When asked about Germany’s inability to supply heavy weaponry to Ukraine, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said in an interview with Der Spiegel that NATO must avoid a direct military conflict with Russia that could lead to a third world war.
Scholz is facing mounting pressure at home and abroad for his government’s apparent reluctance to provide heavy military weaponry to Ukraine, such as tanks and howitzers, to assist the country to defend itself against Russian attacks, even as other Western allies ramp up shipments.
When asked why he felt sending tanks may lead to nuclear war in an extended interview published on Friday, he claimed there was no rule book that specified when Germany could be declared a party to the war in Ukraine.
“That is why it is even more critical that we thoroughly analyze each step and work closely together,” he was reported as adding. “It is a primary priority for me to avoid an escalation against NATO.”
“That’s why I don’t pay attention to polls or become agitated by screaming phone calls. The ramifications of a mistake would be disastrous.”
This was a break from his prior pronouncements on the subject, which focused on the fact that Germany’s military inventories were too depleted to deliver any significant battlefield weaponry, while those that German industry said it could supply were difficult to deploy.
When asked why his government was reluctant to confront the possibility of nuclear war, he stated such “simplifications” were not useful.
Scholz also justified his choice not to immediately halt German purchases of Russian gas in reaction to Russia’s “special military operation” in Ukraine.
“A gas embargo, in my opinion, would not end the war. If (Russian President Vladimir) Putin had been willing to listen to economic considerations, he would not have started this mad conflict “he stated
“Second, you act as though this is a financial matter. But it’s about averting a major economic downturn that would result in the loss of millions of jobs and companies that would never reopen.”
According to Scholz, this would have far-reaching ramifications not only for Germany but also for Europe and the future financing of the reconstruction of Ukraine.
