Scholz says Ukraine will not use Western weapons to attack targets on Russian territory
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (Photo:REUTERS/Fabian BImmer)
Ukraine has agreed not to use Western weapons provided to it to attack targets on Russian territory, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has told German newspaper Bild in an interview published on Feb. 5
Asked if an agreement had been with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that weapons from the West would only be used on Ukrainian territory, and that Russia would not be attacked on its own territory with them, Scholz said, “There is a consensus on that.”
The German Chancellor also commented on Kremlin dictator Vladimir Putin’s recent speech, in which the Russian leader claimed that “German tanks are again threatening the Russian Federation.”
“(Putin’s) words are part of a series of absurd historical comparisons he uses to justify his attack on Ukraine,” Scholz said.
“But this war cannot be justified by anything. Russia is waging a merciless war against Ukraine.”
Scholz also emphasized in the interview that Germany, together with its allies, is coordinating the provision of weapons to Ukraine.
"Together with our allies, we’re handing over combat tanks to Ukraine so that it can defend itself,” the German leader said.
“We carefully weighed each arms delivery, closely coordinated it with our allies, primarily with the United States. Such a joint approach prevents the escalation of the war.”
After weeks of hesitation, Germany on Jan. 25 approved the transfer of 14 Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine and their re-export from partner countries. On the same day, the United States announced the future deployment of U.S. 31 Abrams main battle tanks to the front.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius later said that the first Western tanks could be sent to Ukraine by the end of March.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has said that Ukraine will receive 120-140 modern Western tanks in the first wave of deliveries. According to him, the tank coalition supporting Ukraine already includes 12 participating countries.
Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the Ukrainian military needs 300-500 tanks to conduct an offensive to liberate the Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine.
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