This may include advertisements from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. In a clear indication that patience with Russia's belligerent approach is thin, the designated chairman of the Christian Democratic Union CDU party suggested that it was time to consider providing Kiev with defensive weapons Tensions between Russia and Ukraine have been growing in recent years, particularly given the fierce fighting in the Donbass region between Ukrainian troops and separatist rebels backed by Moscow.
The newspaper suggested that NATO has opted not to deliver deadly weapons, including sniper rifles, in addition to jammers for drone defence, because of objections from Germany and one other unnamed country. Mr Merz said that if the reports were correct, it was quite a burden. JUST IN : Kate praised for stunning piano display in Westminster Abbey.
The Greens in particular are pushing for a more robust approach, with current Minister of Economics, Robert Habeck, calling for defensive weapons to be delivered to the country in May, naming medical vehicles on which a machine gun could be mounted for defence. Ukraine is already receiving material from the US, including anti-tank missiles of the Javelin type, which were used in military drills this week. Ukraine has a deal with Britain to build warships.
Since the illegal annexation of the Crimea, the country has been particularly vulnerable from its Black Sea coast. The threat was highlighted earlier this year when Mr Putin ordered landing exercises on its Black Sea coast. New satellite images captured by a US-based Maxar Technologies show that Russia has kept its forces in annexed Crimea and near Ukraine in recent weeks while pressing the US for talks over security guarantees it is seeking. The Kremlin reiterated on Friday that it reserves the right to move its forces on Russian territory as it sees fit and that Western countries were carrying out provocative military manoeuvres near its borders.