German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is putting his political future on the line, defending his cautious stance on Ukraine as a prudent strategy to avoid escalating the war.
In a speech to parliament on Wednesday, Scholz reaffirmed his decision not to supply Kyiv with long-range missiles capable of hitting Russian soil, arguing that this approach has helped prevent the conflict from spiraling further.
“I stand by my decision to ensure there has been no escalation,” Scholz said, stressing that his actions have been in the best interest of Germany and Europe during these perilous times. With Germany’s upcoming election in February following the collapse of his coalition, Scholz seems to be positioning himself as the safer, more measured choice compared to his main rival, conservative Friedrich Merz.
Merz, leader of the center-right establishment Christian Democratic Union (CDU), has criticized Scholz for refusing to send long-range missiles to Ukraine. He believes that if Russia doesn’t halt its attacks on Ukrainian civilians, Germany should provide Taurus missiles to Kyiv. However, despite Merz’s hawkish stance, current polling shows him leading by a large margin, with Scholz’s Social Democratic Party (SPD) trailing behind in third place.
Scholz has emphasized Germany’s commitment to supporting Ukraine, pointing out that it has provided more military aid than any other European nation. Yet, he’s also maintained that Germany’s cautious approach is key to avoiding direct conflict with Russia. By presenting himself as the leader who can manage tensions with Putin, Scholz hopes to regain ground ahead of the February election.
