Interview with Friedrich Merz: “Scholz endangers the cohesion of the international community”

Mr. Merz, the Ukrainian government has declared Federal President Steinmeier an undesirable person in Kyiv. Is that a logical consequence or an undeserved affront?

It’s an affront, which of course has a political and historical background, but I interpret the process as an emotional overreaction by the Ukrainian government that doesn’t help either side.

Shouldn’t Chancellor Scholz go to Kyiv now after being urged to do so?

In my opinion, he shouldn’t have let it get to the point where he was being pushed. He should have been there by now.

You described the German government’s stance on arms deliveries to Ukraine as too hesitant at first. What would be appropriate now?

The Chancellor’s hesitation is now being criticized from within his own ranks. With his behavior he endangers the cohesion of the entire international community towards Russia. It would now be appropriate to clarify what Germany is really doing. The doubts that Germany is doing what the Chancellor says in his few words are increasing every day. Right down to the statements from the SPD, which quite obviously show that there is an ever-increasing dissent in the government. Scholz once said that whoever orders leadership from me gets leadership. Where is this leadership? After all, we don’t want to know which routes are taken for the transports and when and where something was handed over. We want to know what is being delivered and, above all, why the federal government does not want to deliver available material.

As a Member of Parliament, you can view the delivery lists in the secret service of the Bundestag. So you know that, don’t you?

If these lists provided clarity, nobody would have to complain.

Heavy equipment, such as tanks, is now at the top of Ukraine’s list. Isn’t it already too late for that?

In this crisis, a lot comes late, but not everything comes too late. I totally agree with the Secretary of State that there are no more excuses now. Such an excuse would be that Ukraine cannot operate such a device. On the Marder, for example, a few weeks are enough for training for experienced Panzer people. The premise should be that we basically supply the Ukrainians with everything they can use. But the Federal Government does not even set this premise. She leaves everything in the dark, and she carries out an open argument about whether she should deliver and if so, what she wants or can deliver.

But aren’t our European partners, such as France or Great Britain, not yet delivering any tanks? Maybe because of red lines towards Moscow that you don’t want to cross?

Tanks are now being delivered from several European countries, the NATO Council agreed last week to deliver more heavy weapons, and the USA is providing additional money for the purchase of heavy weapons. This means that Ukraine and the German public have a right to know what Germany is doing now. But not this constant flurry of suppositions, claims, rumors and demands. If even the Federal Foreign Minister says that there are no more excuses, then we can finally expect clarity from the entire Federal Government.