German Chancellor Olaf Schulz said on Friday that “it would be wise to prepare for a long war in Ukraine”, adding that Kiev’s allies would remain united during this time.
“I think it’s wise to be prepared for a long war, it’s wise to send the message to Putin that we’re ready to stay with Ukraine forever, that we’re going to keep supporting this country,” Scholz told CNN’s Christian Amanpour at the annual Munich Security Conference in Germany.
“The really important decision that we should take together is to say that as long as it is necessary, we are willing to do it and we will do what we can,” the chancellor said.
Scholz, while avoiding committing to a target date for the end of the war, said the solidarity among Ukraine’s allies had surprised Putin.
“I’m absolutely sure that Putin never imagined that there would be a united Europe and that there would be a united world. He never imagined that the transatlantic partnership would work so well,” he said.
Schultz singled out the United States for its continued and important support.
“We’re just doing this with our friends and partners, especially with the United States,” Schultz said, adding that he was very grateful for his administration’s “strong alliance” with the United States.
On arming Ukraine: Amanpour asked Scholz about deploying more German-made Leopard 2 tanks on the ground in Ukraine.
Scholz said more trained soldiers would be deployed “soon,” but warned that many of Ukraine’s partners were unable to provide the most modern models of combat vehicles.
“I understand that many don’t offer the most modern stuff … but of the ones they offer, we’ll support that as well,” Schultz said. “And as you know, there’s a ton of older tanks that we’ll be delivering .”
Facing concerns over dwindling ammunition stocks, Scholz emphasized the need for “permanent production of the most important weapons,” including ammunition.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius He was also at Friday’s meeting, saying the Munich meeting was “more important than ever” in light of the Russian aggression.
“From the beginning, the security conference has been a place of understanding and dialogue. The difference is that this is happening at the same time as Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine on European soil,” Pistorius said. “It makes the meeting more risky.
CNN’s Inke Kappeler contributed to this report from Berlin.