Ukraine war: Merz calls for a European contact group to support Ukraine

In view of the upcoming change of power in the USA, Union Chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz has proposed the formation of a European contact group to coordinate further European support for Ukraine. “We must do everything to enable Ukraine to exercise its right to self-defense, without restrictions. And do everything to end this war as quickly as possible,” said the CDU leader at a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Ukrainian capital Kiev.

You have to be prepared for the change of power in the USA to President Donald Trump on January 20th and think through all eventualities, said the Union faction leader in the Bundestag. On the European side, a strategy is needed that Germany, France or Great Britain cannot develop alone, “but we can only develop this strategy together.” He welcomed Zelensky’s suggestion with great interest that Denmark could also play an important role.

Merz: Attitude towards Taurus has not changed

Regarding Zelensky’s renewed demand for a delivery of the long-range German Taurus cruise missile, Merz said that the president “knows our position on the Taurus. Nothing has changed in that regard.” Merz recently suggested giving Ukraine options for action so that it could influence the war “in the sense of a ceasefire and the silence of the weapons.” He had offered Ukraine to lift the range limit for the weapons previously supplied by Germany “and to enable the Taurus deliveries, each with conditions that Ukraine determines – and not us and not me,” Merz said.