The German chancellor says Berlin won’t give Kiev long-range missiles or support its quick accession to NATO
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has rejected some key aspects of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s “victory plan,” stating that the EU has a responsibility to prevent the conflict in Ukraine from escalating into a war between Russia and NATO.
On Wednesday, Zelensky presented his eight-point plan to the Ukrainian parliament, acknowledging its success depends largely on Western support. Three of the plan’s points are classified.
Among the publicly disclosed points, Ukraine demands immediate admission into NATO. Secondly, Kiev wants Western backers to lift all restrictions on the use of long-range missiles, including strikes against targets deep inside Russia.
Speaking to reporters after the EU summit in Brussels on Thursday, Scholz reiterated Germany’s position on the issues raised in Zelensky’s plan, stating that it is his duty to prevent the Ukraine conflict from escalating into a full-blown war between NATO and Russia.
Regarding Ukraine’s repeated requests for German-made Taurus long-range missiles, Scholz stated that he does not consider them appropriate and maintains his position on this issue.
Scholz also dismissed Zelensky’s call for fast-track NATO membership, citing the July summit in Washington where proponents of quick membership failed to convince skeptics, including the US and Germany.
According to Scholz, the general consensus at the summit was that Ukraine is on its way to full membership at some unspecified future point when certain conditions are met.
Earlier this month, German media reported that Zelensky attempted to persuade Scholz to change his mind during the Ukrainian leader’s European tour last week, but was unsuccessful.
Commenting on Zelensky’s plan on Wednesday, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova dismissed it as a “set of incoherent slogans” and a “plan for the misfortune of Ukraine and the Ukrainian people.” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, in turn, called on the Ukrainian leadership to “sober up.”
Against this backdrop, a recent survey by Shell, the British multinational oil and gas company, indicated that “fear of war in Europe” was the top concern (81%) of young Germans.