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Miami Herald
6 days ago
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Ukrainian President Zelensky visits Germany to talk defense against Russia
May 28 (UPI) -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky traveled to Germany Wednesday to discuss the state of German military support, which could include a delivery of powerful missiles to Ukraine for use against Russian targets. Zelensky and the Ukrainian delegation were welcomed by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz shortly after their arrival in Berlin, and Zelensky is also expected to meet with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. The visit takes place as speculation continues in regard to whether Germany will supply Ukraine with its Taurus cruise missiles, which can strike targets as far away as 300 miles. Merz had signaled before his ascension to chancellor that he would overturn a previous ban by his predecessor Olaf Scholz on the provision of such weaponry to Ukraine. Zelensky spoke with reporters Tuesday, and said he would discuss the issue of long-range missiles. The decision to provide the Taurus missiles remains officially unresolved as it has been a matter of contention between the conservative alliance of the Christian Democratic Union and Christian Social Union parties, and the Social Democratic Party, their coalition partners. However, Merz announced Monday that Germany would "do everything in our power to continue supporting Ukraine," and that "also means no longer having any range restrictions on the weapons we supply. Ukraine can now also defend itself by attacking military positions in Russia." Merz later explained the comment was in reference to actions taken months ago, and German Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil has since confirmed that no new decision in regard to the Taurus missile issue. Germany has previously provided Ukraine with two weapons systems capable of strikes within Russian borders, the Mars II rocket launchers and Panzerhaubitze 2000 self-propelled artillery, and range restrictions on their usage were lifted in May 2024. Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskovannounced Monday that European countries who lift restrictions on the range of provided armaments for use against Russia on Russian territory would be making a "rather dangerous decision." Zelensky posted to social media Tuesday that in an "extended meeting" with Ukrainian military leadership, they had discussed "preparing new agreements with our European partners in the near future, to attract investment into Ukrainian production," which "First and foremost," means "the production of unmanned systems and long-range capabilities," so that the military can "operate at significant distances." Copyright 2025 UPI News Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Ukrainian President Zelensky visits Germany to talk defense against Russia
May 28 (UPI) -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky traveled to Germany Wednesday to discuss the state of German military support, which could include a delivery of powerful missiles to Ukraine for use against Russian targets. Zelensky and the Ukrainian delegation were welcomed by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz shortly after their arrival in Berlin, and Zelensky is also expected to meet with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. The visit takes place as speculation continues in regard to whether Germany will supply Ukraine with its Taurus cruise missiles, which can strike targets as far away as 300 miles. Merz had signaled before his ascension to chancellor that he would overturn a previous ban by his predecessor Olaf Scholz on the provision of such weaponry to Ukraine. Zelensky spoke with reporters Tuesday, and said he would discuss the issue of long-range missiles. The decision to provide the Taurus missiles remains officially unresolved as it has been a matter of contention between the conservative alliance of the Christian Democratic Union and Christian Social Union parties, and the Social Democratic Party, their coalition partners. However, Merz announced Monday that Germany would "do everything in our power to continue supporting Ukraine," and that "also means no longer having any range restrictions on the weapons we supply. Ukraine can now also defend itself by attacking military positions in Russia." Merz later explained the comment was in reference to actions taken months ago, and German Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil has since confirmed that no new decision in regard to the Taurus missile issue. Germany has previously provided Ukraine with two weapons systems capable of strikes within Russian borders, the Mars II rocket launchers and Panzerhaubitze 2000 self-propelled artillery, and range restrictions on their usage were lifted in May 2024. Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced Monday that European countries who lift restrictions on the range of provided armaments for use against Russia on Russian territory would be making a "rather dangerous decision." Zelensky posted to social media Tuesday that in an "extended meeting" with Ukrainian military leadership, they had discussed "preparing new agreements with our European partners in the near future, to attract investment into Ukrainian production," which "First and foremost," means "the production of unmanned systems and long-range capabilities," so that the military can "operate at significant distances."
