Scholz's Kyiv trip sparks media backlash amid election race
Chancellor Olaf Scholz visited Kyiv during the election campaign. In Germany, some leading newspaper commentators have suggested it is a "cynical game at Ukraine's expense."
According to commentators in the German media, the visit to Ukraine was intended to strengthen Scholz's position in the election campaign. They believe Scholz wanted to pre-empt opposition leader Friedrich Merz in Kyiv.
At the same time, "Die Welt" commentator Sascha Lehnartz criticises Scholz for not delivering Taurus missiles to Ukraine, undermining his support declarations. Lehnartz notes that Germany is not Ukraine's biggest ally; relative to GDP, the Baltic countries and Poland have done more.
Nicolas Richter from "Sueddeutsche Zeitung" also highlights that Scholz's visit to Kyiv is part of the election battle. Richter assesses that the rivalry between the current chancellor and the opposition leader "takes on caricature-like forms."
Scholz's bad press. Chancellor criticised after Kyiv visit
Meanwhile, Jasper von Altenbockum from "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung" compares Scholz's policy to the actions of Donald Trump and Viktor Orban. He points out that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky mentioned Germany along with Hungary and the USA regarding their stance on Ukraine's admission to NATO.
"Handelsblatt" notes that Scholz brought a £570 million aid package to Kyiv but did not meet Zelensky's expectations concerning NATO guarantees and the delivery of Taurus missiles.
Commentators consistently emphasize that Ukraine has become the centre of the German election campaign.
Source: PAP
