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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
Lili Bayer

Scholz pledges continued backing and says Germany ‘strongest supporter of Ukraine in Europe’ – as it happened

Michel Barnier RN European Union France Emmanuel Macron
Olaf Scholz (right) and Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskiy held talks in Frankfurt on Friday.
Olaf Scholz (right) and Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskiy held talks in Frankfurt on Friday. Photograph: Boris Roessler/AFP/Getty Images

Summary of the day

  • Ukraine’s partners met at Ramstein airbase in Germany.

  • Volodymyr Zelenskiy raised concerns about western partners’ policies and the pace of deliveries. “Now we hear that your long-range policy has not changed, but we see changes in the Atacms, Storm Shadows and Scalps –a shortage of missiles and cooperation,” he said.

  • The Ukrainian president also said “we need to have this long-range capability not only on the occupied territory of Ukraine, but also on the Russian territory, so that Russia is motivated to seek peace.”

  • The US announced $250 million in security assistance for Ukraine.

  • The German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, met Zelenskiy. “Germany is and will remain the strongest supporter of Ukraine in Europe. We will support Ukraine for as long as it takes,” the chancellor said.

  • Russia’s defence ministry said the country’s forces have taken control of the village of Zhuravka in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region.

  • The French Socialists’ Olivier Faure said no one from his party would participate in a Michel Barnier-led government, arguing that Barnier depends on the far right.

'Strongest supporter of Ukraine in Europe': Scholz pledges to continue supporting Kyiv

The German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, met with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

“Germany is and will remain the strongest supporter of Ukraine in Europe. We will support Ukraine for as long as it takes,” the chancellor said. “It was good meeting you today in Frankfurt,” he added.

The US announced $250 million in security assistance for Ukraine today.

Russia’s defence ministry said the country’s forces have taken control of the village of Zhuravka in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, Reuters reported.

Canada is sending more aid to Ukraine.

Ukraine’s defence minister outlined the country’s priorities today.

Zelenskiy calls for change in western long-range weapons policies

Speaking at Ramstein airbase, Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskiy raised concerns about western partners’ policies and the pace of deliveries.

“I’m grateful to all partners for the fact that the Nato summit in Washington was marked by decisions on air defense systems for Ukraine. However, many systems have yet to be delivered,” he said.

He added:

Long-range capability. I’m glad that the US, the UK, and France are represented here. Thanks to our joint courage, we have implemented very important operations, in particular in Crimea.

These operations allowed us to return security to the Black Sea and our food exports. Now we hear that your long-range policy has not changed, but we see changes in the Atacms, Storm Shadows and Scalps –a shortage of missiles and cooperation.

This applies even to our territory, which is occupied by Russia, including Crimea. We think it is wrong that there are such steps. We need to have this long-range capability not only on the occupied territory of Ukraine, but also on the Russian territory, so that Russia is motivated to seek peace.

Updated

The German defence minister, Boris Pistorius, has said that Germany has not changed its position on long-range strikes with donated weapons deep into Russian territory, Reuters reported.

He said Germany will support Ukraine as long as it is necessary.

The UK will supply 650 Lightweight Multirole Missile systems to Ukraine.

Ukraine’s defence ministry said “we are grateful to our British partners for their ironclad support and strengthening Ukraine’s air defense. Thanks for making us stronger.”

Zelenskiy arrives for talks in Germany with call for speeding up assistance

Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskiy has arrived at the Ramstein airbase with a renewed call for assistance.

“It is crucial that all the weapons from the already announced support packages finally reach the combat brigades,” he said.

“We also need strong long-range decisions from our partners to bring closer the just peace we are striving for,” the Ukrainian leader added.

Zelenskiy is set to meet with the US secretary of defence, Lloyd Austin, the German defence minister, Boris Pistorius, and the German chancellor, Olaf Scholz.

Updated

Members of Les Républicains have arrived to meet with Michel Barnier.

The French Greens’ Marine Tondelier said she has a message for the far right National Rally’s voters.

“You who vote for Marine Le Pen thinking that she will improve your daily life, know to what extent she is deceiving you. She preferred a right-wing Prime Minister who would serve the powerful rather than a NFP [New Popular Front] prime minister who would have served your interests,” she said.

Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he congratulated Emmanuel Macron on the appointment of Michel Barnier.

The French Socialists’ Olivier Faure said no one from his party would participate in a Michel Barnier-led government, arguing that Barnier depends on the far right.

Michel Barnier vows to address feelings of ‘anger’ and ‘injustice’ as France’s new PM

Michel Barnier, France’s new rightwing prime minister, has vowed to address the nation’s feelings of anger, abandonment and injustice, promising a “new era” and a break with the past.

Barnier, the EU’s former Brexit negotiator, took office hours after Emmanuel Macron appointed him to form “a unifying government in the service of the country” – an attempt to put an end to two months of political paralysis after a snap election.

Barnier, who at 73 is the oldest premier in the history of modern France, said his first task was to “respond as best we can to the challenges, the anger, the feeling of abandonment and injustice that is too prevalent in our cities, on our estates and in the countryside”.

The government’s priority would be education, as well as security and controlling immigration, he said.

Barnier’s appointment was greeted with dismay by the left which will now seek to topple him with a no-confidence motion.

Controversially, Macron appears to be counting on Le Pen’s National Rally to keep Barnier in power by voting against a no-confidence motion. The RN indicated on Thursday it would not automatically vote down Barnier and would wait and see what sort of programme he laid out in his first address to parliament.

Read the full story here.

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