analysis
Well, yes, the German government is ready to deliver tanks to the Ukraine. For many, this is a step that is long overdue. However, the public account of the decision remains diffuse.
The Social Democrats may have problems, but Putin and Russia are actually none of them. “The SPD has no problem with Putin”, , “the SPD has no problem with Russia”.
Of course, the Ukrainian Ambassador Andrei Melnyk would now . But the SPD’s problems in the past few days and weeks have been of a more specific nature, although in combination they have given the public the impression of a general problem with Putin and Russia.
There is, for example, who does not want to move a millimeter away from his Russian presidential buddy. That and its connection to Nord Stream 2, which so far shows no light at the end of the tube. Or the indecisive issue of supplying heavy weapons to Ukraine, which keeps raising question marks.
The latter has recently been demanded from all sides: in addition to a constantly aroused opposition to CDU leader Friedrich Merz, traffic light politicians, especially from the ranks of the FDP and Greens, are also increasingly pushing for more German commitment. Only the SPD, led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz, seemed to block.
Until now. The federal government wants to provide Ukraine with heavy weapons from Germany, as was announced on Tuesday morning. Specifically, it is about the delivery of used anti-aircraft vehicles of the “Gepard” type from industrial stocks, and guns of the “Panzerhaubitze 2000” type are also to reach Ukraine indirectly (). Federal Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht (SPD) later made the corresponding commitment(s) at a meeting at the invitation of the USA at Ramstein Air Force Base.
Chancellor Scholz and the SPD are thus giving in to the growing pressure, which had also increased internationally. The decision should therefore also be an attempt to mitigate the harsh criticism of Germany’s (hesitant) attitude towards arms deliveries. The criticism of their public presentation, however, should not stop.
Well, yes
For while the Chancellor’s policies may be reasonable and well-founded, their communication has so far seemed muddled and confusing. The decisions were made piecemeal, the justifications changed on a daily and weekly basis. Heavy weapons could not be delivered because…
- …Ukraine cannot handle the device.
- …because the weapons are not available or functional.
- …because the Bundeswehr needs the weapons itself so as not to undermine its own defense or alliance capabilities.
- …because the line has been agreed with the alliance partners.
- …because a ring swap of weapons is faster and more effective.
Rarely has the desire for clarity been greater – but how do you talk about war strategy without revealing your own? And how do you pursue a war strategy when the situation changes minutely? It is a dilemma that the chancellor and his government have not yet been able to resolve – and at least make what has been said appear questionable and implausible.
Just a week ago, the Chancellor refused German deliveries of tanks to Ukraine and instead secured them. Shortly thereafter, he revealed another reason for his hesitation: “I am doing everything to prevent an escalation that leads to a third world war. There must be no nuclear war.”
When asked what made him think that tank deliveries from Germany would have these consequences, Scholz replied: “There is no textbook for this situation in which one could read at what point we are perceived as a war party.” The book is rewritten every day, “some lessons are still ahead of us.” It is all the more important “that we carefully consider each of our steps and coordinate them closely with one another.”
No further questions, except: What lesson has now been learned, what considerations and votes have led to a rethink?
Before Germany’s (public) tank reversal, Russia’s Foreign Minister Lavrov had made it clear that he regarded NATO arms deliveries to Ukraine as legitimate targets for his country. In an interview on Russian television, he warned that the threat of a third world war was “serious, it is real, it must not be underestimated”.
Why Germany is now moving on the issue of supplying heavy weapons has not (yet) been spelled out in detail. Shortly before the meeting in Ramstein: “Germany is helping Ukraine – with weapons, ammunition, money, equipment and humanitarian goods.” Russia’s attack is also an attack “on all our freedom, democracy and our values”. No more, no less.
Source: Stern
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