German official calls for reducing arms aid to Ukraine
The prime minister of the German state of Saxony, Michael Kretschmer said that Germany must reduce its arms aid to Ukraine.
This came at an interview with Deutschland network.
Kretschmer said, “We can no longer allocate money for weapons to Ukraine, given that these weapons are being used without benefit… Everything must be proportionate… Yes, to support, but we realize that we have reached our limits”.
Kretschmer, who is a member of the Christian Democratic Union, was asked whether he supported ending German arms aid to Ukraine in order to save money, added, “From the beginning, I have been clearly against arms deliveries and have called for diplomatic initiatives… I had a very clear opinion on this matter two years ago, and unfortunately, I have to say that this opinion has been confirmed in many respects”.
Kretschmer stressed that the war in Ukraine – from his point of view – won’t end on the battlefield, but at the negotiating table.
Last year, Kretschmer called for a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine with Ukraine temporarily giving up its territory, angering Ukraine, which has been fighting a Russian invasion with massive Western support since February 2022. Germany is Ukraine’s second-strongest supporter after the United States.
In September, the state of Saxony, along with the eastern German states of Thuringia and Brandenburg, will hold elections for regional parliaments.
In the same context, a poll conducted by the Civey Institute for measuring opinion indicators on behalf of the newspapers of the German Funke media group revealed that half of Germans are concerned about the expansion of the conflict if American long-range weapons are deployed in their country.
Around 50% answered “Yes” to a question about whether these plans could lead to escalation.
In contrast, 38% of those surveyed said they didn’t believe this, while 12% didn’t specify their position.
The survey included about 5,000 German citizens over the age of 18 during the period from August 5 to 7.
On the sidelines of the recent NATO summit in Washington, the United States and Germany announced the deployment of Tomahawk cruise missiles, SM-6 missiles and new hypersonic weapons on German soil starting in 2026, justifying this as a response to Russian threats.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, a member of the Social Democratic Party, said that the weapons are intended to deter and prevent war.
According to the poll, 47% of Germans expect such a deterrent effect on Russia, while 45% don’t see it as such.
Criticism of the plan also comes from the Social Democratic Party, with the party’s parliamentary group leader, Rolf Mützenich, warning of the risk of military escalation.
According to the poll, only 26% of the population in eastern Germany support the deployment plans, while 60% of those surveyed are against them.
In the west of the country, 50% support the plans, while another 36% oppose them.
