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Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Saskia Esken, party leaders of the SPD, gave different answers when asked whether they ruled out the delivery of combat aircraft to Ukraine
Photo: IMAGO/Christian Spicker
For Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the matter is clear: Germany will not deliver combat aircraft to Ukraine.
Unlike the months of hesitation on the tank issue, he has categorically ruled out any support from German stocks.
With SPD leader Saskia Esken, it sounds different now.
When asked whether she ruled out the delivery of combat aircraft, Esken said on Sunday in the ARD "Report from Berlin": "It is very important that Germany and that NATO are not a party to the war." That's why it is Government on these issues in very close coordination with the Americans.
US President Joe Biden's national security advisor said a few days ago on US television that his country would tailor support to what Ukraine needs.
No particular weapon system has been ruled out.
Germany is not a party to the war, and the government wants to "avoid this for all future," said Esken.
At the same time, it is important that Germany make it clear to Russian President Vladimir Putin with every decision "that we reject Russian aggression".
After much hesitation, the German government promised 14 Leopard 2 tanks from Bundeswehr stocks to the Ukraine attacked by Russia on Wednesday.
When it comes to fighter jets, however, there is currently no dissent in the traffic light.
When asked by SPIEGEL, nobody from the ranks of the coalition parties spoke out in favor of the delivery of combat aircraft from Germany to Ukraine.
dpa/vet