Germany Selensky hopes for Taurus delivery from Merz
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi continues to hope for the delivery of long-range German Taurus cruise missiles.
02.04.2025, 05:19
SDA
"We will work on it," replied Selenskyj when asked whether he expected Friedrich Merz as Chancellor to make a quick decision. Discussions are underway, Selenskyj said at a meeting with acting Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) in Kiev on Tuesday.
However, he did not want to comment on details before Merz took office, Selenskyj added. When asked whether he hoped that Merz would decide to deliver Taurus, he said: "Yes, of course." It was even "a little bit more than hope".
Selensky also thanked Germany once again on Platform X for the billions in aid it has provided to Ukraine so far.
At the end of February, Merz had left open the question of whether the German government would supply the powerful Taurus cruise missile under his leadership. "Whether it will be the Taurus or a different system will have to be seen and agreed among the European allies," said Merz. At the same time, he warned at the time that Germany must not become a party to the war.
Baerbock left for Moldova in the evening after her farewell visit to Kiev. She promised the poor former Soviet republic European and German support against attempts by Russian President Vladimir Putin to exert influence ahead of the parliamentary elections there in the fall. With disinformation, fake news campaigns and vote-buying, Putin will "once again try to undermine democracy and freedom in Moldova", criticized the Green politician. The country is divided between pro-European and pro-Russian forces. Like Ukraine, Moldova has been a candidate for EU accession since 2022.
Selenskyj announces military meeting in Ukraine
Ukraine continues to hope for the deployment of European ground troops as a deterrent for Russia. Leading Western military leaders will be discussing this in the country this Friday, as Selensky said. There is a narrow circle of countries that are prepared to deploy contingents. Selensky had already announced a meeting at the level of the chiefs of staff of France, Great Britain and Ukraine last Friday, but did not give a date.
Previously, Paris and London in particular had declared their willingness to send troops to Ukraine to monitor a possible future ceasefire in the so-called "coalition of the willing". Russia categorically rejects the deployment of troops from NATO countries in Ukraine and warns against an escalation in the conflict. Germany is against sending troops to Ukraine.
Selenskyj: Talks on contingents and security
In his evening video message broadcast in Kiev, Selensky also spoke of plans for a new security architecture at the meeting on Friday. A joint concept for the issue of contingents was now being discussed.
The USA has also not yet officially taken the issue of a possible deployment of its troops in Ukraine after the end of the war off the agenda during talks.
According to CNN, a Kremlin adviser is expected in Washington this week for talks. It would be the first visit by a high-ranking Russian representative since the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine. According to CNN, it is said to be Kirill Dmitriev, the head of the Russian state investment fund. He is to meet with Trump envoy Steve Witkoff, among others.
Selenskyj demands new sanctions against Russia from the USA
During his meeting with Baerbock, Zelenskyi once again accused Russia of violating an agreed ceasefire in the energy sector. He expected a "serious demonstration of sanctions" from the USA, he said.
Ukraine sends information on Russia's violations to the USA on an almost daily basis, said Zelenskyi. The country had committed itself to "not firing missiles at energy facilities".
Moscow: Kiev's violations reported to the USA and UN
Moscow, on the other hand, claims to be complying with the agreement. The Russian leadership accuses Kiev of continuing to bomb Russian energy infrastructure. According to Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Russia handed over a list of Ukraine's violations of the agreed pause in attacks on energy facilities to the USA and the United Nations.
US President Trump and Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin had agreed in a telephone conversation on March 18 that Russia would no longer attack Ukrainian energy facilities. Putin announced that an order issued that night was still in force.
However, Russia has not agreed to a ceasefire at sea, on land and in the air, which was also proposed by the USA and supported by Ukraine. Putin is first demanding a solution to the fundamental causes of the war, including Ukraine's renunciation of NATO membership. Ukraine has been defending itself against the Russian war of aggression for more than three years with Western military aid.
