Press
Olaf Scholz and his restraint in the Ukraine war are being criticized, not only from the opposition but also from his own ranks.
Berlin – The Russian war of aggression against Ukraine has now lasted almost two and a half years. Kiev never tires of emphasizing that it lacks weapons to defend itself against the Kremlin’s armies. Supporters from the West may send them, but they are not allowed to use them against Russian territory. CDU foreign policy expert Roderich Kieswetter sees the SPD and Chancellor Olaf Scholz as being to blame for this arrangement.
Ukraine must not use Western weapons in Russia – attack in Kharkiv “foreseeable”
“The Federal Republic of Germany is rather cautious with Hungary in NATO when it comes to this support,” said Kiesewetter in the ntv-Program “Frühstart”. But that is “the fault of the Chancellor, of the Chancellery. It is not Pistorius’ fault, of the Foreign Minister, and it is not the fault of the Union either.” Kieswetter had already strongly criticized Scholz in March.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg had also called for Western weapons to be used against Russian territory. Russia is currently concentrating its attacks on the Kharkiv region. Kieswetter is incensed that the attack was “foreseeable”. “The Russians were three or four kilometers behind the border and were preparing their attack. And Europe watched and thousands of Ukrainians lost their lives again,” said Kiesewetter. Western experts had already clearly localized the troop concentration on the border in advance of the attack.
Praise from the CDU for French President Macron
Kiesewetter, on the other hand, praises French President Emmanuel Macron. He has not ruled out the deployment of Western soldiers in Ukraine, which Scholz rejects. According to Kiesewetter, Macron understood that Europe would be different after the war against Ukraine. The CDU man would like to see the same determination from a German chancellor. “What sets Macron apart is that he does not set red lines in his own actions against the Russian escalation, but finally shows Putin what his further escalation means, namely more European engagement in a coalition of the willing,” said Kiesewetter. Macron has apparently already urged Scholz to take a tougher stance on Ukraine.
During his visit to Germany, the French President had urged greater efforts to prevent Russia from winning its war of aggression. “Russia also threatens our security,” said the French President on Monday (May 27, 2024) in Dresden. “Our peace and security are really at stake in Ukraine,” he emphasized. In this context, Macron also called for a more independent European defense policy.
Macron will probably soon send military trainers to Ukraine
Macron wants to send the first military trainers to Ukraine soon. “If France wants to do that, fine. They also don’t have the issue of parliamentary involvement,” said Kieswetter. In Germany, on the other hand, foreign missions require the approval of the Bundestag. “But here I expect Scholz to do more to promote understanding among us, and for other states that are doing more and are more present.”
There are also voices in the SPD against Scholz’s course
There are also voices calling for more engagement in Ukraine from the Chancellor’s SPD party. “Macron’s speech would be a historic milestone if it were finally followed by action,” said SPD foreign policy expert Michael Roth to the Editorial Network Germany (RND)The Europeans must do more to ensure that Ukraine remains a free, democratic and sovereign state and that Russian imperialism is stopped. “Otherwise Ukraine will lose its freedom, otherwise there will be a threat of new conflicts in the Western Balkans, otherwise Moldova and Georgia will become Putin’s next victims,” warned Roth. So far, however, “the claim and reality in Europe are miles apart.”
SPD defence politician Andreas Schwarz is also pushing for an end to the restrictions. “Putin is cold-bloodedly exploiting our restrictions on the use of Western weapons,” he told Rheinische Post on Tuesday and also referred to Kharkiv: “Here the Russian army is calmly shelling the second largest city in Ukraine from Russia because it does not have sufficient air defense and the Ukrainian army’s hands are tied at the country’s border,” criticized the SPD politician. The West’s decision must be “reconsidered, especially since there is nothing standing in the way under international law.”
CDU defense expert continues to push for Taurus deliveries
CDU defense expert Johann Wadephul made a similar statement. “We should be clear: Ukraine is defending itself against Russian aggression on the basis of international law and is allowed to use weapons on Russian territory to do so,” said the Union’s parliamentary group vice-chairman in the Bundestag. “Western restrictions on the use of weapons supplied by us only help Russia and should be lifted immediately,” he continued.
“In addition, the Chancellor remains called upon to finally enable the delivery of Taurus cruise missiles,” warned Wadephul. Scholz has also so far rejected Taurus deliveries. (cgsc with AFP)
#CDU #politician #sharply #criticizes #Scholzs #Ukraine #policy #Chancellors #fault