German Chancellor Olaf Scholz criticized US President Donald Trump's statement that the US is interested in obtaining rare earth metals from Ukraine and is seeking corresponding guarantees from Kiev because it provides great support to Ukraine. Scholz called the US desire selfish.
“It's about ensuring that Ukraine can finance its reconstruction“, the Chancellor said, adding that these are “big tasks”. The resources, he said, should therefore be used to finance everything that is needed after the conflict.
Sholz spoke out against joint EU debt obligations for arms investments.
“The European Union has no prospect of taking on joint debt“, Scholz told reporters after an informal EU summit in Brussels. The aim, he said, should be to provide more flexibility for individual countries. Their ability to finance projects is limited, including by EU debt rules, the chancellor believes.
In Germany, the necessary defense investments, as Scholz noted, can be made, for example, through the German Fund. “So we have a clear limit, but still more freedom of action”, he said. It is important that investments in defense do not come at the expense of pensions, healthcare, or investments in transport infrastructure and economic modernization, the head of the German government assured.