Macron and Scholz clash on Ukraine aid strategy in Berlin talks

Two politicians will meet in Berlin to discuss different approaches to aid for Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz agree on the scale of threats posed to Europe by Russian aggression in Ukraine. However, they differ in their willingness to aid the fighting country.

Berlin and Paris are divided on the strategy for supporting Kyiv. The visit of French President Emmanuel Macron, which began on Sunday, and his meeting with Chancellor Olaf Scholz will be an opportunity to clarify these stances, speculates the German newspaper "Süddeutsche Zeitung."

Daniel Brössler’s Monday analysis assesses that neither strategy is ideal. The German commentator emphasizes that there is no shortage of assurances about a Franco-German community, but the differences in approach are significant.

Brössler recalled that both politicians recently spoke about Ukraine in the British magazine "Economist." Their positions were contradictory.

Scholz assures that Germany will support Ukraine as long as necessary, but NATO is not seeking confrontation with Russia. Conversely, Macron does not rule out— as he has mentioned earlier— sending French soldiers to Ukraine.

The German newspaper points out that the French President wants to deter the Russian aggressor by sending the message that Europe is ready to make greater efforts to save Ukraine. Chancellor Scholz, however, does not want Germany or NATO to become parties to the war.

The newspaper emphasizes that Germany is the second-largest donor after the USA and provides Ukraine with crucial anti-aircraft weapons, while France is far behind in aid statistics. Brössler assessed that Ukraine would have lost long ago if everyone were as frugal in support as France.

On the other hand, France supplies Ukraine with much-needed long-range missiles that Kyiv does not receive either from Germany or the USA. "If Ukraine could choose, it probably wouldn't choose either the stingy French or the procrastinating Germans. They need an Emmanuel Scholz," assessed "Süddeutsche Zeitung".