Germany’s Scholz defends his stance on arms supply to Kyiv, energy embargo
Berlin, May 4 (EFE).- German chancellor Olaf Scholz on Wednesday defended his stance on supplying weapons to Ukraine and an energy embargo on Russia amid internal criticism and accusations from his political opposition that he has been hesitant to provide enough support to Kyiv.
During a press conference held in Berlin, Scholz reviewed the government’s measures to support Ukraine and alleviate the effects of the war both in Germany and globally.
He said there was unity regarding the supply of weapons in his coalition of Social Democrats, Greens and Liberals.
“After the start of the war, I announced in public that, unlike before, we are ready to supply weapons,” he said, adding that Berlin not only offers its army stocks, but also buys equipment for Kyiv.
The German government “acts in the same way as the United States, the United Kingdom, Spain or Italy” and the only difference is that “the debate is conducted differently,” he added.
The chancellor also stressed that Germany is now in a position to support an embargo on Russian coal and oil because his government has been paving the way since before the start of the war.
Scholz defended an exception to the European Union embargo for countries like Hungary and stressed instead on a “pragmatic continuation” of the policy of designing sanctions to harm Russia more than the country that imposes them.
When asked, Scholz stressed that a visit to Kyiv is not on the table at the moment, after the government of Volodymyr Zelenskyy refused to receive German President Frank Walter Steinmeier over his supposed “closeness” to Moscow.
Friedrich Merz, the head of Germany’s conservative opposition, visited Kyiv this week, although did not meet with Zelenskyy. EFE
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