German Chancellor Olaf Scholz reiterated Sunday that he will not send fighter jets to Ukraine, following Kiev’s insistent requests, which he dismissed as irrational.
«It is strange that this debate is taking place,» Scholz said at a press conference during his visit to Santiago, Chile, stating that «a serious debate is needed now» and not «a bidding contest, in which domestic political motives play a more important role than support for Ukraine.»
For the German Chancellor, a debate on arms supplies should focus on rational considerations, after the leader of the Democratic Party of Germany (SPD), Saskia Esken, did not rule out the delivery of fighter jets to Ukraine, reiterating that it is important to «support Ukraine with what it needs».
In addition, Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksei Reznikov acknowledged last week that Western fighter jets are the next item on his «wish list.»
Scholz agreed this week to send ‘Leopard’ 2 tanks to Ukraine to bolster the Ukrainian Army’s capabilities against the Russian Army. Berlin’s go-ahead also includes authorizations for other countries to send the German-made tanks they have.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
