Germany is doing what is "necessary" to support Ukraine by approving the delivery of modern "Leopard" battle tanks, but wants to prevent an "escalation" of the conflict that would lead to a war between Russia and NATO, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said today.
"We are doing what is necessary and possible to support Ukraine, but at the same time we are preventing escalation towards a war between Russia and NATO," Scholz said in the Bundestag, the lower house of the German Parliament.
Immediately after Berlin rejected the delivery of German-made heavy tanks to Ukraine, the chancellor spoke about it very cautiously and repeatedly reminded of the need to weigh and think when deciding on military support for Kiev, the Beta news agency reports.
"It is correct and intentional that we have progressed with small steps and we will continue to follow that principle in the future," he said, because "it is the only principle that guarantees the security of Europe and Germany in relation to such a dangerous issue."
As reported by AFP, the pressure on Solac to approve the delivery of Leopard tanks has intensified in recent days both from the Greens and Liberals - partners in the ruling coalition in Germany, as well as from the conservative opposition and Western allies of Ukraine.
The chancellor specified in front of the lower house of the Parliament that in order to prevent escalation with Russia, there is no question of intervening in the air and on land in Ukraine, which is a position shared by the USA.
"When there was talk of a no-fly zone over Ukraine, I heard from the American president that we will not do that, that position has not changed and will not change, and that we will not send ground troops under any circumstances," said Olaf Scholz.
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