German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has rejected a US-backed clause to invite Russia back into the G8, signaling there will be no return to “business as usual” with Moscow while its war on Ukraine continues.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz confirmed that Ukraine will receive long-range weapons systems from Berlin but refused to answer whether those systems include Taurus cruise missiles, citing the need to keep Moscow guessing about Western military support.
The German military can only shoot down drones over military bases under current law rooted in preventing abuse of German military power, while recent incursions over civilian airports and NATO facilities have exposed the limitations of restrictions.
Chancellor Merz said Germany backs Ukraine not just for Kyiv, but to protect European security and its own freedoms, as cyberattacks, sabotage, and Russian drone incursions signal a growing hybrid threat.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived by helicopter at the German chancellery for a videoconference with Donald Trump and European leaders, one day before the US president's planned summit with Vladimir Putin in Alaska
German Chancellor will come to the White House on 5 June, sitting down with US President to discuss Ukraine aid, Middle East policy, and trade disputes that have strained transatlantic ties.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Berlin on 28 May as Germany's new chancellor considers reversing his predecessor's ban on Taurus missile deliveries.
Newly elected German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has announced plans to visit Ukraine soon as he pushes for a lasting ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia.