Latest news with #Bundesregierung
LBCI
2 days ago
- Politics
- LBCI
German Defense Minister in Kyiv on visit
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius arrived in Kyiv on Thursday for a visit, a spokesman in his ministry told AFP, amid stalled peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia. The spokesman did not provide details on the visit, which came a day after Russian strikes on Ukraine's northeastern city of Kharkiv killed three people and wounded 60 others. AFP
Russia Today
17-05-2025
- Business
- Russia Today
Germany cuts tax estimates by over €33 billion
Germany's tax income is projected to drop by billions of euros over the next four years, according to figures released by the country's Council of Economic Experts earlier this week. The forecast cut reflects the economy's sluggish performance and a major tax relief package included in the federal government's budget bill. The federal government alone is expected to collect €33.3 billion ($37.3 billion) less in tax revenue over the five years through 2029, according to estimates published on Thursday. This year, tax income is projected to fall €600 million short of previous expectations, with a significantly larger shortfall of €10.2 billion anticipated in 2026. A slight improvement in tax revenues is expected from 2027 onward. Overall, tax revenues are forecast to fall short by an average of around €16 billion annually compared to the October 2024 estimate, the Finance Ministry said in a statement, adding that the federal government is expected to face an average annual shortfall of about €7 billion. 'The economy remains in turbulent waters,' Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil said in response to the updated outlook, stressing that boosting revenues through higher economic growth 'is the only way to gain new financial leeway.' Klingbeil, who also serves as vice chancellor, acknowledged that the latest revenue figures will complicate efforts to finalize the new government's budgets for this year and next. The federal government ran out of time to pass the 2025 budget after former Chancellor Olaf Scholz's coalition collapsed in November 2024, forcing the country to operate under a provisional budget since the beginning of the year. Earlier this week, Klingbeil announced that a revised version of the 2025 draft budget would be presented for cabinet approval by the end of June. The bill will include tax relief for companies to spur growth and legislation to establish a €500 billion infrastructure fund. The draft 2026 budget is expected to follow soon after. Germany is the only G7 economy to register no growth over the past two years, making the revival of its sluggish economy a top priority for the new government. According to the International Monetary Fund, Germany is projected to remain at the bottom of the G7 in 2025, with just 0.1% growth.
GMA Network
16-05-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
Ukraine rallies allies after first talks with Russia in years yield no ceasefire
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer, France's President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk speak with U.S. President Donald Trump on the phone during the European Political Community Summit inTirana, Albania May 16, 2025. Steffen Kugler/Bundesregierung/Handout via REUTERS ISTANBUL —Ukraine rallied its Western allies on Friday after Kyiv and Moscow failed to agree to a ceasefire at their first direct talks in three years, with Russia presenting conditions that a Ukrainian source said went beyond its previous demands. Under pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump to end the conflict, delegates from the warring countries met for the first time since March 2022, the month after Russia invaded its neighbour. The talks in an Istanbul palace lasted well under two hours, and there was no immediate announcement on whether or when the sides might meet again. Russia expressed satisfaction with the talks and both countries said they had agreed to exchange 1,000 prisoners of war from each side. But Kyiv, which wants the West to impose tighter sanctions unless Moscow accepts a proposal from Trump for a 30-day ceasefire, immediately began rallying its allies for tougher action. As soon as the talks ended, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy held a phone call with Trump and the leaders of France, Germany and Poland, Zelenskiy's spokesperson said. Russia's demands were "detached from reality and go far beyond anything that was previously discussed," a source in the Ukrainian delegation told Reuters. The source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Moscow had issued ultimatums for Ukraine to withdraw from parts of its own territory in order to obtain a ceasefire "and other non-starters and non-constructive conditions". British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the Russian position was unacceptable and that European leaders, Ukraine and the U.S. were "closely aligning" their responses. Zelenskiy said robust sanctions should follow if Russia rejected a ceasefire. Expectations for a major breakthrough, already low, were dented further on Thursday when Trump, winding up a Middle East tour, said there would be no movement without a meeting between himself and Russia's President Vladimir Putin. Zelenskiy said Kyiv's top priority was "a full, unconditional and honest ceasefire... to stop the killing and create a solid basis for diplomacy". He said that if Russia refused, it should be hit with strong new sanctions against its energy sector and banks. Russia says it wants to end the war by diplomatic means and is ready to discuss a ceasefire. But it has raised a list of questions and concerns, saying Ukraine could use a pause to rest its forces, mobilise extra troops and acquire more western weapons. Ukraine and its allies accuse Putin of stalling, and say he is not serious about wanting peace. Two paths Both sides are under pressure from Trump to end Europe's deadliest conflict since World War Two. The delegates were seated opposite each other, with the Russians in suits and half of the Ukrainians wearing camouflage military fatigues. "There are two paths ahead of us: one road will take us on a process that will lead to peace, while the other will lead to more destruction and death. The sides will decide on their own, with their own will, which path they choose," Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told them at the start of the meeting. The Ukrainian source said the Ukrainians spoke in their own language, although Russian is widely spoken and understood in Ukraine.—Reuters
