The request from Kyiv to supply military aircraft in addition to the tanks met with Chancellor Scholz’s refusal. His party leader Esken is not so clear. When asked whether she excludes fighter jet broadcasts, she answers evasively.
SPD leader Saskia Esken has not expressly ruled out the delivery of fighter jets to Ukraine. When asked whether she ruled out the delivery of combat aircraft, Esken said in the ARD “report from Berlin”: “It is very important that Germany and that NATO are not parties to the war.” That is why the government is in very close coordination with the Americans on these issues.
After much hesitation, on Wednesday the German government pledged 14 Leopard 2 tanks from Bundeswehr stocks to Ukraine, which was attacked by Russia. Following this commitment by Germany and other western countries to supply battle tanks to Ukraine, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy requested combat aircraft on Wednesday, among other things. However, the federal government rejects this.
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 Berlin make it clear to Russian President Vladimir Putin with every decision “that we reject Russian aggression.”
The head of the Munich Security Conference, Christoph Heusgen, finds clearer words than Esken. Heusgen supports the delivery of fighter jets to Ukraine to defend against Russia. In the ARD program “Europamagazin” Heusgen said: “I believe that the delivery of fighter jets is adequate to better protect Ukraine against Russian attacks.” According to him, American F16 fighter jets or Soviet-designed fighter aircraft from old GDR stocks could be used. Foreign forces are allowed to supply Ukraine with weapons, including main battle tanks and fighter jets, under international law, Heusgen added.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz, on the other hand, called for prudence in the debate about further arms deliveries. He warns against “entering into a constant outbidding competition when it comes to weapon systems,” the SPD politician told the “Tagesspiegel” with a view to demands that Ukraine now also be supplied with fighter jets. The question of combat aircraft does not even arise. “When the next debate begins in Germany as soon as a decision has been made, it doesn’t look very serious and shakes the confidence of the citizens in state decisions.”
As Chancellor, he must “do everything to ensure that Russia’s war against Ukraine does not turn into a war between Russia and NATO,” Scholz told the Tagesspiegel. There is no such thing, and he will not “allow such an escalation. We in the Federal Government are completely in agreement on this, and the Foreign Minister also sees it that way”.
