German Finance Minister Christian Lindner on Monday advocated Germany’s supply of Taurus cruise missiles requested by Kiev to repel Russian forces, AFP reports. Agerpres.

“I hope and believe that it is possible,” the liberal minister told Bild, Die Welt and Politico at the end of his first visit to Kyiv since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

“Speed ​​is of the essence in wartime,” he added.

Germany is under increasing pressure from Kyiv to send long-range Taurus cruise missiles to support its counteroffensive. The German government has so far opposed this request, fearing that the missiles would reach Russian territory and cause an escalation of the conflict.

Asked about the topic on Sunday, Chancellor Olaf Scholz gave a vague answer: “As in the past, we will always analyze every decision very carefully, what is possible, what makes sense, what our contribution can be,” he said.

Regarding possible differences of opinion with the Social Democrat chancellor, Lindner said on Monday that it was “the desire of the German government as a whole” to make a decision quickly. “No one in the government wants to delay such a decision.” he said..

Arriving on Monday morning by train for an unexpected visit to Kyiv, Christian Lindner held talks with his colleague Serhii Marchenko and Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal, in particular.

Since the beginning of the Russian invasion, Germany has offered Ukraine approximately 22 billion euros in humanitarian, financial and military aid.

In Telegram, the Ukrainian Prime Minister reported on important discussions with Christian Lindner and thanked the German government for its support.

“The two countries are working on five different investment projects worth approximately 247 million euros and are studying three more projects with a total cost of more than 70 million euros,” Denis Schmigal added. “We hope for the participation of German companies” in the reconstruction of Ukraine after “I insist on the need to strengthen sanctions against the Russian Federation and the confiscation of Russian assets, which would be the main source of financing for the reconstruction of Ukraine,” the prime minister continued.

Lindner and his Ukrainian counterpart signed a joint declaration of intentions to strengthen bilateral cooperation, especially in the field of financial markets, customs affairs, as well as in the management of privatization and state participation in enterprises. “Advisory activities to support Ukraine in the process of joining the European Union” are also planned.