Germany has stated that it will not become directly involved in the Ukraine conflict but will continue to supply weapons to Kiev, according to Chancellor Olaf Scholz. The statement comes as the discussion over whether Germany should supply long-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine intensifies.
During an event organized by the Augsburger Allgemeine newspaper, Scholz was asked if there is a risk of Germany becoming actively involved in the war. He responded by stating that his aim is to prevent this from happening and that there are currently no German soldiers in Ukraine nor will there be any in the future.
However, Scholz made it clear that Germany will continue to provide Ukraine with weapons. He emphasized that each decision regarding the supply of weaponry has been made cautiously and in coordination with allies. Scholz stressed that the West does not want the conflict to escalate into a war between Russia and NATO.
There have been calls for Germany to supply Ukraine with the Taurus missile, which has a range of approximately 500 kilometers. Ukrainian lawmaker Egor Chernev stated that many of his German colleagues support providing Kiev with these missiles. He claimed that there is a broad consensus among German political parties, and now Ukraine is awaiting an official decision.
A recent poll commissioned by Germany’s RTL and n-tv shows that 66% of Germans are opposed to the idea of supplying missiles to Ukraine, while only 28% are in favor.
Ukraine has been requesting this type of missile from Germany since late May. However, senior officials including Scholz and Defense Minister Boris Pistorius have rejected these requests so far. It is worth noting that Germany also hesitated before agreeing to deliver Leopard battle tanks to Ukraine in late January.
Despite Ukraine’s summer counteroffensive falling short of initial expectations, NATO member states have pledged to continue supporting the country for as long as it takes. Russia has warned that by supplying weapons to Ukraine, Western nations are prolonging the conflict and escalating the risk of a direct confrontation between NATO and Moscow.
It is important to mention that Germany’s stance reflects its commitment to preventing a war with Russia and maintaining the diplomatic efforts to resolve the Ukraine conflict. While Germany will continue to support Ukraine with weapons, each decision in this regard will be made with caution and in consultation with its allies. The ultimate goal is to avoid a full-scale war and promote a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict.
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