Rutte defends Scholz amid Ukraine missile dispute
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, in an interview with the DPA agency, said the Ukrainian president unfairly criticized Olaf Scholz. I have often told Zelenskyy that he should stop criticizing Olaf Scholz because I think it is unfair," he said.
Germany plays a crucial role as an ally of Ukraine, but Berlin's decision to refuse to supply Kyiv with long-range Taurus missiles has caused frustration among Ukrainian authorities. As a result, the German Chancellor has been repeatedly criticized by Ukrainian officials.
Rutte noted that, unlike Scholz, he would have supplied Ukraine with these missiles and would not have imposed restrictions on potential targets.
"In general, we know that such capabilities are very important for Ukraine," Rutte stated, emphasizing that it is not the role of the NATO Secretary General to dictate what weapons allies should supply to Ukraine.
Controversies surrounding Scholz's conversation with Putin
Ukraine requested the supply of Taurus missiles in the spring of 2023. In early December 2024, the Bundestag debated a motion submitted by the liberal FDP calling for the supply of long-range missiles to Ukraine. One of the CDU politicians, Thomas Erndl, described Scholz as a "fearful chancellor" and a "threat to Germany's national security."
Taurus missiles were not the only reason for Zelensky's criticism of Scholz. In November, after a phone conversation between Scholz and Vladimir Putin, Zelensky accused the German Chancellor of opening Pandora's box and undermining efforts to isolate the Russian leader and end the war with a "just peace."
