N-TV reported that on October 14, Friedrich Merz, a German opposition candidate for chancellor, stated he was open to supplying Taurus missiles with a long-range to Ukraine, but only under certain conditions.
Olaf Scholz, German Chancellor, has refused to approve the Taurus missiles despite providing extensive military assistance to Kyiv. He cited a fear of an escalation as the reason for his refusal.
Merz, speaking on ARD about the Taurus missiles, said: “I wouldn’t just do it like that.”
First, it is important to appeal to Vladimir Putin to stop attacking civilians in Ukraine. The German opposition leader said that if Moscow doesn’t concede, Ukraine should have the freedom to use weapons it has already received without restrictions.
Merz is the leader of the CDU/CSU and the candidate for chancellor. He is currently leading the polls a year before the federal parliament elections. He is therefore the most likely candidate for Scholz, the social democrat.
“And the next step would be the supply of Taurus missiles.” Merz said that it was up to (Russian president Vladimir) Putin to decide the extent to which he wanted to escalate this conflict.
Taurus is a joint German and Swedish cruise missile that has a range exceeding 500 kilometers (310miles). It has a greater range than other missiles Ukraine has received, such as the British/French SCALP/Storm Shadow or American ATACMS.
Merz criticised the ruling coalition for allowing Moscow all the details of their strategy by discussing it publicly. The opposition leader said that the decision about the Taurus supply was best made at European level, and that European countries need to become less dependent on U.S. support for Ukraine.
Although Ukraine has deployed Western long range arms to strike against Russian military targets on Ukrainian territory, Kyiv’s partners have not allowed their use on Russian land.
Washington and Berlin have allowed the use of certain German-American weapons just across the Russian frontier to disrupt Russia’s offensive operation.
Scholz has faced long-term pressure from his opponents and coalition partners in parliament to approve the supply of Taurus.
The German chancellor stated that he would not approve the supply of their weapons, even if other allies decided to lift restrictions regarding long-range attacks in Russia.
Ukraine’s military intelligence reported that “such Soviet aircraft are primarily used to transport the leadership of Russia’s Defense Ministry.”
The statement comes two days after German Foreign Ministry Annalenna Bärbock said that Russian president Vladimir Putin is not willing speak with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz regarding brokering peace in Ukraine.
This includes 1,260 casualties that Russian forces have suffered in the last day.
In a recent comment to a Russian journalist, Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko said that recent changes in Russia’s nuclear weapon policy were long overdue, and would likely “cool down the ardor of Western nations.”
Hungarian Prime Minster Viktor Orban prepares to make a significant concession to former US President Donald Trump. This could allow him to avoid a $50 billion loan meant to support Ukraine during its ongoing war against Russia.
The Sumy Oblast Military Administration announced on October 13 that nearly 37,000 people, including 6,400 children, have been evacuated. They are continuing to work to evacuate additional residents under expanded mandatory orders.
Video footage from the scene shows officers standing outside the venue’s doors, intercepting male concertgoers as they exit the venue. Some men are seen being arrested by officers.
Der Spiegel reported that the government is currently in “serious discussion” about abandoning its goal of full territorial restoration.
“We are witnessing an increasing alliance between Russia, and regimes such as North Korea. It’s not just about transferring arms. It is about transferring North Koreans to the occupying forces.”
“We must understand that this can only happen in a way where Ukraine gets more money if we purchase.” “They will be able produce more for their military,” Estonian Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur stated.
The Washington Post quoted an officer from the 72nd Mechanized Brigade as saying, “They just overpowered” us. The officer claimed that Russia’s access Starlink was the key factor in the loss.
According to the announcement, the U.K. committed to providing additional long-range weaponry, artillery and robotic systems. Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron discussed opening a drone training center in France.
Biden was to convene, on Oct. 12 in Germany, a meeting of leaders from the Ukraine Defense Contact Group where President Volodymyr Zelensky was to present his victory strategy. He rescheduled his visit to oversee the emergency response for Hurricane Milton.
Anna Belokur, Kyiv Independent’s Anna Belokur, explains the top stories from the week. From the postponement the Ramstein Summit to the two-month anniversary Ukraine’s surprise invasion into Kursk Oblast.
Zelensky, in a video message posted on Telegram, said that Russia has also launched over 40 missiles and more than 400 combat drones.
“The killings of prisoners of war are a gross violation and international crime of the Geneva Conventions.” Kostin wrote on X that a criminal case was opened for the violation of laws and customs in war, combined with premeditated killing.
“There were attempts from Russia to push our positions back.” “But we are holding the lines defined,” he said.
Deepstate reported that the shootings took place on October 10, citing sources from Ukraine’s First Tank Brigade.
The two MiG-31K aircraft landed in Belarus in October 9 and 10 a year after their last appearance.
The General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces announced on October 13 that Russia has lost 668.930 troops since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine began on February 24, 2022.
The Air Force reported that Russia also attacked Ukraine using two Iskander M ballistic missiles and 2 Kh-59 cruise missiles. The missiles were aimed at Chernihiv oblast, Sumy oblast, Poltava oblast, and Odesa ablast.
Mediazona, an independent Russian media outlet, and BBC Russia confirmed through open-source research the names of 72 899 Russian soldiers killed since the start of Russia’s full scale invasion.
Mykhailo Podolyak, advisor to the Presidential Office, said on October 12 that President Volodymyr Zelensky will reveal his “victory plans” publicly to Ukrainians “in a matter of days”.
Read More @ kyivindependent.com