Politicians and commentators in Berlin have reacted with dismay to remarks by chancellor Olaf Scholz’s foreign policy adviser, who said the media should focus more on Germany’s future relationship with Russia than on supplying Ukraine with heavy weapons.
Jens Pl?tner was addressing accusations levelled at the German government by large parts of the media and opposition that it has been hesitant in its support for Ukraine, and much slower to supply it with heavy weapons than the US, UK and France.
Speaking at a debate at the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP), he said the discussion about helping Ukraine was driven by a “feverishness that misses the big issues”.