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In a progressive move towards strengthening Germany-Ukraine ties, President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine held a telephone conversation with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on March 14, as reported by Zelensky’s message on Telegram. The communication focused on prompting further political, economic, and defensive collaborations between their nations.
The dialogue included deliberation on prospective defense cooperation converging state and private sector defense representatives. President Zelensky specifically pointed out the immediate Ukrainian needs in air defense systems, armored vehicles, and artillery, as per the conversation highlights.
The president expressed his gratitude to Germany for participating in the Czech Republic-led initiative, which aims to supply Ukraine with artillery ammunition.
Zelensky shared his positive view on the European Commission’s endorsement of the draft framework to begin negotiation talks concerning Ukraine’s potential EU membership, noting that Ukraine has fulfilled all required legislative actions as per the European Commission’s EU Enlargement Package, thus making the next steps dependent on the EU member states.
The ongoing cooperation and strategy coordination were evident as Zelensky mentioned their mutual discussion regarding the allied conference in support of Ukraine that was held in Paris on Feb. 26. Zelensky reflected on aligning stances with Chancellor Scholz preceding the Weimar Triangle meeting dated March 15, with the anticipation of Scholz’s, French President Emmanuel Macron’s, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s participation.
Future engagements, including the URC-2024 conference – dedicated to Ukrainian restoration and scheduled in Berlin come June – were on the agenda, as well as Germany’s role in the Ukraine peace summit, expected to take place in Switzerland within this year.
Amidst these discussions, it was reported that Germany’s Bundestag, the lower parliament chamber, cast a vote against the year 2024’s planned dispatch of longer-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine for the third instance, with Chancellor Scholz previously citing the potential peril of Germany being implicated in the conflict as the rationale for his veto.
In contrast, Ukraine has been the beneficiary of other long-range missile systems such as Storm Shadow missiles from Britain and the SCALP missiles developed by France.
Opinion: Will Europe ever get serious about defense?
“Words, words, just words,” was the disheartened sentiment expressed by one VIP attendee at the Munich Security Conference, hinting at the inadequate performance of three European Union nations in terms of security cooperation. Another commented on the perceived lackluster conveyance of commitment to defense, suggesting that China would interpret this as a signal of European detachment.
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FAQ Section
- What was the primary focus of the discussion between Zelensky and Scholz?
- The primary focus was on enhancing further political, economic, and defense cooperation, including Ukraine’s current military needs.
- Did Germany support Ukraine in receiving artillery ammunition?
- Yes, Germany joined the Czech-led initiative to provide Ukraine with artillery ammunition.
- Is Ukraine moving towards EU membership?
- According to President Zelensky, Ukraine has completed all required legislative steps, and it’s now up to the EU member states to progress negotiations.
- What significant events were discussed for the future?
- Zelensky and Scholz talked about the upcoming conferences on Ukraine’s restoration and peace, as well as strategic meetings involving the leaders of Germany, France, and Poland.
- What is Germany’s position on supplying Taurus missiles to Ukraine?
- Germany’s Bundestag has voted against supplying Taurus missiles to Ukraine, with Chancellor Scholz expressing his concerns about involving Germany in the war.
Conclusion
In summary, the interaction between Ukrainian President Zelensky and German Chancellor Scholz indicates a concerted effort to fortify the partnership between Ukraine and Germany. Despite the Bundestag’s decision on the Taurus missiles, the discussions unveil a shared commitment to addressing Ukraine’s defense needs and reconstruction efforts. Furthermore, the anticipation of Ukraine’s integration into the European Union and the involvement in pivotal conferences illustrate the ongoing international collaboration in support of Ukraine’s sovereignty and future.
Note: This article is a creatively rewoven version of news sourced from various online outlets via AI news feeds. Ownership or authorship by TheUBJ of the original news content is not claimed. For reference, the original source link is https://kyivindependent.com/zelensky-discusses-further-ukrainian-german-cooperation-with-sholz-by-telephone/.