Mark Rutte and Volodymyr Zelenskyy AP Photo: Evgeniy Maloletka
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said he believes that the harsh criticism that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sometimes expresses against German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is unfounded. This was reported by Reuters with reference to dpa.
“I have repeatedly told Zelenskyy that he should stop criticising Olaf Scholz because I think it is unfair,” Rutte said in an interview on Monday.
Although Germany is a key ally of Ukraine, Berlin’s hesitation to supply long-range Taurus missiles is causing frustration in Kyiv.
Rutte, unlike Scholz, supports the idea of providing Ukraine with Taurus missiles and does not consider it appropriate to impose restrictions on their use.
“In general, we know that such opportunities are extremely important for Ukraine,” Rutte said, noting that the decision to provide assistance is up to individual allies.
Recently, following Scholz’s phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin in November, Zelenskyy expressed concern. He said that such contacts open a “Pandora’s box”, undermine efforts to isolate the Russian leader and hinder the achievement of a “just peace” in Ukraine.
Rutte’s statements came amid tense discussions among the allies about the scope and nature of military support for Ukraine, which continues to fight to restore its territorial integrity.