UPI
7 days ago
- Politics
- UPI
Ukrainian President Zelensky visits Germany to talk defense against Russia
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Berlin Wednesday to talk defense against Russia with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Photo by Clemens Bilan/EPA-EFE May 28 (UPI) -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky traveled to Germany Wednesday to discuss the state of German military support, which could include a delivery of powerful missiles to Ukraine for use against Russian targets. Zelensky and the Ukrainian delegation were welcomed by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz shortly after their arrival in Berlin, and Zelensky is also expected to meet with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. The visit takes place as speculation continues in regard to whether Germany will supply Ukraine with its Taurus cruise missiles, which can strike targets as far away as 300 miles. Merz had signaled before his ascension to chancellor that he would overturn a previous ban by his predecessor Olaf Scholz on the provision of such weaponry to Ukraine. Zelensky spoke with reporters Tuesday, and said he would discuss the issue of long-range missiles. The decision to provide the Taurus missiles remains officially unresolved as it has been a matter of contention between the conservative alliance of the Christian Democratic Union and Christian Social Union parties, and the Social Democratic Party, their coalition partners. However, Merz announced Monday that Germany would "do everything in our power to continue supporting Ukraine," and that "also means no longer having any range restrictions on the weapons we supply. Ukraine can now also defend itself by attacking military positions in Russia." Merz later explained the comment was in reference to actions taken months ago, and German Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil has since confirmed that no new decision in regard to the Taurus missile issue. Germany has previously provided Ukraine with two weapons systems capable of strikes within Russian borders, the Mars II rocket launchers and Panzerhaubitze 2000 self-propelled artillery, and range restrictions on their usage were lifted in May 2024. Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced Monday that European countries who lift restrictions on the range of provided armaments for use against Russia on Russian territory would be making a "rather dangerous decision." Zelensky posted to social media Tuesday that in an "extended meeting" with Ukrainian military leadership, they had discussed "preparing new agreements with our European partners in the near future, to attract investment into Ukrainian production," which "First and foremost," means "the production of unmanned systems and long-range capabilities," so that the military can "operate at significant distances."
Local Germany
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Local Germany
Law to end Germany's 'turbo naturalisations' moves forward
Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt will present the first draft laws to limit migration and tighten Germany's naturalisation laws to the cabinet on Wednesday. A draft law which would repeal the three-year fast track to citizenship for well-integrated foreign residents is expected to pass. The conservative Union parties refer to the three-year citizenship process as "turbo naturalisations", and plan to ban them in the future. According to the draft law , its aim is to "strengthen the importance of lawfully completed residence in Germany as a central and essential prerequisite for naturalisation." The end of turbo citizenship The three-year track for naturalisation had been introduced last year as part of a sweeping reform of Germany's citizenship rules. READ ALSO: Requirements, costs and permits - 6 essential articles for German citizenship It enabled immigrants with at least C1 German and "special achievements" in work, education or society to apply for naturalisation after three years of residence in the country. However, in most cases foreign nationals needed to reside in the country on a valid residence permit for at least five years to be eligible to become a German citizen. That requirement would not be changed by the current draft law, but would become the norm, regardless of applicants' integration level. So the change effectively means that even exceptionally integrated immigrants will have to reside in Germany for at least five years before applying to naturalise in the future. Other basic requirements for naturalisation -- such as speaking B1 level German, passing a knowledge test and demonstrating the ability to support yourself financially -- would remain unchanged. According to information published by immigration lawyer Gökhan Akbaş , it's currently unknown if there will be a transition period during which fast track citizenship applications that have already been submitted can be approved. Akbaş suggests that applicants in this position may want to bring an action for failure to act ( Untätigkeitsklage ) to try and force a decision before the change is set. READ ALSO: Does hiring a lawyer speed up your German citizenship application? Advertisement Dual citizenship remains Germany's conservative parties -- the Christian Democrat Union and Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU) -- which now lead the federal government coalition, had previously campaigned on the intention to undo dual citizenship and other naturalisation reforms that had passed in 2024 by the former government. At the beginning of the year, when asked about dual citizenship, CDU leader and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said, "We are bringing additional problems into the country." Taking their opposition to the citizenship reforms even further, members of the CSU in Bavaria had called for returning to an eight-year residence requirement . However, the Union parties have softened their tone since forming a coalition pact with the centre-left Social Democrat party (SPD). The SPD was the leading party of the former traffic light coalition government which brought the reforms which reduced the residence requirement for citizenship from eight years to five (and three in some cases). Now it appears that dual citizenship, and the possibility of naturalisation after five years, is set to remain under the current government. Advertisement 'Reducing the pull factors to Germany' Along with the end of 'turbo naturalisation', Interior Minister Dobrindt is set to introduce another draft law on Wednesday that would suspend family reunification for refugees. The SPD had agreed to both changes in their coalition negotiations. The suspension of family reunification affects people who do not receive asylum in Germany, but are still allowed to stay due to threats of political persecution, torture or the death penalty in their home countries. They would not be allowed to bring family members to Germany for two years, although hardship cases are exempt. Speaking to Bild Dobrindt said: "We have to significantly reduce the pull factors to Germany. This is another way to show that migration policy in Germany has changed." READ ALSO: Which breaches of German residency rules can result in fines or prison time? Germany's black-red coalition suggests it will work to ensure that Germany remains an attractive place for skilled worker immigrants, but critics suggest that it's anti-immigration policies are jeopardising the country's attractiveness for foreigners. The Green parties interior politician, Schahina Gambir, told DPA, "The new federal government is relying on symbolic politics at the expense of the policy is immoral, it drives a wedge into social cohesion." With reporting by DPA.
