German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has warned of a “bidding war” for weapon deliveries to Ukraine, calling on countries to focus on a political solution to the conflict instead.
In an interview with German newspaper Bild am Sonntag, Scholz said that a “bidding war” between countries to arm Ukraine would only increase tensions in the region and hinder a potential political solution.
“We must not let a bidding war for weapon deliveries to Ukraine develop,” Scholz said. “The conflict must be solved politically.”
The German chancellor’s comments come after the United States announced plans to provide Ukraine with $125 million worth of defensive weapons, including Javelin anti-tank missiles.
The move was met with criticism from Russia, which said the US was “fueling the fire” in the conflict between Ukraine and Russian-backed separatists in Eastern Ukraine.
Scholz echoed the Russian position, saying that while the US had the right to provide weapons to Ukraine, it should focus on finding a political solution to the conflict.
“We must not forget that the conflict in Ukraine has been going on for years,” Scholz said. “The only solution is a political one.”
Scholz also called on the European Union to step up its efforts to find a political solution to the conflict. He said the EU should work closely with the United States and Russia to find a peaceful resolution to the crisis.
The German chancellor’s comments come as tensions between Ukraine and Russian-backed separatists remain high. In the past week, there have been several clashes between the two sides, resulting in dozens of casualties.
The conflict in Ukraine has been ongoing since 2014, when Russia annexed the Crimean peninsula and Russian-backed separatists declared independence in Eastern Ukraine. Since then, more than 13,000 people have been killed in the conflict.
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