As of: February 24, 2024, 9:11 a.m
By: Hannes Niemeyer
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On the anniversary of the war in Ukraine, CDU leader Merz expressed his dissatisfaction with the aid from Germany - and said what he would have expected from the Chancellor.
Berlin – Saturday (February 24th) marks the second anniversary of the Ukraine War.
Meanwhile, the debates about Russia's terrible attack on its neighboring country are not going away.
In particular, the question of how Ukraine can continue to receive effective support from the West after such a long period of time is perhaps even more sensitive than ever.
The discussion about a new aid package for Kiev dragged on for a long time, and not just in the USA.
There is also disagreement in Germany.
Just this week, the Bundestag approved a new request to supply “long-range weapons” to Ukraine.
However, the delivery of the Taurus cruise missiles, which many had demanded, was not explicitly mentioned - contrary to the wishes of the Union.
CDU leader Merz uses this fact and the Ukraine anniversary as an opportunity to draw a devastating assessment of Germany's help in the Ukraine war.
Two years of war in Ukraine: Merz reveals what formulation he would like to hear
So far, the federal government has only assured that it will help Ukraine for as long as necessary, said the chairman of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group in the Bundestag in a video interview with the German Press Agency.
“I would like to hear the wording: We are helping Ukraine with all the means we have at our disposal so that we really see an early end to this terrible war.”
Exactly two years ago on Saturday, the Russian army invaded Ukraine.
Three days later, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) announced in his turnaround speech that he wanted to support Ukraine with arms deliveries.
To date, armaments worth 28 billion euros have been delivered or promised from Germany.
“Too late, too little”: Merz’s assessment of the Ukraine war is devastating – also because of Taurus
Friedrich Merz said that one still has to realize today: “We did too little too late.” There have been repeated delays, currently with the Taurus cruise missiles.
“If Russia lays down its arms, the war will be over.
And we have to get the Russian army and the Russian leadership to do this.
And there will be no negotiations before that.”
Two years of war in Ukraine: Friedrich Merz is anything but satisfied with Scholz's work on the topic.
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On Thursday, the Bundestag, with the votes of the traffic light government, rejected a request from the Union to deliver the Taurus missiles with a range of 500 kilometers to Ukraine.
In their own motion, the SPD, Greens and FDP simply called on the government to provide Ukraine with “additionally required long-range weapons systems”.
Taurus is not explicitly mentioned.
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“Is he afraid?”: In his assessment of the anniversary of the Ukraine war, Merz openly criticizes Chancellor Scholz
However, the traffic light factions clearly state in a motion that Ukraine must win its defensive battle.
“The Chancellor still doesn’t do that to this day,” criticized Merz.
So far, Scholz has only said that Russia must not win the war and Ukraine must not lose it.
“Ukraine must win the war in such a way that Russia no longer sees any point in continuing it militarily,” said Merz.
“I would have liked to have heard such a clear word from the Chancellor.
I can't answer your question as to why he still shied away from it to this day.
Is he afraid?
Does he have other worries?
Is he too hesitant?
I don't know it."
When asked whether he expected the war to continue in a year, Merz said: “It is a terrible thought that this could possibly happen.
I think we should do everything from the West, from Europe, from Germany, to ensure that there is no such terrible third anniversary of this war.”
(han/dpa)