German MP slams Scholz for lack of trust in Ukraine

Roderich Kiesewetter, a member of the Bundestag from the opposition Christian Democratic Union, said this in an interview with the n-tv channel, Ukrinform reports.

"This is an extreme war of attrition caused by hesitation in support. Maybe even especially from Germany," the politician said.

He noted that Ukrainian soldiers are fighting in an environment in which the Bundestag would never send the German military: no air superiority, extreme shortage of ammunition, difficult supply of spare parts, and problems with personnel rotation.

Kiesewetter recalled that his country had handed over only 16 Leopard tanks to Ukraine. At the same time, Germany refused to participate in a "fighter jets coalition," although it could have provided about 30-40 of its Eurofighters that will soon be phased out. And now, due to a lack of political will, Germany is still delaying the transfer of Taurus cruise missiles.

"Germany should have produced ammunition on a massive scale over the winter. The British have suggested an eightfold increase in their ammunition production. The Germans didn't do anything. This allowed the Russians to dig in deep. […] If Ukraine had received Western fighter jets early on, the [Russian] defense could have been destroyed long ago," the politician said.

He added that in addition to the slogan "we will support Ukraine for as long as it takes," it should have also been stated that "we must help as quickly and as much as possible."

According to the MP, one gets the impression that some countries, including Germany, are more concerned "that Russia will be exhausted without being defeated - and for this, they are ready to accept the defeat of Ukraine." At the same time, Kiesewetter pointed to two basic wrong assumptions that prevail in the German chancellor's office: little trust in Kyiv and lack of recognition that Ukraine is preventing the war from spreading and thereby defending freedom in Europe.

"It is important to trust Ukraine. Instead, it is said that one does not know whether the Ukrainians will attack Russian territory. However, this is permitted under international law as long as it is proportionate and no civilian targets are being attacked. It makes strategic sense and is politically correct to attack facilities in Russia that contribute to the war," the MP said.

At the same time, he said, Scholz articulates tasks in the war for German citizens not clearly enough, saying that "Russia should not win."

Putin's goal is not only the incorporation of Ukraine and Belarus (which has actually already happened), but also of the Baltic States and Moldova," the politician warned, urging not to trust Russia, which is interested in a temporary truce in order to accumulate forces and launch a new attack.

The politician concluded that Ukraine must completely liberate its territory within 1991 borders, and its partners must provide the country with everything it needs to achieve this goal.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said earlier that Germany does not plan to supply Ukraine with Taurus cruise missiles in the near future.