NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to stop criticizing German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
In an interview with the German news agency dpa on Monday, Rutte revealed that he had repeatedly advised Zelenskyy to cease criticizing Scholz. He explained that, given Germany’s support for Ukraine, he believes such criticism is unfair and unproductive.
Rutte highlighted that Germany, under Chancellor Scholz, is the second-largest military contributor to Ukraine, following the United States. “This is an achievement for which Kyiv can be grateful,” Rutte emphasized. It’s worth noting that Rutte’s decision to discuss his private conversations with Zelenskyy publicly is unusual and underscores the seriousness of the situation.
Zelenskyy’s criticism of Scholz intensified after it was revealed that the German leader had spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin last month, an act that Zelenskyy viewed as undermining efforts to isolate Russia. In a speech to the European Parliament in November, which marked the 1,000th day of Russia’s invasion, Zelenskyy argued, “While some European leaders are thinking about elections and other matters, Putin remains focused on winning this war.” Though he did not directly name Scholz, his comments were widely interpreted as a subtle criticism, particularly in light of Scholz’s announcement to call for a vote of confidence and early elections in the Bundestag following the collapse of his coalition government.
Zelenskyy has also expressed ongoing frustration over Germany’s reluctance to provide the Taurus cruise missiles that Ukraine has requested. In his recent interview, Rutte acknowledged the importance of such weapons for Ukraine’s defense, stating, “In general, we know that such capabilities are very important for Ukraine.” However, Rutte reiterated that the decision on what weapons NATO member states provide is ultimately up to each individual country, a matter beyond his authority as NATO’s head.