NATO Chief: Stop Criticizing Partners Who Help Ukraine
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NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has called out Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for his frequent criticism of Western allies, particularly regarding military aid and diplomatic decisions.
During an interview with German news agency DPA, Rutte specifically addressed Zelensky’s criticism of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, stating “I have often told Zelenskyy that he should stop criticising Olaf Scholz, because I think it is unfair”.
#NATO Secretary General Rutte demanded that Zelensky stop criticizing Scholz:
I often tell Zelensky to stop criticizing Scholz, because I think it is unfair,” Rutte said. pic.twitter.com/cfCEeMQJWJ
— Southern Africa Eye (@eye_southern) December 23, 2024
The criticism stems from Germany’s decision to withhold its advanced Taurus missiles from Ukraine. These missiles, considered more sophisticated than the Anglo-French Storm Shadow/SCALP cruise missiles already in Ukraine’s arsenal, have become a point of contention between the two nations. Ukraine has also expressed disapproval of Scholz’s recent communication with Russian President Vladimir Putin, suggesting such dialogue undermines peace efforts.
While Rutte personally supports providing Taurus missiles to Ukraine, describing them as “very important” for their military strategy, he acknowledges that such decisions remain with individual NATO members. Germany’s reluctance to supply these weapons centers on concerns about potential conflict escalation, given the missiles’ 500-kilometer range and sophisticated ground-following capabilities.
Chancellor Scholz addressed these concerns in March, stating: “A Taurus with the 500-km range may hit some specific target in Moscow if used incorrectly… From the very beginning I clearly said: there will be no German, NATO soldiers in Ukraine… We will prevent escalation, the war between Russia and NATO”.
This isn’t the first instance of tension between Ukraine and its supporters. Last year, Poland’s ambassador was summoned by Ukrainian officials after a Polish government representative suggested Ukraine should better appreciate Poland’s extensive support. Ukraine promptly rejected these comments as baseless.
‼️🇩🇪🇺🇦 NATO Secretary General constantly calls on ungrateful beggar Zelensky not to criticize Scholz
▪️Mark Rutte said that he has repeatedly asked the President of Ukraine to stop publicly criticizing pic.twitter.com/ZxBT8DDF8H
— Rajendran (@Rajendr67215893) December 23, 2024
Similar friction arose when former British Defence Minister Ben Wallace suggested Ukraine should display more gratitude toward its allies. Zelensky responded with sarcasm, leading to public disagreement from Ukraine’s ambassador to the UK. The ambassador’s subsequent dismissal highlighted the sensitivity surrounding these diplomatic exchanges.
The controversy underscores the complex relationship between Ukraine and its Western supporters, as Zelensky’s administration maintains an aggressive approach to securing military aid while managing diplomatic relationships with key allies during their ongoing conflict with Russia.
