Political opponents distort and slander SPD’s relations with Russia since World War II, Scholch told the German weekly Der Spiegel.
“I am annoyed,” the German chancellor said, adding that the SPD was “closely linked to the West and the transatlantic alliance.”
Germany said on Thursday that an agreement had been reached with partners in Eastern Europe to supply Ukraine with a new batch of heavy weapons “in the next few days”.
Allies such as the United States, Britain, the Czech Republic and the Netherlands are increasing their supplies to Ukraine, while Germany is being criticized for refusing to supply heavy weapons directly to Ukrainians.
Much of the criticism has been leveled at Sholc, who has been called for to be more involved in armaments deliveries by even the Greens and Free Democrats (FDP), the government’s coalition partner.
However, the German government insists that after decades of chronic funding shortages, the German army is unable to send Ukraine all the weapons it requires.
In an interview with Der Spiegel, Scholch reaffirmed that the capacity of the Bundeswehr depots to supply weapons to Ukraine was “largely exhausted”.
“We will definitely deliver what is still available,” the chancellor promised, referring to anti-tank weapons and artillery ammunition.
Several SPD leaders have recently been criticized, most notably former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, who is lobbying for Russian gas and is closely linked to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
However, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier recently said that Ukraine had rejected his recent offer to pay a solidarity visit to Kiev.
Former Foreign Minister of the SPD Steinmeier has long advocated a policy of easing tensions with Moscow, focusing on trade ties.
In early April, however, he admitted his mistakes in relations with Russia, saying “trust [gāzesvadam] Nord Stream 2 was a clear mistake. We clung to the bridges that Russia no longer believed in and that our partners warned us about. “
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