(2 Dec 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Kyiv, Ukraine – 2 December 2024
1. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz arriving for briefing
2. SOUNDBITE (German) Olaf Scholz, German Chancellor:
“For individual weapon systems, we have a certain judgement as to whether a deployment is right or not. This has to do with the range and the need to control the targeting and that’s why we said not there. This doesn’t lessen our support, which is very wide-ranging and – it is important for me to say – will remain wide-ranging,”
3. Photographers
4. SOUNDBITE (German) Olaf Scholz, German Chancellor:
“NATO made decisions on this issue which shows a way forward at summits in Vilnius and Washington. I supported them unreservedly and I think they’re right.”
5. Wide of Zelenskyy and Scholz
STORYLINE:
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has visited Ukraine for the first time in more than two years and vowed to keep supporting Kyiv in the war.
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.
The aid being delivered this month will include another IRIS-T system and more Gepards, he added. More material is to follow in 2025.
Germany is Ukraine’s second-largest backer after the United States, and a vociferous supporter, but Scholz has refused to budge on two of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s key requests: supplying German- and Swedish-made Taurus long-range missiles to Ukraine and inviting it to join NATO quickly.
Scholz defended his refusal to send Ukraine Taurus long-range cruise missiles, which he has cast as part of a “prudent” approach to the conflict that gives Ukraine strong backing but prevents an escalation of the war.
“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 Monday.
Asked when would be the right time to invite Ukraine to join NATO, Scholz said that “NATO made decisions on this issue which show a way forward” at summits in Vilnius and Washington – “I supported them unreservedly and I think they’re right.”
===========================================================
Clients are reminded to adhere to all listed restrictions and to check the terms of their licence agreements. For further assistance, please contact the AP Archive on: Tel +44(0)2074827482 Email: info@aparchive.com.
Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/
You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/74b1f5f413334a0b9855b01ea0c3dd79
Author: AP Archive
Go to Source
News post in December 7, 2024, 6:05 pm.
Visit Our Sponsor’s:
News Post In – News
