Prone To Send Combat Jets To Ukraine, German Chancellors Maintain Communications With President Putin

JAKARTA - Germany will not send fighter jets to Ukraine, Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Sunday, as Kyiv stepped up demand for more sophisticated weapons from the West, to help counter Russia's invasion.

After weeks of heated debate and mounting pressure from allies, Chancellor Scholz approved the delivery of 14 Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine and allowed other European countries to send their similar tanks.

"I can only advise against being involved in a constant bidding war in terms of weapons systems," Chancellor Scholz told the Tagesspiegel newspaper.

"If, as soon as a decision (about tanks) is made, the next debate begins in Germany, it is not taken seriously and undermines citizens' trust in government decisions."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked Berlin and Washington for sending the main battle tank (MBT), with the United States sending 31 MBT M1 Abrams, which is considered a breakthrough in efforts to support the war-torn country.

But President Zelensky stressed Ukraine needed more heavy weapons from NATO allies to fend off Russian attacks, including fighter jets and long-range missiles.

In addition, Chancellor Scholz warned of an increase in "risks of escalation", with Moscow already condemning tank promises.

"There is no war between NATO and Russia. We will not allow such an escalation," Chancellor Scholz stressed.

To that end, Chancellor Scholz said it was "needed" to continue to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The last phone call between the leaders took place in early December.

"I will talk to Putin by phone again," he said.

"But of course, it is also clear that as long as Russia continues to wage war with unrelenting aggression, the current situation will not change," Chancellor Scholz said.