Olaf Scholz. Photo: Kay Nietfield / AFP
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has spoken harshly against opposition leader Friedrich Merz, head of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party, for his changing position on supplying Ukraine with Taurus long-range missiles. This was reported by DPA with reference to Scholz’s interview with t-online.
“A dangerous zigzag trajectory”
“The opposition leader was initially in favour of the supply, then suddenly changed his mind before the regional elections in eastern Germany. And in October, during a meeting of the Bundestag, he issued a kind of ultimatum regarding these supplies,” Scholz said.
The chancellor called this behaviour a “dangerous zigzag” and reiterated his opposition to the delivery of Taurus missiles, which Kyiv has long demanded from Berlin.
Merz as the main rival
Friedrich Merz is Scholz’s main rival for the chancellorship in the early parliamentary elections in Germany scheduled for 23 February. According to the latest polls, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU ) has a nearly 10 per cent lead over the Social Democrats (SPD).
Talking to Putin: Relevance and realities
Scholz also responded to criticism, including from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, for his telephone conversation with Russian leader Vladimir Putin in November.
When asked whether he was ready to talk to Putin again, Scholz replied in the affirmative:
“You cannot be naive or build illusions. There are people – or rather, one person – who come to Germany and say that everything can be solved with one or two conversations,” the chancellor stressed.
Scholz stressed that he made it clear to Putin during the conversation: “He cannot hope that support for Ukraine will diminish.”
Support for Ukraine
The Chancellor stressed that Germany is Ukraine’s second largest partner after the United States. Scholz stated Berlin’s determination to continue to assist Kyiv, despite any external circumstances.
