German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who met with Baltic leaders in Vilnius, has rejected criticism that Berlin was dragging its feet when it comes to sending heavy weapons to Ukraine.
“Germany is one of the key military supporters of Ukraine, with probably only the United States providing more support, but Germany is certainly providing a lot of assistance to Ukraine,” Scholz said during a press conference on Tuesday. “The most sophisticated howitzers are set to be delivered to Ukraine.”
Read more: German chancellor in Vilnius gives nod to more NATO troops in Baltics
The German chancellor also noted that Ukrainian troops were receiving training in Germany on how to use the weapons.
“We often see reports that are completely untrue, stating that the Ukrainians do not want some weapons [...]. In fact, we are supporting Ukraine very actively, and we have the so-called arms exchanges that have been agreed with, for example, the Czech Republic, Greece, other countries, and the Ukrainians will certainly be able to use these weapons,” Scholz assured.
“My decision for Germany to supply arms during the conflict – it’s a decision that we are implementing on a large scale,” he added.
Having long delayed sending arms to Ukraine, Germany is now facing pressure to provide heavy weapons to Kyiv. So far, Berlin has not been sending them directly, but has been asking other countries to do so, pledging to compensate their expenses.
Last week, Scholz said he had agreed with Greece that Athens would send Soviet-era military equipment to Ukraine in exchange for more modern weapons from Berlin. Germany has already signed a similar agreement with the Czech Republic.
Berlin has also promised second-hand self-propelled howitzers and self-propelled anti-aircraft systems Gepard. They are due to arrive in Ukraine in July. However, Kyiv expects more from Germany and wants it to directly send Leopard tanks and Marder IFVs.
Russia will have to withdraw from Ukraine
The West will not accept peace terms in which Russia fails to withdraw its troops from Ukraine, Scholz said in Vilnius.
“We will definitely not accept a peace dictated by Russia, we will not accept such a peace. It is, therefore, very important and clear to us that the result of this military situation will be that Russia will have to withdraw its troops and that Ukraine will defend its independence,” he said.
Russia’s actions have solidified NATO, the German chancellor pointed out.
“What Putin has achieved is that NATO has become even more united, that NATO is further strengthening its capabilities, and we are strengthening NATO’s eastern flank near the Baltic Sea, and that Sweden and Finland have decided to become NATO members. So this is what Putin’s military aggression has achieved: we are becoming even stronger,” the German chancellor said.
No lifting of Belarus sanctions
German Chancellor Scholz has ruled out lifting sanctions on Minsk in exchange for Ukrainian grain transit through Belarus, adding that Western countries are looking for ways to get grain safely out of the war-torn country to avoid a global food crisis.
“By no means, it does not mean we should lift the sanctions we have adopted for [Alexander] Lukashenko,” the German chancellor told reporters in Vilnius.
Earlier this week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also ruled out such a possibility.
Ukraine, one of the world’s biggest grain exporters, is unable to use its Black Sea ports blocked by the Russian navy. The West is considering shipping Ukrainian grain by rail via other European countries, but this is difficult to do.
Some companies in Lithuania’s port of Klaipėda suggested that the most convenient way to transport Ukrainian grain would be via Belarus. Lukashenko has subsequently said he expects concessions.
Lithuania has proposed building a coalition of countries to unblock the port of Odessa. In other words, Western warships would escort Ukrainian cargo ships to prevent them from being attacked by Russian forces.
“Russia is responsible for the fact that grain cannot be taken out of Ukraine. [...] We will try to find a solution, and the United Nations is also trying to find a solution,” Scholz said in Vilnius.
If a decision to unblock the port of Odessa is made, Western allies should also ensure that “Russia does not abuse such decisions”, the German chancellor said.
Turkey has not allowed military ships to pass through the Bosphorus since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, as this is the only waterway to the Black Sea.
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