German Chancellor Scholz under fire for hesitant Ukraine stance, heavy weapons aid
- Germany’s chancellor resists supplying tanks and other heavy weapons to Ukraine
- Supply of weapons to Ukraine has turned into a fierce political debate in Germany
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz was under growing pressure over his perceived lack of leadership over the war in Ukraine and his dogged refusal to send heavy weapons to the country.
Almost two months after he responded to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine by promising a “turning point” in German defence policy, critics say the chancellor has failed to take enough concrete action.
Scholz has sent defensive weapons to Ukraine and announced extra military aid in recent weeks but has so far not agreed to directly send heavy weapons – leaving Germany increasingly out of step with European and Nato allies.
“We believe that the Bundeswehr (German army) would be capable of supplying us with the weapons we need right now,” Ukraine’s ambassador to Germany, Andriy Melnyk, told the ZDF broadcaster on Wednesday. “We do not know why this is not happening.”
There were about 100 Marder-type tanks that the Bundeswehr used for training and that could be sent to Ukraine straight away, he said.
He said Germany had 800 transport tanks, most of which were not being used, and said the delivery of armoured Howitzer 2000 mobile artillery units could be “decisive” for the battles against Russia.