Comments on Friday's meeting Olaf Scholza z Volodymyr Zelensky were published on Saturday, among others, in the largest German newspapers opinion leaders, i.e. “Sueddeutsche Zeitung” and “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung”.
“Germany will provide the attacked country self-propelled anti-tank howitzers i tanks” – I'm writing Daniel Broessler in the “Sueddeutsche Zeitung”. As he assesses, “it's good”, although “the German government is showing signs of tiredness with aid“ for Ukraine.
The author described the relations between Chancellor Scholz and President Zelensky as “difficult partnership”On one side stands the chancellor, who recently boasted about his caution during a meeting with citizens, and on the other – the president, who is responsible for an increasingly desperate defensive fight against Russia. The answer to the question of what else he can expect from Scholz is of key importance for Zelensky – we read in “SZ”.
According to the commentator, Ukrainian suffering is of little importance to German public opinion – the country is currently struggling with illegal migration and is under pressure electoral successes of the far-right AfD and (far left) BSW, a party Sarah Wagenknechtw Saxony i Thuringia. In these states, it is clear that the demand to stop arms deliveries to Ukraine has become a “majority opinion.” The slogan “peace” symbolizes the desire to “leave us alone.”
In this situation it is difficult to find sympathy for Ukrainians – states Broessler, adding that there are signals that must “alarm” Zelensky. “The Scholz government is showing signs of fatigue, also in the matter of aid for Ukraine,” he emphasizes. As he recalls, in German budget for 2025already help for Ukraine was allocated about over 3 billion euros less than this year. Scholz points to loan in the amount of 50 billion dollars from Western countries, but “it is not buttoned up to the last detail”. “Zelensky has no other choice but to rely on the German Chancellor. This means that Scholz cannot leave Zelensky in the lurch,” the author points out.
War in Ukraine. Volodymyr Zelensky met with Olaf Scholz
According to Broessler, it is doubtful whether the next haubice i tanks will allow Ukraine to improve its military position – what is needed to take negotiations with Russia“Putin will not talk as long as he sees that his army is making progress,” we read in “SZ”.
The publicist also referred to AfD and BSW demandswhich demand immediate negotiations and interruption of arms deliveries. According to Broessler, both groups should explain their to the votersthat their passwords conflict with their own program directed against immigrants.
“The Russian offensive will cause a huge wave of refugeeswhich will have catastrophic consequences for Germany. Leaving Ukraine without help would not only be a betrayal but also self-deception,” the journalist concludes.
“Germany will supply Ukraine 12 anti-tank howitzers. That's great. But it's not what Kiev needs the most,” he says. Peter Storm from the “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung”. According to Sturm, Western governments do not have to fulfill President Zelensky's every whimbecause they are not service agency Ukrainian government. However, if they acted wisely, they would easily understand that the military strengthening of Ukraine is in their own interest.
The author maintains that many decisions taken at the Ramstein meeting are merely to “make a good impression”. As a rule, these decisions are positive, as in the case of the announcement by the German Defense Minister to transfer 12 anti-tank howitzers. The Ukrainians will gladly accept them. However, these weapons will certainly will not decide the fate of the war.
“The greatest threat comes from the air, which is why air defense is the most important. However, it will not be enough if Russia does not have to worry that its airports and missile bases located deep in its territory may come under Ukrainian fire,” the commentator notes. As Sturm adds, the weapons needed for this are still not being delivered or are being delivered in minimal quantities.
According to the “FAZ” publicist, some of the political statements in Ramstein are “wishful thinking”. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg he called China to stop supporting Russia, but he did not say why China would do that? China is participating in the competition of systems against the West and helps anyone who harms the West. “Such demands make no sense. China must be made to realize that it is not in its interest to be in total conflict with the West,” he summed up.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy visits Germany. He issues an appeal
As the lokalo.de portal notes, Zelensky's fifth visit to Germany from the beginning full-scale Russian aggression against Ukraine. He was last in Germany in June, when he spoke at Bundestag in Berlin. Zelensky announced in Ramstein that Kiev was “very grateful” for all the help received, and also appealed to partners to be more active in the context of air defense systems.
The Ukrainian leader also mentioned the importance timely deliveries– I will not mention publicly now the number of air defense systems we have received, but the number of air defense systems that have not yet been delivered – and this is significant – he emphasized.
Friday's meeting was 24th meeting of the Contact Group on the Defense of Ukrainemost of which took place via video conference. The full-scale Russian aggression against Ukraine began on February 24, 2022. The West supports Kiev in defending its territories, including through weapons supplies.