Villages razed, civilians killed: the Russians are stepping up their attacks in the Donbass. Ambassador Melnyk says that in order to “smother the massive offensive,” Ukraine needs heavy weapons immediately. He accuses Chancellor Scholz of disregarding Ukrainian interests.
The Ukrainian ambassador to Germany, Andrij Melnyk, criticized Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos as disappointing. Ukraine hoped to hear from the speech “what very concrete steps the traffic light will take to give us massive support so that Ukraine wins this war,” Melnyk told the “Bild” newspaper. “Unfortunately, that was a non-negotiable report, especially in relation to (the) immediate delivery of heavy weapons from Germany to smother the Russian offensive in the Donbass.”
The diplomat accused the SPD politician of disregarding Ukrainian interests: “Militarily, Ukraine is simply being let down by Berlin.” Melnyk attacked the chancellor directly: “The leadership and courage are probably missing.” The speech was “extremely disappointing”.
In his Davos speech on Thursday, Scholz explained his government’s Ukraine policy and called for opposition to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s claim to power. However, he did not make any specific new announcements.
The chairwoman of the Defense Committee, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, had previously criticized the federal government’s communication. “It must not be that at the end of the war the world perceives Germany as a complete brakeman and loser just because we are not able to organize and communicate.” Addressing Olaf Scholz, she said: “The chancellor has the strings in his hand and can let the puppets dance accordingly. I’m trying to understand why he doesn’t do it. Out of conviction, or because of his party?” carpenter. “And the Federal Minister of Defense is loyal to him. But it’s also her job to clear up the mess.”
Strack-Zimmermann reacted to sharp criticism from Poland, where there is obviously an expectation that modern military equipment from Germany will be immediately available for arms deliveries to the Ukraine. Dissatisfaction with the federal government had previously been expressed by other eastern NATO partners.
For Ukraine, the lack of weapons could have serious consequences, especially in the embattled east of the country. Former Bundeswehr and NATO general Hans-Lothar Domröse assumes that Ukraine will not be able to fully withstand the Russian advance in the Donbass in the coming weeks. “Now the great momentum of the world power Russia comes into play,” Domröse told MDR. “They are superior in terms of reach and numbers”. The Ukrainian forces could delay the advance at most here and there.
