Germany’s Scholz indicates opposition to supplying jets to Ukraine

By AP 9 March 2022, 5:03 pm

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German Chancellor Olaf Scholz waits for the arrival of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the chancellery in Berlin, Germany, Wednesday, March 9, 2022. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is indicating that he doesn’t favor supplying old MiG fighter jets to Ukraine.

Poland late Tuesday offered to give the US 28 MiG-29 fighter planes for Ukraine’s use. US officials said the proposal was “untenable,” but they would continue to consult with Poland and other NATO allies.

Scholz is asked whether Germany would be prepared to allow such a delivery, and whether he feared being drawn into the conflict by a jet delivery via the United States’ Ramstein Air Base in Germany — which Poland had proposed.

Scholz notes that Germany has given Ukraine financial and humanitarian aid, as well as some weapons. He adds: “Otherwise, we must consider very carefully what we do in concrete terms, and that most certainly doesn’t include fighter planes.”