Muscat Daily
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Muscat Daily
Germany cracks down on immigration at border
Berlin, Germany – In the Bavarian town of Kiefersfelden, on the border with Austria in the foothills of the Alps, new Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt stood in the rain as he discussed the government's immigration policy. Dobrindt, of the conservative Christian Social Union (CSU), had stepped up the border controls a week earlier. Germany's conservative Christian Democrats (CDU) and its Bavarian sister party the CSU declared war on illegal immigration during the federal election campaign earlier this year, and now they want to deliver. Unlike in the past, asylum-seekers will also be turned back at the border. Only 'vulnerable' individuals, such as pregnant women and children, will not be refused. For years, anyone who made it to Germany, by whatever means, and declared that they wanted to apply for asylum were allowed to enter the country while their application was processed. Now, things are different. When asked by DW what would now change in concrete terms, Dobrindt replied: 'I want to say to all those who think they can make money from people's suffering by trying to smuggle people into another country that we are doing everything we can to stop these criminal activities.' The CSU politician added, almost proudly, that since the new coalition government of the CDU/CSU and the centre-left Social Democratic Party (SPD) under Chancellor Friedrich Merz took office in early May, 739 attempts to enter the country illegally had been thwarted by Thursday, an increase of 45% on the previous week. This was only possible, said Dobrindt, because an additional 3,000 federal police officers had been assigned to duty at the border, with the numbers up from 11,000 to 14,000. Time and time again, Dobrindt has used the vocabulary of criminal people smugglers and illegal migration. The new crackdown on immigration is also a final reckoning with the policies of former Chancellor Angela Merkel. In 2015 and 2016 in particular, her government allowed many hundreds of thousands of refugees from Syria, Afghanistan and other African countries into the country and coined the phrase 'We can do this!'. In his government statement earlier this week, Merz emphasised almost reassuringly that Germany would remain a country of immigration. But with regard to the police officers, Dobrindt put it in somewhat more complicated terms in Kiefersfelden, saying that officers would now ensure that in the 'combination of humanity and order', more attention would now be paid to 'order'. To this end, more drones, more thermal imaging cameras and helicopters are now being used. During the election campaign, Merz promised that he would change the immigration policy on his first day in office. This is also certainly because of the electoral successes of the far-right, anti-immigration Alternative for Germany (AfD). However, the new German tone on immigration is not going down well everywhere. Right at the start of his term of office, Merz learned during his visit to Polish President Donald Tusk in Warsaw that his eastern neighbour wants to combat illegal immigration on the EU's external borders, not the German-Polish border. Tusk told Merz directly that Poland would not take in any refugees from Germany. 'The AfD, that's your problem, Mr Chancellor,' Tusk added. To which Merz replied: 'We want to continue to develop European immigration and asylum policy together and we will also carry out border controls in a way that is acceptable to our neighbours.' During the election campaign, Merz announced that he wanted to limit the number of refugees to 100,000 people per year. Last year, 229,751 people applied for asylum in Germany for the first time – significantly fewer than in 2015, when around one million people came to Germany. But still, that's almost two and a half times as many as Merz would like in future. DW
