Ukraine war: Europe split clouds Macron talks with Scholz in Berlin

Conflicts 21:00 16.03.2024

Emmanuel Macron has said that France, Germany and Poland are "united" after a rift was exposed over Europe's response to Russia's war in Ukraine, Ednews represents via BBC.

The French president had warned the "security of Europe and the French is at stake" and if Russia wins Europe's credibility will be "reduced to zero".

But Germany's Olaf Scholz has been far more cautious, ruling out the deployment of the country's Taurus cruise missiles.

Ukraine faces a critical arms shortage.

The German chancellor has come under pressure to extend his government's help, because a $60bn (£47bn; €55bn) US military aid package for Ukraine has been blocked in Congress by Republicans on the right.

Germany remains Europe's biggest source of military aid for Ukraine, but Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who joined the two leaders in Berlin later, said it was now up to their three countries to "mobilise all of Europe" to provide Ukraine with help.

He denied reports of a rift at a press conference, calling them "exaggerated" and "malicious rumours".

"True solidarity with Ukraine? Less words, more ammunition," he had posted on social media earlier on Friday.

Their meeting came as a Russian missile attack on the southern Ukrainian port city of Odesa killed 20 people and left dozens more wounded, according to the regional head. Among those killed and wounded were emergency medical teams.

 

As members of Ukraine's DSNS emergency service arrived to search for casualties and put out fires, more Russian rockets reportedly landed at the scene and the DSNS released several photos of wounded colleagues.

Differences over the response to the war have deepened between Paris and Berlin in recent weeks, after the German chancellor said long-range Taurus missiles would need German soldiers on the ground in Ukraine to look after them and that was a limit that he was not prepared to cross.

President Macron has equally angered some of his European partners by suggesting that sending Western troops could not be ruled out.

In an extended live interview on French TV on Thursday night he said it was not his wish, although "all these options are possible".

Stressing that France was a force for peace, he warned that Russia was seeking to extend its power and would not stop now: "If we leave Ukraine alone, if we let Ukraine lose this war, then for sure Russia will threaten Moldova, Romania and Poland."

Ahead of Friday's meeting of the three leaders, billed as a bid to revive the so-called "Weimar Triangle", the German chancellor told Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky over the phone that the summit was of great importance to "organise as much support as possible for Ukraine".

Mr Zelensky went on social media to say he had told the German leader that Ukraine's priorities were "armoured vehicles, artillery, and air defence".

At a press conference following Friday's meeting in Berlin, Mr Tusk said he, Emmanuel Macron and Olaf Scholz "spoke with one voice, above all, about the security of our continent".

The leaders also said a "capacity coalition" to provide long-distance artillery to Ukraine would be set up, while vowing to "never prompt escalation" there.

Mr Scholz said the three countries wanted to ensure that Ukraine could defend itself against Russia's invasion.

Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg warned on Thursday that Ukrainians were "not running out of courage, they are running out of ammunition", more than two years after Russia's full-scale invasion began.

He said the shortage was one of the reasons why Russia had made recent advances on the battlefield, and he called on Nato allies to provide Ukraine with what it needed.

A Czech-led initiative to source weapons from outside Europe has already raised enough funds to buy at least 300,000 shells and Prague officials say the first deliveries will arrive by June at the latest.

Russia's military captured the eastern town of Avdiivka after months of trying in February and Ukraine's commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said on a visit to the area on Friday that Russian forces had been trying to break through Ukrainian lines "for several days in a row".

"Russian advances are supported by intense artillery fire and the active use of spotter drones and drones capable of dropping munitions."

IEPF organized a discussion at COP29 on the role of NGOs in combating the climate crisis

News line

How did Western Europe become a puppet?
12:10 15.02.2025
Why Trump’s assault on USAID could change US foreign policy forever
12:06 08.02.2025
Why Gorbochev’s Nobel Peace Prize should be rescinded -Rachel Avraham
15:26 04.02.2025
Parvana Valiyeva has given an interview to the Nigerian press
08:53 30.01.2025
The First Meeting of the IEPF Board of Trustees in 2025 Was Held
19:47 28.01.2025
The historical and cultural heritage of Azerbaijan in Armenia: Obligation of Armenia to preserve and restore
19:55 25.01.2025
"Deprive Gorbachev of the Peace Prize" Open Letter to the Chair and Members of the Norwegian Nobel Committee
16:14 18.01.2025
"Azerbaijan, representing itself in D-9 as a victorious nation, will further solidify its authority."
13:42 16.01.2025
Turning Landmines Into Grapevines In Post-War Azerbaijan -"Forbes" wrote...
16:05 26.12.2024
"Nine countries to become BRICS partners in 2025"
21:09 23.12.2024
"From Zero to Rise" – Umud Mirzayev's Next Meeting with Students Held
17:35 23.12.2024
IEPF Statement on the Resolution of the Lower House of the Swiss Parliament on “Nagorno-Karabakh: Peace Forum”
17:36 19.12.2024
BRI, threats, tariffs and Trump
09:03 04.12.2024
COP29: GLOBAL CALL TO ERADICATE LANDMINES IN AZERBAIJAN AND WORLDWIDE
17:56 18.11.2024
As Trump looms large, can Keir Starmer save the world? Analytics
12:49 17.11.2024
IEPF Holds Side Event at COP29
16:40 15.11.2024
Chief of NGO Branch, Office of Intergovernmental Support and Coordination for SDG, DESA, United Nations visited IEPF
18:08 14.11.2024
Can Trump reconcile Israel and Iran? Analytics
09:11 14.11.2024
IEPF organized a discussion at COP29 on the role of NGOs in combating the climate crisis
18:19 11.11.2024
Why Kamala Harris lost: A flawed candidate or doomed campaign? Analytics
14:32 07.11.2024
What Trump's win means for Ukraine, Middle East and China
09:56 07.11.2024
"Give us back our gods" "Inside Nepal's Museum of Stolen Art"
10:52 06.11.2024
Side Event on Mine Issues Held at UN Geneva Office
17:07 01.11.2024
A lost Maya city has been discovered deep within the jungles of Mexico
13:06 31.10.2024
"How Does Artificial Intelligence Affect Jobs?" Research
12:47 31.10.2024
"Is Europe Ready for Climate Change?"
10:26 31.10.2024
Orban and Tusk: How Did the “Two Brothers” Become Enemies?
15:02 29.10.2024
Why China needs BRICS
13:30 28.10.2024
More than 120 killed and dozens injured after Tropical Storm Trami batters Philippines
10:57 28.10.2024
Lithuania's Parliamentary Elections Conclude - Social Democrats Come to Power
10:27 28.10.2024
Pyrrhic Victory: Japan's ruling party has lost its parliamentary majority
10:03 28.10.2024
Astronauts Have Returned
09:15 28.10.2024
Does Israel Want Ceasfire? Important Messages from the Israeli Defense Minister and President
09:10 28.10.2024
Iran's Leaders Respond to Israel's Attack - "We do not want war, but... "
09:05 28.10.2024
Terrorist attack in Ankara: A message for Erdogan?
09:00 28.10.2024
Entire northern Gaza population at risk of dying – UN
08:45 28.10.2024
The Commonwealth members demand compensation from the United Kingdom
17:31 27.10.2024
Tigers vs tribals: Why are thousands of villagers up in arms against endangered species?
11:00 27.10.2024
Russia wants the world divided and in conflict NATO cannot let this happen
13:11 26.10.2024
Source of "Marburg" Strain Found: Bats Again..
17:35 25.10.2024
Hamısı