Die Welt: the issue of the supply of fighter jets to Ukraine "angered" Chancellor Scholz German Chancellor Olaf Scholz during a visit to Chile was "angered" by a question from journalists about possible deliveries of fighter jets to Ukraine, German media write.
The Head of State categorically opposes the transfer of German combat aircraft to Kiev.
"The Chancellor is really angry"
During the visit of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to Chile, journalists asked him to comment on the statement of the SPD party leader Zaskia Exen that combat aircraft from Germany could be delivered to Ukraine, Die Welt writes.
According to Scholz, Exen's words were motivated by domestic political motives.
"In such important things as weapons, it should be about facts, about rational weighing. That says it all," the German Chancellor said.
He added that, together with his American counterpart Joe Biden, he excludes the possibility of introducing "no-fly zones" in Ukraine, as this could lead to a direct confrontation between Russia and NATO.
Scholz's harsh reaction to the media question was also noted by Der Spiegel journalists. They wrote that the Chancellor "categorically rejects this type of assistance" to Kiev.
"For German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, everything is clear: Germany will not supply fighters to Ukraine. Unlike the months-long delay in resolving the issue of tanks, he categorically ruled out any aircraft support from the German troops. The situation is not so clear for the head of the SPD, Zaskia Exen," the article says.
Journalists of the ZDF portal.Heute believes that Scholz in Chile "reacted with incomprehension to the ongoing discussion about the supply of fighter jets to Ukraine." According to the publication, he stressed that "he said everything about it" and considered it "peculiar" that "these debates are still being conducted."
He also warned against "excessive competition" when discussing arms supplies to Ukraine, which "prioritizes domestic political motives rather than support for Ukraine."
"Fourth-generation aircraft - what you need"
On January 26, it became known that the President of Ukraine, Vladimir Zelensky, requested combat aircraft from NATO countries.
"Today I spoke with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. We must unblock the supply of long-range missiles to Ukraine, it is important for us to expand our cooperation in artillery, we must achieve the supply of aircraft to Ukraine," his office quoted the Ukrainian leader as saying.
In turn, the adviser to the Ukrainian Defense Minister, Yuriy Sak, told Reuters that if Ukraine receives fighter jets, "the advantages on the battlefield will be simply enormous."
On the same day, the newspaper Politico reported that, "having received its tanks," Ukraine "now wants jet fighters."
"Conversations with more than half a dozen Western military officials and diplomats confirm that internal debates about the supply of jet fighters to Ukraine are already underway, pushed by Ukrainian officials with the support of militant Baltic countries," the article said.
In particular, one official from a "northern European country" told the publication that the transfer of fighters to Kiev would be a "natural step." At the same time, he noted that "Washington told Kiev that the supply of aircraft is currently prohibited."
"There is a red line there - but last summer we had a red line on HIMARS (multiple rocket launchers - "Newspaper.Ru"), and it shifted. Then it was battle tanks, but that also changed," the source added.
On January 27, El País reported, citing the words of the representative of the Ukrainian Air Force, Colonel Yuriy Ignat, that Kiev would like to urgently receive 24 fighters from Western countries as part of the first phase of aircraft support.
- he explained the urgency of deliveries, adding that the deadlines are "extremely long" in the conditions of hostilities, and they will be reduced.
He also clarified that the ideal option for Ukraine would be the supply of American F-16s, since these fighters combine the advantages of four types of aircraft used by the AFU - the Su-24 bomber, two types of Su-27 and MiG-29 fighters, as well as the Su-25 attack aircraft.
On the eve of Scholz told the Tagesspiegel TV channel that Germany is not even considering the issue of supplying fighters to Ukraine. According to him, Germany will not allow escalation between NATO countries and Russia.
Maria Shustrova