The German Chancellor Olaf Scholz confirmed that NATO would not be sending troops to Ukraine as the West does not seek a direct confrontation with Russia. He emphasized the importance of maintaining strong defensive and deterrent capabilities in the face of the real threat posed by Russia.
Scholz stated during the Munich Security Conference that supporters of Ukraine had agreed from the beginning of the war not to send their soldiers to Ukraine to avoid a confrontation between Russia and NATO. He also highlighted the need for Europe to invest more in its security, regardless of the future U.S. presidency, urging Europeans to take their security more seriously now and in the future.
As for Germany’s support for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, the country has been a significant contributor. Germany has provided over 27.8 billion euros in bilateral support to Ukraine, which includes a comprehensive winter assistance program, support for refugees, assistance in investigating war crimes, humanitarian aid, and mine clearance operations. Germany is also supplying Ukraine with military equipment from its Bundeswehr stockpiles and from defense industry deliveries funded by the German government’s budget. This support is tailored to Ukraine’s needs, with continuous adjustments to enhance assistance, especially in air defense. Germany is the largest contributor to the European Peace Facility (EPF), which has enabled the provision of 5.6 billion euros across Europe to support the delivery of military equipment to the Ukrainian armed forces from EU member states.
In a historic policy shift, Germany reversed its longstanding practice of not sending weapons to conflict zones, responding to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. This decision marked a significant change in Germany’s stance, following pressure from EU and NATO allies. As part of this shift, Germany agreed to send 1,000 anti-tank weapons and 500 Stinger anti-aircraft defense systems to Ukraine and authorized other countries, like the Netherlands and Estonia, to send additional military support. This move was described by Chancellor Scholz as a response to the turning point marked by the Russian invasion, which threatened the entire post-World War II order in Europe.
