyed to the tank question

Created: 09/28/2022, 10:02 am

Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

(Archive image) © Marcus Brandt/dpa

Olaf Scholz has to cancel appointments due to corona.

In an interview, however, he explains the German course in Ukraine – one question obviously appeals to him.

Berlin/Osnabrück – Olaf Scholz is unable to attend the relief summit with the German prime ministers due to a corona infection – but in a video interview the chancellor nevertheless warned Russia of a nuclear strike.

Asked whether Vladimir Putin could carry out his threats, the chancellor told the

on Wednesday: "Who knows?

Like US President Joe Biden, however, I want to say quite clearly to Russia: Let it be!”

Scholz did not explicitly promise an expansion of military support for Ukraine in view of the threat of Russian annexations.

He was annoyed by recurring demands for German battle tanks and infantry fighting vehicles for Kyiv: The debate "completely ignored the fact that with our ring exchange we are also enabling the delivery of more than 100 battle tanks and infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine," said the Chancellor.

Ukraine war: Scholz annoyed by battle tank demands – "as if we were only delivering helmets"

Partners such as the Czech Republic and Slovakia, Romania and Greece are giving Ukraine tanks made in Eastern Europe.

This device can be used immediately because logistics, ammunition, spare parts and the necessary know-how are available.

"In return, we are gradually replenishing our partners' inventories with Western equipment," explained Scholz.

He is therefore surprised "that some critics act as if we would only supply helmets".

The self-propelled howitzers, multiple rocket launchers and anti-aircraft tanks of the Gepard type that have already been delivered have already made “a very important contribution to the success of the Ukrainian armed forces in the east of the country”.

"We will not accept the result of these bogus referendums and will continue to support Ukraine with undiminished strength," emphasized Scholz at the same time.

In an interview with a US journalist, Scholz had recently reacted irritably to relevant questions.

Scholz explains Russia course: support Ukraine and avoid conflict with NATO participation

Regarding the question of supplying his own main battle tanks, the chancellor now said: “The attitude of the federal government is clear: no going it alone;

and it will stay that way.” However, the situation in Ukraine is “very dynamic and we are constantly reassessing the situation”.

But his "clear course" remains: "Germany supports Ukraine to the best of its ability and at the same time does everything possible to prevent a direct conflict between NATO and Russia." That is the basis of all decisions.

And "that also corresponds to the will of the vast majority of citizens," said Scholz.

In the interview, Scholz called the partial mobilization of the Russian armed forces announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin an "act of desperation and a somewhat panicky reaction to the failures of the Russian armed forces in eastern Ukraine".

This caused considerable unrest in Russia.

"Putin is adding mistakes to mistakes," emphasized the Chancellor.

The Russian President "could end this war immediately by withdrawing his troops and then engaging in talks with Kyiv".

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Scholz falls ill with Corona: Chancellor stays in the official residence - and gives a hint for the MPK

Scholz also had a pointer ready for the heads of state before the summit without a chancellor.

He rejected calls for different electricity price zones in Germany.

In this scenario, “some regions in Germany are worse off than others.

That doesn't convince me," he explained.

Several northern federal states had brought this option to the table - including Lower Saxony, where elections will take place in October.

Bavaria's Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) had massively defended himself against possible disadvantages.

"We pay about ten percent of the North German households," said the CSU boss at the weekend, referring to the state financial equalization.

But Söder also received a dig at Scholz: "We would be in a more favorable situation if the construction of power lines to the south had not been delayed by considerable resistance from the south," said the Chancellor.

Meanwhile, Scholz announced in the

interview that he wanted to spend his entire corona isolation period in the Chancellery.

The small apartment there "is ideal because I can do my work well from here," explained the chancellor, who normally lives in Potsdam.

Hundreds of thousands of citizens have spent the past two and a half years in quarantine or isolation, so he doesn't have to make a fuss about it, said Scholz.

On medical advice, however, he takes the drug Paxlovid.

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