Olaf Scholz warned that Germany would not be drawn into what he called a “trade war” for military aid to Ukraine. Such reports come immediately after the meeting between Olaf Scholz and Volodymyr Zelenskyy .
We remind you that the Ukrainian president is using a mini-tour of Europe to form a coalition of allies who are ready to provide NATO-standard aircraft to Kiev.
On Wednesday, Zelenskyy enlisted British support by allowing Ukrainian pilots to take a refresher course in weapons handling. Jutarnji.hr reports.
Speaking before the dinner, Scholz said that Germany and European partners had supported Ukraine “financially, with humanitarian aid and weapons”, adding: “We will continue to do this for as long as necessary.” I send a clear message to Brussels: Ukraine belongs to the European family.”
But on the other hand, Scholz repeatedly turned down Kiev’s requests to supply Ukraine with fighter jets, despite all the criticism that followed him before and after the decision to send tanks to Kiev. On the eve of a trip to Paris, the German chancellor accused the critics of waging “a public war for battle tanks, submarines, battleships and on principle – who will offer more!”
“Germany will not interfere,” he told the German parliament.
According to him, instead of fighters, Berlin, along with the Netherlands and Denmark, “focused” on donating about 200 Leopard I battle tanks.
However, the issue of fighter jets was expected to be raised during a dinner in the French capital, and some diplomats said the focus would be on Ukraine’s long-term military plans.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy ‘s adviser told the British Telegraph that providing additional weapons, including fighter jets, was the main reason for his trip to Europe.
Bild, the best-selling German newspaper, has recently written extensively about the dynamics of relations between Germany and Ukraine, that is, between Scholz and Zelenskyyy.
On the other hand, the French acknowledged that they are considering following the British example in the context of training Ukrainian pilots, which could eventually lead to the delivery of fighter jets to Kiev. Poles and the Baltic states, Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia also welcome the increase in military flow.
Today, Thursday, Zelenskyyy addressed EU leaders as part of an extraordinary Council of Europe summit in Brussels. Later, in bilateral talks, he is expected to intensify lobbying, which Kiev hopes will result in a package of fighter jets.
But some fear that his demands for weapons could cloud the very essence of the meeting. EU leaders will also discuss the tenth round of economic sanctions against Russia, humanitarian aid and Ukraine’s accession to the European Union.
In a joint letter, the Prime Ministers of Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia urged their EU counterparts to expedite the procedure, which would result in the use of about 33.8 billion euros of frozen Russian assets. The same will be directed to the restoration of Ukraine.
We can’t wait for the end of the war and the signing of the peace agreement!” they wrote.
Moreover, on the eve of his visit to Paris, Zelenskyyy said that Emmanuel Macron had “changed”. The French leader once remarked that the war must be ended in such a way as to avoid “the humiliation of Russia.” This statement at that time especially irritated Kiev.
But now some of these objections seem to have vanished.
“He really has changed,” Zelenskyy told Figaro. “After all, it was he who opened the way for the delivery of tanks.” He also supported Ukraine’s membership in the EU. “I think it was an honest signal,” he said.
