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Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) in Brussels
Photo: Nicolas Economou / NurPhoto / IMAGO
At the end of January, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) had promised Ukraine the delivery of modern battle tanks - but recently it was said from Berlin that the formation of the battalions was difficult.
Now, on the fringes of the EU summit in Brussels, he has campaigned for active support in Europe.
According to his own statements, Scholz used the meeting of the heads of state and government of the European Union again to “ask many to actively support them”.
We are trying very hard to advance the topic.
This also included training, supply of spare parts and ammunition.
Scholz expressed optimism that the targets for supplying Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine will be met.
"My impression is that it works," said the SPD politician after the EU summit.
"But of course it won't be easy."
On January 25, the federal government announced the goal of providing the Ukraine with two battalions of Leopard 2 tanks.
In Ukraine, these are usually equipped with 31 tanks each.
As a first step, Germany itself wants to give up 14 tanks.
The others should come from partner countries.
The discussion about the possible delivery of combat aircraft was much more restrained.
French President Emmanuel Macron does not rule out such a delivery to Ukraine, but clearly limits it: “Absolutely not in the coming weeks”.
The reasons for this include necessary lead times and training requirements, he said after the end of the EU summit.
After talks with the EU heads of state and government, Macron emphasized that fighter jets are not what Ukraine needs in the war against the aggressor Russia.
Additional artillery, for example, is more important, he said.
At a press conference after the summit, Scholz responded to the question of whether there was a movement towards fighter jet deliveries to Ukraine: "That was not a topic of conversation here."
»A strong sign that the European Union and Ukraine stand together«
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj traveled to Brussels as a guest for the EU summit.
Scholz spoke of an extraordinarily emotional moment: “Personal participation in this European Council moved everyone I saw there very much.” Selenskyj was often spoken to, but he himself appeared in Brussels shortly before the anniversary of the start of the war be, be special.
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"And it is also a symbol of the Ukrainians' will to resist and a strong sign that the European Union and Ukraine stand together," added Scholz.
Everyone in Ukraine can rest assured that the Ukrainians will be supported “as long as it is necessary”.
In a SPIEGEL interview, Selenskyj had previously sharply criticized the hesitance of the German government.
"I have to put pressure on to help Ukraine and constantly convince him that this help is not for us, but for the Europeans," said the President of Chancellor Scholz.
He now answered the accusation evasively: From his point of view, there had been no difficult debates in the past few months, he said.
The Chancellor also emphasized that the Ukrainian President had "again expressed his gratitude" for the German contribution, including him personally.
mrc/dpa
