Latest news with #DieZeit
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
German chancellor says war in Ukraine still far from over
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz does not expect the war in Ukraine to end soon. Source: Merz, after a meeting with Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo in Turku, quoted by Die Zeit, a German national weekly newspaper, as European Pravda reports Details: Merz noted that wars usually end in economic or military exhaustion of one or both sides. "In this war, we are obviously far from that," the German chancellor said. Merz accused Russia of being unwilling to negotiate. He said that if the Russian government is not ready to accept Vatican mediation, it means that Russia is not interested in a truce or peace agreement. As a result, "we have to further strengthen our efforts so that Ukraine can defend itself," Merz said. He also announced his intention to increase pressure on Russia. "We are under threat, and we will defend ourselves," he said. Background: On Monday, Merz said that Germany, France, the United Kingdom and the United States had lifted all restrictions on Ukraine regarding the range of strikes. On Tuesday, he clarified that his statement did not refer to a new decision but described what happened several months ago. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Restrictions on striking deep into Russia lifted for Ukraine several months ago
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has clarified his statement on allowing Ukraine to strike deep into Russia during a visit to Finland on Tuesday, noting that the US, the UK, France and Germany had lifted restrictions on Ukraine's long-range strikes against Russia several months ago. Source: European Pravda; Die Zeit, a German national weekly newspaper Quote: "In this sense, I described yesterday in Berlin what has been happening for several months," Merz said. Details: Merz said that his statement about lifting the range limit on Ukraine's use of Western weapons referred to a decision made some time ago. Merz said during a visit to the Finnish city of Turku that this topic "played a role a few months and a few years ago". The German chancellor said that Ukraine should also have the right to use weapons against military targets in Russia. Background: Current Chancellor Friedrich Merz, leader of the conservative CDU party, stated on 26 May that there are no longer "any restrictions" on long-range strikes using weapons supplied to Ukraine by the UK, France, Germany and the US. German Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil said that there had been no new agreements in the government coalition to change course on lifting restrictions on long-range strikes by Ukraine on Russian territory. The only long-range German weapon that Ukraine is asking for from Germany is Taurus missiles. In the past, Merz has expressed support for supplying Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine, but he has made no comments regarding possible deliveries of these missiles to Kyiv since coming to power in early May. Meanwhile, Merz's government has decided to limit public information about which weapon systems it will supply to Ukraine. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
German Chancellor Merz 'very sceptical' about banning far-right AfD
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Thursday said he was "very sceptical" about mounting calls to ban the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), after domestic intelligence classified the party as "confirmed right-wing extremist." Merz told Die Zeit weekly that it must be proven that a group was "aggressively" fighting against the country's free democratic order for it to be banned. "And the burden of proof lies solely with the state." Germany's domestic intelligence agency, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), upgraded its classification of the AfD - now the second-largest party in the German parliament - from "suspected" to "confirmed" right-wing extremist on May 2. But after the anti-immigrant AfD took legal steps against the move, the agency later suspended its decision until a court settles the party's lawsuit. The classification of the AfD as a confirmed extremist organization, which would give the intelligence service broader surveillance powers over the party, has sparked renewed debate on whether the German parliament should move to ban it. A ban of a political party must be requested by one of Germany's houses of parliament or the government itself before a formal decision by the country's Constitutional Court. But Merz said he had "always resisted the idea of pursuing a ban" from within parliament. "To me, it smacks too much of eliminating political rivals," he added.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Chief of Zelenskyy's office: Ukraine is ready for peace talks only after full ceasefire
Andrii Yermak, Head of the Ukrainian President's Office, has said that Ukraine is ready for peace negotiations, but only after a complete ceasefire. He added that some issues would have to be discussed with Russia. Source: Yermak in an interview with German newspaper Die Zeit, quoted on his Telegram Quote: "…I said that we want peace, but its achievement does not depend solely on us. If everything depended on Ukraine, this war would have ended long ago. But the reality is that Russia shows no genuine desire to stop its aggression. Over 50 days ago, President Trump proposed a complete 30-day ceasefire – we agreed. Russia responded with a three-day 'Victory Day truce'. We are ready for negotiations. But only after a full ceasefire. This is the position of Ukraine, the United States and our European partners. We do not trade our independence. Our red lines are the Constitution, international law and the UN Charter. We will never recognise the occupation of our territories. However, we are realists: we understand that some issues will have to be discussed at the negotiating table. We are ready for this – if Russia comes to the table as well." Details: Yermak stressed that Ukraine had proven itself a responsible and constructive partner. In particular, it has signed a historic agreement with the United States, which Yermak called "the foundation of future security through the economy". "Ukraine continues to fight. Because we have no other country. And we have the strength to win not only the war – but also the peace," he added. Background: US Vice President JD Vance said that the US would like the Russians and Ukrainians to agree on some basic principles in order to start negotiations. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Russia Today
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
German opposition proposes replacement for NATO
Germany's Left Party co-leader Jan van Aken has called for NATO to be replaced with a new security alliance involving both Russia and the United States, arguing that the US-led military bloc 'has no future.'In an interview with Die Zeit published on Saturday, van Aken said the party continues to support its 2011 national platform, which called for Germany to exit NATO and help create a new collective security system.'We never wanted to abolish NATO without replacement but rather replace it with a cooperative security system,' van Aken said when asked whether Germany and its European allies could defend themselves without US support. He proposed a new model similar to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), focusing on peacekeeping and joint defense.'Something like OECD 2.0. A peace and defense alliance, together with Russia and the US. But of course, if we were to rebuild it, it would certainly require another ten years of confidence-building measures. NATO would still exist that long, but it no longer has a future,' he stated. Van Aken also called for the withdrawal of US troops stationed in Germany. 'Yes, and they should take their nuclear weapons with them,' he said, noting that nuclear stockpiles in France and the UK are already 'more than enough.'The politician confirmed that the vision of a demilitarized Europe remains central to the party's agenda. 'Of course I want to live in a country without an army. Don't you?' he month, Germany unveiled a new military aid package for Ukraine, including vehicles, air-defense rockets, and howitzers. Incoming Chancellor Friedrich Merz has indicated support for supplying Ukraine with Taurus cruise missiles capable of striking deep into Russian territory. The Social Democrats, who are holding coalition talks with Merz's Christian Democrats, have opposed the move as a needless has warned that delivering the missiles would make Germany directly involved in the conflict, arguing that Ukrainian forces cannot operate the Taurus without the help of German personnel.
