Scholz stated decisively "No" sending combat aircraft to Ukraine

After agreeing to send German Leopards to Ukraine, Chancellor Scholz refuses to send fighter jets, which Zelensky is now asking for.

Germany has made the difficult decision to send heavy Leopard tanks to Ukraine, marking another historic shift in decades of security policy. Germany has been consistent in its desire to show solidarity by supporting Ukraine in the fight against “Putin’s imperialist war,” Chancellor Olaf Scholz echoed on the ZDF channel last night.

According to the chancellor, “Russia must fail in achieving its goal of subjugating Ukraine,” which must protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity. However, “under no circumstances should we lead to a war between Russia and NATO, and for this we will do everything,” he stressed once again, categorically rejecting, as he did yesterday from the parliament hall, the sending of combat aircraft and infantry to Ukraine.

This response comes at a time when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in a new video message, thanks Germany for the decision to send the Leopard to Ukraine, but at the same time asks Western allies to send more fighter jets and long-range missiles to Ukraine. “The more support our Ukrainian heroes receive at the front, the faster Russian aggression will end,” he said in a statement.

Ukraine’s Deputy Foreign Minister and former ambassador to Berlin, Andriy Melnyk, who previously called Scholz a “offended liverwurst”, is now shouting “Hallelujah!” via Twitter about sending heavy tanks, calling on the West to form a “strong alliance” and supply Ukraine with fighter jets such as the F-16 and F-35, Eurofighter and Tornado, Rafale and Gripen.

Hallelujah! Jesus Christ! And now, dear allies, let’s establish a powerful
fighter
jet
coalition
for Ukraine
with F-16 & F-35, Eurofighter & Tornado, Rafale & Gripen jets & everything you can deliver to save Ukraine💪 pic.twitter.com/QqJRivDvmi

— Andrij Melnyk (@MelnykAndrij) January 24, 2023

Scholz: absolute unanimity in co-management

At the same time, after the sharp criticism that Olaf Scholz received both from Ukraine and within the country for hesitating about sending German “Leopards” to Ukraine, he wanted to emphasize yesterday that the co-government of the Social Democrats, the Greens and the Liberals are absolutely in agreement with the decision on the Leopards, and there is agreement both with Vice Chancellor Gambeck of the Greens and with the Liberal leader and Finance Minister Christian Lindner.

“There is absolute unanimity among government partners on the approach of the German government,” was the message Olaf Scholz wanted to send after what has been written in recent months about turmoil, diametrically opposed approaches and intense pressure within the German government.

The decision to send German heavy tanks was also welcomed by the mainstream opposition, and Christian Democrat leader Friedrich Merz also ruled out sending combat aircraft to Ukraine in the future. However, he criticizes the position of Chancellor Scholz, who for all these months has been sending the wrong image of Germany to Europe.

The US is playing with the Doomsday Clock. But they forgot that the sun sets in the West. Al Mayadeen cartoon

PS The US has already ordered Britain and other NATO allies to start training Ukrainian pilots for F-16 aircraft, and other NATO countries may start similar training in the near future. Therefore, the “offended liver sausage”, no doubt, will agree to the planes. Partners from across the ocean have something to put pressure on Germany. And the doomsday clock, meanwhile, is getting closer and closer to midnight…

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