Frank Gardner

But it has been a race against time because this is the outgoing German parliament. The new one that sits for the first time on... The 25th of March, in a week's time, has got a stronger representation from the AfD, the Alternative for Deutschland, that's the far-right party, and Linke, the far-left party, both of whom strongly oppose these measures.

But it has been a race against time because this is the outgoing German parliament. The new one that sits for the first time on... The 25th of March, in a week's time, has got a stronger representation from the AfD, the Alternative for Deutschland, that's the far-right party, and Linke, the far-left party, both of whom strongly oppose these measures.

Well, yes. I mean, there are two reasons why Germany has been averse to this in the past. One is, as you rightly say, the historic reasons going back to 1945. And there is a strong neo-Nazi movement in this country. There is that risk politically, but also economically. Germany has been incredibly conservative for over a decade.

Well, yes. I mean, there are two reasons why Germany has been averse to this in the past. One is, as you rightly say, the historic reasons going back to 1945. And there is a strong neo-Nazi movement in this country. There is that risk politically, but also economically. Germany has been incredibly conservative for over a decade.

And I think there is a growing acceptance amongst many people, certainly in the leading main parties, that this has possibly held back the German economy, and they are hoping that this huge uptick in borrowing, although fiscally risky, is going to stimulate the German economy. The other part of this, and what was approved today, is taking off the debt breaks of...

And I think there is a growing acceptance amongst many people, certainly in the leading main parties, that this has possibly held back the German economy, and they are hoping that this huge uptick in borrowing, although fiscally risky, is going to stimulate the German economy. The other part of this, and what was approved today, is taking off the debt breaks of...

on how much money Germany can borrow, can go into the market to borrow for defense. And there's no limit to that. It could be hundreds of billions. And this is crucial because the rest of NATO and the EU were all looking very closely at what happened today. If this had stumbled at the first hurdle, this proposal, then it would have dealt a pretty serious knock

on how much money Germany can borrow, can go into the market to borrow for defense. And there's no limit to that. It could be hundreds of billions. And this is crucial because the rest of NATO and the EU were all looking very closely at what happened today. If this had stumbled at the first hurdle, this proposal, then it would have dealt a pretty serious knock

to Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission's plans for a project called Rearm Europe. And that's for an 800 billion euro fund.

to Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission's plans for a project called Rearm Europe. And that's for an 800 billion euro fund.

Well, it's good news for Ukraine, this, because obviously Europe and Ukraine are extremely worried that the US support for Ukraine is shaky at best. And Europe has been scratching its head as to how they can try and fill that gap. Now, there are things that are going to be very hard to replace, like Patriot missile batteries and long-range artillery.

Well, it's good news for Ukraine, this, because obviously Europe and Ukraine are extremely worried that the US support for Ukraine is shaky at best. And Europe has been scratching its head as to how they can try and fill that gap. Now, there are things that are going to be very hard to replace, like Patriot missile batteries and long-range artillery.

But there's a lot of other stuff like artillery shells and drones that Europe can gear up its industry to doing. So this vote today, this will certainly help Europe sustain its assistance to Ukraine.

But there's a lot of other stuff like artillery shells and drones that Europe can gear up its industry to doing. So this vote today, this will certainly help Europe sustain its assistance to Ukraine.

I have no idea what is going to happen to the remaining hostages if the fighting keeps on going. It's an absolute disaster.

I have no idea what is going to happen to the remaining hostages if the fighting keeps on going. It's an absolute disaster.

Volodymyr Zelensky is in a race against time. He came here to Munich to plead with world leaders not to allow a rushed Trump-Putin peace deal that signed away his country's future security. Today, he told delegates that a flawed deal would simply play into the hands of the Kremlin.

Volodymyr Zelensky is in a race against time. He came here to Munich to plead with world leaders not to allow a rushed Trump-Putin peace deal that signed away his country's future security. Today, he told delegates that a flawed deal would simply play into the hands of the Kremlin.

That may well involve trading access to Ukraine's vast mineral wealth for tangible U.S. security guarantees. So far, said Mr. Zelensky, those guarantees are not forthcoming, so he's not signed the deal. Meanwhile, he warned, Europe can no longer count on the U.S. to defend it, so Europe needed its own army.

That may well involve trading access to Ukraine's vast mineral wealth for tangible U.S. security guarantees. So far, said Mr. Zelensky, those guarantees are not forthcoming, so he's not signed the deal. Meanwhile, he warned, Europe can no longer count on the U.S. to defend it, so Europe needed its own army.