Latest news with #RTL
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Zelenskyy on transfer of Taurus to Ukraine: All discussions are confidential
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has hinted that dialogue on Taurus missiles between Ukraine and Germany is ongoing, but made it clear that all discussions are confidential and behind the scenes. Source: European Pravda; Zelenskyy in an interview with the German RTL TV channel Details: Commenting on the issue of possible deliveries of these long-range cruise missiles, Zelenskyy said, "We are working in this direction". "There are certain topics that Chancellor Friedrich Merz and I have agreed not to discuss in public. I promised him this, and I am keeping my promise," said Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Merz, for his part, stated that he did not rule out supplying cruise missiles "within the realms of possibility". Background: Previously, Merz supported supplying Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine. However, when the Merz government came to power in early May, it decided to limit public information on what weapons systems it would supply. Germany's ruling CDU/CSU bloc is increasingly calling for Taurus missiles to be delivered to Ukraine. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Zelensky says he spoke to Merz about Taurus long-range missiles
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky discussed the possible delivery of German Taurus cruise missiles to his country with Chancellor Friedrich Merz during his visit to Berlin. "The Taurus issue was discussed in a one-to-one meeting between the Chancellor and me," he told the German broadcaster RTL. Work is being done in this direction, but both agreed not to discuss the matter publicly in the future, Zelensky said, vowing he would adhere to this promise. Ukraine has been defending itself against a full-scale Russian invasion for more than three years. It particularly lacks long-range weapons to destroy strategically important military installations in the Russian hinterland and Russian war logistics. So far, Ukraine has received ATACMS missiles from the United States and the Storm Shadow/SCALP cruise missiles from the UK and France. In Germany, there has been an ongoing discussion about delivering Taurus cruise missiles with a range of about 500 kilometres, as requested by Kiev. Former chancellor Olaf Scholz consistently rejected this, out of concern that it would make Germany a party to the war. Merz did not want to rule out the delivery of Taurus missiles in the future. However, it was agreed in Berlin that Germany would assist Ukraine in building its own long-range missiles.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Zelenskyy Calls for Increased Pressure on Russia
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for increased international pressure on Russia after a meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin where the leaders announced plans for Ukraine and Germany to jointly produce long-range weapons boosting Ukraine's ability to fight. "There is not enough pressure," Zelenskyy told German broadcaster RTL on May 28, criticizing what he sees as insufficient commitment from global powers. "The United States is involved, but not 100 percent. Other countries, like China and those from the Global South, are holding back," he said. Zelenskyy also suggested a lasting peace may only be possible once Russian President Vladimir Putin is no longer in power. "We will have a just peace, but likely only after Putin," he said. Zelenskyy earlier on May 28 accused Russia of stalling diplomatic efforts to achieve a cease-fire. "They (Russians) will constantly look for reasons not to end the war," Zelenskyy said at a joint news conference with Merz, adding "you can see what Putin is doing" and referring to "mass drone attacks every night." The air strikes launched on Kyiv and other cities and regions in recent days "are not the language of peace," said Merz. "They are a slap in the face for everyone who is working for peace, in Ukraine, in Europe, and in the United States," he added. He said Germany would help Ukraine develop its own long-range missile systems that would be free of any Western-imposed limitations on their use and targets. Merz said that under an intensified cooperation agreement, Germany "will strive to equip the Ukrainian Army with all the capabilities that truly enable it to successfully defend the country," including upgraded domestic missile production. "Ukraine will be able to fully defend itself, including against military targets outside its own territory" with its own missiles, Merz said at a joint news conference. Germany is the second-biggest individual supplier of military aid to Ukraine after the United States. But some of the advanced weapon systems have been subject to range and target restrictions over fears the Kremlin might retaliate against the country that provided the weapons and draw NATO into Europe's biggest conflict since World War II. Later on May 28, Merz told German public broadcaster ZDF that he wouldn't rule it out sending German-made Taurus cruise missiles -- a long-range weapon that Zelenskyy has asked for -- but said it would not help Ukraine now because it would take months for Ukrainian troops to learn to use the system. That's why Germany is improving its military cooperation and support with Ukraine now, he said. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov criticized the announcement on weapons production cooperation between Germany and Ukraine. Germany is on the same path that it moved down "a couple of times in the last century," leading to its collapse, Lavrov said on Telegram. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul responded by saying that Russia should not be able to dictate whether Ukraine's allies provide help in producing long-range weapons. "The reality is that Russia is not provoking a war but conducting a war day by day without any right and violating international rights, so we are not in a position that Moscow has [to] educate us on international war or what we are allowed to do," Wadephul said in an interview with CNN on May 28. "We stand with Ukraine as long as Ukraine has to defend itself, its territory, its people, and the international law against the Russian aggression," he said, adding that Germany agrees with many of its partners, especially in Eastern Europe, that "we will not have security in Europe with Russia but only against Russia." By RFE/RL More Top Reads From this article on
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Yahoo
French adult-only holidays at risk as campaign launches to end child ‘intolerance'
