German Chancellor Calls Current Demand for Ukrainian Fighters Unreasonable

JAKARTA - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said requests for the supply of fighter aircraft to Ukraine were unreasonable at this time, when he was asked to respond to growing calls for Western countries to do so in an interview.

Interviewed by ZDF public television, Scholz, who has previously faced criticism for being slow to deliver tanks to Ukraine, said other countries' difficulties meeting Ukraine's demands justified his decision to move in line with them.

Earlier this month, Germany agreed to send and allow other countries to send its Leopard 2 heavy battle tanks to help Ukraine carry out attacks on Russian troops in the east. However, deliveries have been slow due to limited donor supply.

"Perhaps this is an indication of why it is so important to coordinate with each other, with the US, for example, and to prepare these decisions carefully so that they work out," said Chancellor Scholz as quoted by Reuters 24 February.

Ukraine is now asking for fighter planes, even though Germany does not have the F-16 fighter mentioned in this context.

Speaking on the eve of the one year anniversary of Russia's invasion, Chancellor Scholz said he feared the conflict could turn into a "long war", but added Germany and the West would support Ukraine as long as necessary.

Russian President Vladimir Putin must finally understand that his war goals, which Scholz says have been revised several times since the start of the conflict, are unattainable.

Moreover, Chancellor Scholz who will visit India on Saturday to rally support for Ukraine against Russia said he was not daunted by signs that many major developing countries were reluctant to condemn Russia.

"There are only a few countries that are on Russia's side," he said.

Last month, Chancellor Scholz said Germany would not send fighter jets to Ukraine.

"I can only advise against getting involved in a constant bidding war in terms of weapons systems," Chancellor Scholz told the Tagesspiegel newspaper, as quoted by The National News.

"If, as soon as the decision (about the tanks) is made, the next debate starts in Germany, it is not taken seriously and undermines the confidence of citizens in the government's decision," he continued.

Moreover, Chancellor Scholz warned of an increasing "risk of escalation", with Moscow already condemning the supply of tanks.