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Chancellor Scholz opposes assistance to Ukraine at expense of Germany’s future

According to the German chancellor, Berlin’s assistance to Kiev should not affect the retirement benefits of German citizens

BERLIN, November 13. /TASS/. Berlin should not provide assistance to Kiev at the expense of Germany’s future, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said.

"We did the right thing by arranging assistance [for Ukraine]. However, the question is whether assistance to Ukraine should be funded with more than 12 billion euros from the German budget at the expense of the decisions that are necessary to ensure our country’s future? My answer is no," he noted in a government statement to the Bundestag (parliament).

According to the German chancellor, Berlin’s assistance to Kiev should not affect the retirement benefits of German citizens and investment into infrastructure upgrading. "Not with me [as chancellor]," Scholz stressed.

"This either-or approach is a mistake that could take our country in the wrong direction," he said, adding: "This is causing damage and dividing Germany."

Germany is the second-largest arms supplier to Ukraine after the United States. Berlin has so far allocated some 28 bln euros in military aid to Kiev and future commitments. Germany plans to spend some 4 bln euros on military assistance to Kiev in 2025, half as much as this year.

Russia has repeatedly said that weapons supplies to Kiev will only prolong the conflict in Ukraine but will not change the course of Moscow’s special military operation.

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