Adult-only hotels and facilities could be under threat in France after a new campaign against the 'no kids trend' accuses them of dividing society and excluding children. The push to end adults-only travel and tourism comes amid a dispute over whether intolerance is growing against children in France. This has been seen in groups such as the French Federation of Nurseries, which has campaigned for children's right "to make noise". France's high commissioner for childhood, Sarah El Haïry, held a roundtable on Tuesday (May 27) with key players from the tourism and travel industry to discuss adult-only policies, as some politicians call for child-free spaces to be banned. "There is a growing intolerance, and we must not allow it to take hold," Ms El Haïry told broadcaster RTL. "Children and families are being pushed out and, in a way, this is real violence being experienced.' "It's not in our culture, it's not our philosophy, and it's not what we want to see as the norm in our country." 'A child shouts, laughs and moves … we are institutionalising the idea that silence is a luxury and the absence of children is a luxury,' she added to radio station RFI, according to The Times. The move against adult-only hotels, restaurants and other facilities is not aimed at couples who choose to remain childless, but at adults who do not want to be disturbed by children, she said. Ms El Haïry also said children are being put 'in front of a cartoon' on public transport due to people complaining about noisy children, putting pressure on parents to keep them quiet. The commissioner added that lawyers are mulling over whether it would be feasible to take legal action against establishments that do not allow children. However, some lawyers say that there is no need for a new bill because they argue adult-only spaces could already be breaching laws that prohibit discrimination against 'origin, gender, family situation or age,' The Times reports. While the Travel Companies Union roughly estimates that only three per cent of commercial offers are adult-only facilities, this is not the first time French officials have tried to end no-children zones. Socialist senator Laurence Rossignol introduced a bill a year ago that would make it illegal to ban children from venues in France. Ms Rossignol said at the time that the bill is aimed at promoting "a society that is open to children". The senator's bill proposed that "the exclusion of minors from living spaces, public spaces, commercial spaces, transport and any other exclusion that is not justified by safety requirements specific to children or by the lack of civil capacity also constitutes discrimination'. Ms Rossignol also responded to Ms El Haïry 's anti-adult-only campaign on X, stating: 'A year ago, when Ms El Haïry was Minister for Children, and to the utmost indifference of the government, I tabled a bill against no-kids places. 'I welcome her awareness. And if she wants to act, she should have this bill examined by Parliament.' While the socialist senator "is pleased that the government is taking up the issue', she doubts "the ability of commerce to self-regulate without a law that imposes a minimum requirement," and is therefore calling on the government to put its bill on the agenda of the Senate or the National Assembly. "We cannot allow our society to be organised around our intolerance of others, where people organise themselves to keep their distance from anyone who does not fit into their idea of their neighbours," she added in a statement on Wednesday.
The Independent
2 days ago
- Lifestyle
- The Independent
French adult-only holidays at risk as campaign launches to end child ‘intolerance'
Adult-only hotels and facilities could be under threat in France after a new campaign against the 'no kids trend' accuses them of dividing society and excluding children. The push to end adults-only travel and tourism comes amid a dispute over whether intolerance is growing against children in France. This has been seen in groups such as the French Federation of Nurseries, which has campaigned for children's right "to make noise". France's high commissioner for childhood, Sarah El Haïry, held a roundtable on Tuesday (May 27) with key players from the tourism and travel industry to discuss adult-only policies, as some politicians call for child-free spaces to be banned. "There is a growing intolerance, and we must not allow it to take hold," Ms El Haïry told broadcaster RTL. "Children and families are being pushed out and, in a way, this is real violence being experienced.' "It's not in our culture, it's not our philosophy, and it's not what we want to see as the norm in our country." 'A child shouts, laughs and moves … we are institutionalising the idea that silence is a luxury and the absence of children is a luxury,' she added to radio station RFI, according to The Times. The move against adult-only hotels, restaurants and other facilities is not aimed at couples who choose to remain childless, but at adults who do not want to be disturbed by children, she said. Ms El Haïry also said children are being put 'in front of a cartoon' on public transport due to people complaining about noisy children, putting pressure on parents to keep them quiet. The commissioner added that lawyers are mulling over whether it would be feasible to take legal action against establishments that do not allow children. However, some lawyers say that there is no need for a new bill because they argue adult-only spaces could already be breaching laws that prohibit discrimination against 'origin, gender, family situation or age,' The Times reports. While the Travel Companies Union roughly estimates that only three per cent of commercial offers are adult-only facilities, this is not the first time French officials have tried to end no-children zones. Socialist senator Laurence Rossignol introduced a bill a year ago that would make it illegal to ban children from venues in France. Ms Rossignol said at the time that the bill is aimed at promoting "a society that is open to children". The senator's bill proposed that "the exclusion of minors from living spaces, public spaces, commercial spaces, transport and any other exclusion that is not justified by safety requirements specific to children or by the lack of civil capacity also constitutes discrimination'. Ms Rossignol also responded to Ms El Haïry 's anti-adult-only campaign on X, stating: 'A year ago, when Ms El Haïry was Minister for Children, and to the utmost indifference of the government, I tabled a bill against no-kids places. 'I welcome her awareness. And if she wants to act, she should have this bill examined by Parliament.' While the socialist senator "is pleased that the government is taking up the issue', she doubts "the ability of commerce to self-regulate without a law that imposes a minimum requirement," and is therefore calling on the government to put its bill on the agenda of the Senate or the National Assembly. "We cannot allow our society to be organised around our intolerance of others, where people organise themselves to keep their distance from anyone who does not fit into their idea of their neighbours," she added in a statement on Wednesday.
