Commentators point out that Angela Merkel did not take the president of Ukraine seriously, and the Social Democratic Chancellor Olaf Scholz He treated him harshly. Merz, a politician of the Chadetic CDU party, is trying to change the course of abroad policy. He unexpectedly criticized Israel's ruthless conduct towards the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and accepted Zelenski with open arms. There was a warm atmosphere, both leaders were on ‘you’. Merz was expected to make an crucial decision. During a fresh visit to Kiev, the German Chancellor, as well as the leaders of France, large Britain and Poland, called on Russia to agree to a three-day truce and announced sanctions if not. Moscow ignored them – there are massive attacks of rockets and drones on Ukraine. Putin must so be punished, but without the support of the United States, European leaders do not know much how to do so.
Ukraine may attack
On May 26, Merz reported that "there are no longer any restrictions on the scope of weapons", that is, Ukraine may besides attack targets in Russia. However, it has been noted that so far Germany has not provided Ukraine with long-range systems and the Chancellor is giving a meaningless phrase. As opposition leader, Merz thundered from a platform in the Bundestag, demanding the release of the German Taurus maneuvering missiles to Ukraine. Chancellor Scholz was powerfully opposed. Now Merz is the head of state and in the substance of taurus he has changed his tone. During the visit, Zelenski tried to talk as small as possible about these missiles. This is besides due to the fact that he is at the head of the coalition government, which includes social democrats who are reluctant to deliver modern weapons to Kiev. On the evening of 28 May in an interview with the news of the second public tv program ZDF Merz explained that training Ukrainian soldiers in handling Taurus systems and delivering them would take six months or possibly even a year.
The Chancellor and the president agreed that Kiev and Berlin would establish a "armoured council", undertake "armoured cooperation" and "joint production" in Ukraine and Germany. Long-range weapons will be manufactured, with no restrictions imposed on the Ukrainian army. German technology will be utilized for production, and a cheaper Ukrainian labour force will come. Experts indicate that Kiev and Moscow are moving an arms race in the manufacture of rockets and drones. With German technology and financial support Ukraine can win this race. Merz announced that Germany would allocate EUR 5 million to military support for Kiev. It is simply a crucial amount, but the Ukrainian capital receives information that the defence budget lacks 24 billion dollars this year.
Zelenski will wait.
According to experts, it will take about 12 months before the fresh weapons are produced and delivered to the front, and these systems will be of lower quality than Taurus. Accompanying his president in Berlin, the Ukrainian Minister of Defence Rustem Dyingow announced the signing of a fresh contract worth €2.2 billion with German concern Diehl Defence for the transportation of additional IRIS-T air defence systems and applicable rocket missiles.
The Chancellor referred to media reports that Trump's administration had talks with Russia about the beginning of the Baltic gas pipeline Nord Stream 2 without the consent of Europeans. "I talk on behalf of the national Republic: we will do everything in this respect so that Nord Stream 2 cannot be restarted," said Merz.
Volodymyr Zelenski may be pleased with the visit, although not quite. Taurus, if they go to Ukraine, it's surely not fast. The president had to hurry back to his homeland due to the threat of the Moscow offensive in the Sumic region. Commentators point out that the current German government has lost all illusions towards Putin's government and will support Kiev more strongly. The German leaders presume that Moscow is stalling and that the war on exhaustion will proceed for a long time.
