Chancellor Olaf Scholz has reiterated his refusal to supply Taurus missiles to Ukraine, citing responsibility concerns. Despite pressure following the U.S. decision to allow Ukraine to use long-range weapons against Russia, Scholz maintains his stance. He emphasized that while Germany continues to support Ukraine with artillery and rocket launchers, these should not be used to strike deep into Russian territory.
Scholz's conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin have sparked criticism, notably from EU states, questioning the effectiveness of dialogue given Putin’s unchanged stance on the war. Polish President Duda criticized Scholz's attempts to engage with Putin, suggesting it was a move to preemptively counter any actions by Donald Trump, should he return to the U.S. presidency. Scholz, however, remains firm on conducting diplomatic talks, despite skepticism from European partners.
Meanwhile, the Free Democratic Party (FDP) in Germany is advocating for a parliamentary vote on the Taurus deliveries, which Scholz has so far excluded. The proposal has support from various parties, but it faces challenges due to the coalition dynamics within the government.
At the G20 summit, Scholz warned Chinese President Xi Jinping about the escalation risks if North Korean soldiers are involved in the conflict on Russia’s side. Scholz and Xi discussed their countries' economic ties and the broader geopolitical tensions. The discussions underscore Germany’s careful navigation of international diplomacy amidst a complex web of alliances and conflicts.
