The United States is confident in its common position with Germany to contain Russia’s “militant rhetoric,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said during a briefing. Broadcast was conducted on YouTube.
The journalist asked Psaki if Germany’s refusal to provide weapons to Ukraine contradicts the unity of the position of Western countries towards Russia. The White House spokeswoman responded that “unity does not mean identity” of the positions.
“The most important thing is unity against belligerent rhetoric, troop build-up and a potential Russian invasion of the sovereign state of Ukraine. We have come to the conclusion that Germany is largely united with us in this effort, as are other European countries,” Psaki said.
Bloomberg learned about Germany’s demand for sanctions against Russia
Germany has repeatedly refused or obstructed the supply of arms to Ukraine. Thus, the German authorities refused the request of Kiev to provide them with corvettes, parts of anti-ship systems, mine-clearing equipment and air defense systems for the defense of the Black Sea coast, the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reported. Heiko Maas, then German Foreign Minister, rejected this appeal, unlike German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer. Angela Merkel, then Chancellor, told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that arms supplies to Kiev were “out of the question,” sources told Bild.