MOSCOW, 17 Dec German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in an interview with Süddeutsche Zeitung stated that Berlin does not plan to transfer tanks to Ukraine in order to avoid an escalation of the confrontation with Russia.
According to the head of the German government, Berlin supports Kyiv and therefore supplies modern weapons such as IRIS-T air defense systems and howitzers, but at the same time time adheres to three principles in this matter.
«Firstly, we support Ukraine as far as possible. Secondly, we prevent a direct confrontation between NATO and Russia. And thirdly, Germany will not act alone,» — Scholz voiced them.
He described his position as decisive, but balanced, and suggested that the Germans were satisfied with it.
The Kyiv regime expects to receive German Leopard 2 tanks, but Berlin is in no hurry to share them . At the same time, Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that Germany would continue to support Ukraine, but would not take any steps without the consent of NATO allies. As Bloomberg wrote, Western countries have come to an unspoken agreement not to supply tanks to the Kyiv authorities, so Germany does not want to be here first and give rise to accusations of escalation.