Friedrich Merz, CDU Federal Chairman and CDU/CSU parliamentary group leader in the Bundestag, sits at the Bundestag during the ARD summer interview in Berlin, Germany, on July 14, 2024. (Michael Kappeler/picture alliance via Getty Images)
Published October 14, 2024
Friedrich Merz, an opposition candidate for the German chancellor, said he is open to supplying Taurus long-range missiles to Ukraine but under some conditions, N-TV reported on Oct. 14.
Despite providing extensive military aid to Kyiv, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has been adamant in his position not to approve the supply of the Taurus missiles, citing a fear of escalation.
“I wouldn’t do it just like that,” Merz said on the ARD channel regarding the supply of the Taurus missiles.
At first, there should be an appeal to Russian President Vladimir Putin to stop attacking civilian targets in Ukraine. If Moscow does not concede, Ukraine should be free to use already delivered weapons without restrictions, said the German opposition leader.
Merz is the parliamentary leader and chancellor candidate of the center-right CDU/CSU, which is leading the polls one year before the federal parliamentary elections. This makes him currently the most likely candidate to unseat social democrat Scholz.
“And the second step would be to supply the Taurus missiles. Then it is up to (Russian President Vladimir) Putin to decide how far he wants to escalate this war,” Merz said.
Taurus is a joint German-Swedish cruise missile with a range of over 500 kilometers (310 miles). It boasts a longer reach than missiles that Ukraine has received from other partners, such as the British-French-made SCALP/Storm Shadow and American ATACMS.
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SOURCE: www.kyivindependent.com
RELATED: Germany’s Scholz offers €1.4B in fresh military aid for Ukraine during Zelenskyy visit
The Ukrainian leader visited Berlin to present his peace plan to the German chancellor.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy was in Berlin to present his victory plan to Olaf Scholz and to persuade him to provide further military aid. | Sean Gallup/Getty Images
Published October 11, 2024
BERLIN — German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced fresh military aid for Ukraine along with support for the country’s heavily-damaged energy infrastructure during a visit by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Berlin on Friday.
“Germany is the strongest military supporter of Ukraine in Europe,” said Scholz, receiving Zelenskyy at the tail end of the Ukrainian leader’s tour of European capitals this week. “It will stay that way,” added Scholz. “I can assure you of that.”
The military aid totaling €1.4 billion was cobbled together from various sources, including unused federal cash and international fundraising initiatives. Scholz said Friday that Belgium, Denmark and Norway had also helped provide the new aid.
The package will include Skynex air defense systems, Gepard anti-aircraft guns, tanks and wheeled howitzers along with armored vehicles, drones, radar systems and artillery shells, Scholz said.
Some €170 million in funding for Ukraine’s energy system has also been pledged, Scholz said.
Zelenskyy was in Berlin to present his victory plan to Scholz and to persuade him to provide further military aid, which the Ukrainian leader says is needed to help force the Kremlin into peace negotiations. Over the previous 24 hours, Zelenskyy had also met the leaders of the United Kingdom, France and Italy, as well as NATO’s new secretary-general.
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SOURCE: www.politico.eu
