, France, and the U.K. last had direct contact.Initially a hesitant partner, Germany has become Ukraine's second-largest military donor after the U.S.On Sept. 4, Scholz said that Germany ordered an additional 17 IRIS-T air defense systems for Ukraine, Bloomberg reported. By 2026, Ukraine should receive 24 IRIS-T systems from Germany — 12 of medium-range versions and 12 short-range.But amid ongoing discussions among Ukraine's Western allies about using their weapons to strike deep inside Russia, Scholz continues to insist Berlin will not grant Kyiv permission to use its Taurus missiles to do so.President Volodymyr Zelensky met with Scholz on Sept. 23 on the sidelines of the 79th United Nations General Assembly in New York City.Shortly before the meeting, Scholz reaffirmed Berlin's refusal to allow Ukraine to use German weapons to strike targets within Russia.

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https://kyivindependent.com/germanys-scholz-hoping-for-phone-call-with-putin-zeit-reports/