Merkel says 'weapons won't help' resolve eastern Ukraine crisis. Chancellor Angela Merkel has reiterated Germany's position against arming government forces in the Ukraine conflict. She also said she was uncertain of the chances of success for a new German-French peace initiative. DW International, 07.02.2015
Chancellor Merkel told the annual Munich Security Conference on Saturday that Germany remained convinced that sending weapons to the Ukraine forces fighting against pro-Russia separatists in eastern Ukraine would not contribute to a resolution of the crisis there. full: http://dw.de/p/1EXch +++ Merkel Objection to Arms for Ukraine May Spur Obama Backlash (Bloomberg) -- Germany’s rejection of supplying weapons to Ukrainian forces fighting pro-Russian rebels may heighten the domestic pressure on a reluctant U.S. President Barack Obama to deliver the arms. Increasing numbers of senior military and State Department officials are joining Republican lawmakers in a push to arm Ukraine -- an option the commander-in-chief personally opposes, according to three people familiar with the dynamics in the Obama administration. They asked not to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who pleaded against shipping lethal military support in a Saturday speech at the Munich Security Conference, will brief Obama in Washington on Monday on the issue and the German-French push for a peace deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Secretary of State John Kerry said he’s confident Obama will make his decision “soon” after the meeting. full: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-02-08/merkel-objection-to-arms-for-ukraine-may-spur-backlash-for-obama +++ Merkel to press Obama on postponing Kiev arms decision German chancellor to meet US president amid divisions on Ukraine military aid By Derek Scally, Mon, Feb 9, 2015 German chancellor Angela Merkel will press US president Barack Obama today to postpone a decision on sending defensive arms to Ukraine pending a fresh diplomatic effort for a ceasefire on Wednesday in Minsk. Mr Obama receives Dr Merkel in Washington amid growing divisions – both transatlantic and across Europe – on whether to offer military assistance to Kiev’s battle with pro- Russian separatists in its eastern regions. After Washington, the German leader will attend a four-way summit in the Belarussian capital with the presidents of Ukraine, Russia and France, agreed during a telephone conference yesterday. In Minsk the leaders will discuss revised ceasefire proposals for a conflict that has claimed more than 5,300 lives since last April. After meeting Russian president Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Friday, Dr Merkel expressed “grave doubts” that the conflict could be resolved by boosting Kiev’s military capacity. “This cannot be won militarily, that is the bitter truth,” said Dr Merkel on Saturday at the Munich security conference. The German leader, fearing supplying arms to Kiev would hand Mr Putin a propaganda victory, instead supports sanctions and a fresh diplomatic push. full: http://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/europe/merkel-to-press-obama-on-postponing-kiev-arms-decision-1.2095967 _______________________________________________ pen-l mailing list [email protected] https://lists.csuchico.edu/mailman/listinfo/pen-l
