German Chancellor Olaf Scholz visited Ukraine for the first time in more than two years on Monday and vowed to keep supporting Kyiv in its fight against Russia. However, he stood firm on his decision not to supply Taurus long-range missiles. While Germany has been one of Ukraine's strongest allies, Scholz has resisted two of President Volodymyr Zelensky's key demands: the delivery of German- and Swedish-made Taurus missiles and an expedited path to NATO membership. Facing early elections in February, Scholz defended his cautious approach, framing it as a balance between robust support for Ukraine and minimizing the risk of escalating the conflict into a direct NATO-Russia confrontation. "This doesn't lessen our support, which is very wide-ranging and it is important for me to say — will remain wide-ranging," Scholz said in Kyiv. In a major shift, Zelenskyy signaled on Friday that an offer of NATO membership to territory under Kyiv's control could end "the hot stage of the war" in Ukraine. Some Western nations granted permission in November for Kyiv to carry out long-range strikes with the weapons they have supplied. Following the decision, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia launched a strike on Ukraine with an unstoppable intermediate-range ballistic missile, dubbed the Oreshnik, that he claimed can't be intercepted. It marked the first time that such a missile was used in the war or in any other conflict. Scholz has been cautious about talk of fast-tracking NATO membership for Ukraine. He has emphasized the importance of finding a path to peace, which he insists "must not be chosen over Ukraine's head". "Germany, a leader in providing Ukraine with air defense systems, has already supplied five IRIS-T systems, three Patriot systems and over 50 Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft guns," Scholz said. Another batch of military aid being delivered this month will include another IRIS-T system and more Gepards, he added. Further deliveries are planned for 2025. Zelensky highlighted the ongoing Russian attacks on Ukraine's civilian areas and energy infrastructure, saying that 347 missiles of various types have been launched in recent months. He called for increased support from Western nations, stressing the need for additional air defense systems. Zelenskyy mentioned that around 20 critical sites remain unprotected, though he did not provide further details. Scholz's visit follows recent tensions after Zelensky criticized him for holding a phone conversation with Putin. Ukraine remains wary of any potential fractures in the united front of its Western allies supporting its fight against Russia, as Putin relies on outlasting that resolve. With the war soon to enter its fourth year, Zelensky said he disagreed with Scholz's call with the Russian president. He said it could prompt phone calls with other leaders, possibly reducing Putin's international isolation and legitimizing his full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Scholz defended the call, saying that he aimed to remind Putin that Ukraine is a sovereign nation with the right to determine its own future. He also stressed that he conveyed to Putin that Ukraine is not alone and its partners will continue their support. During the visit, Zelensky also took Scholz to a military hospital, where they met with wounded soldiers. The German Chancellor was also shown an exhibition showcasing drones produced domestically in Ukraine, as well as those developed in collaboration with German companies. — Euronews
