While there was anger in London, Paris was calmer about Scholz's comments despite broader friction between France and Germany over arming Ukraine. The government had no official comment, but MP Benjamin Haddad from President Emmanuel Macron's Renaissance party tweeted that the chancellor's comments created a "diplomatic crisis" with London. "Berlin is very isolated," he added.
"Looks like Scholz cares as little (or even less) for his U.K. allies as he does for the French. Silver lining nonetheless: he's unwittingly helping to break the taboo on the presence of NATO-member forces in Ukraine," tweeted François Heisbourg, a senior adviser with the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies.
UK Slams Scholz Over Claims Britain, France are Helping Ukraine Target Missiles – POLITICO
In withering criticism of Mr Scholz, Mr Wallace told The Standard: “Scholz’s behaviour has showed that as far as the security of Europe goes he is the wrong man, in the wrong job at the wrong time.”
Mr Wallace added: “Time and time again Germany has been last to help Ukraine. At every stage they have had to be pushed or embarrassed into doing anything. That isn’t leadership that is followship.
“Scholz‘s latest gaffe shows that when his excuses are exposed he lashes out with not only dangerous use of facts but also often wrong facts!”
In a terse statement, the Ministry of Defence in London said: “Ukraine’s use of Storm Shadow and its targeting processes are the business of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and has successfully put pressure on Russian forces.
