German Chancellor Olaf Scholz made a surprise visit to Ukraine, addressing key demands from Kyiv, including the supply of Taurus long-range missiles and accelerating its NATO membership. While Scholz pledged continued support for Ukraine’s fight against Russia, he declined to provide Taurus missiles, citing the need to balance support for Ukraine with avoiding escalation.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy indicated that NATO membership could end the war in Ukraine, with some Western nations permitting Kyiv to carry out long-range strikes with provided weapons. However, Russian President Putin recently launched an intermediate-range ballistic missile at Ukraine, marking a significant escalation.
Scholz has been cautious about fast-tracking Ukraine’s NATO membership, emphasizing the importance of peace and not deciding Ukraine’s path without its consent. Germany has already provided significant military aid to Ukraine and plans further deliveries in the future.
During the visit, Zelenskyy highlighted ongoing Russian attacks on Ukraine’s civilians and infrastructure, calling for increased Western support and additional air defence systems. The visit comes after tensions over Scholz’s call with Putin, which Zelenskyy criticized for potentially undermining international unity in supporting Ukraine.
Overall, Scholz’s visit to Ukraine aimed to reaffirm support for Kyiv while navigating delicate diplomatic waters to prevent further conflict escalation. The visit included meetings with wounded soldiers and a showcase of domestically produced drones in Ukraine.
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