An opportunity for Europe The Stuttgarter Zeitung welcomes the initiative:JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. “Admittedly, for the most part the benefits would be symbolic. ... But it would be a concrete signal to the people of Ukraine that their painful struggle is worthwhile. And it would send a very clear message to the Kremlin that it will not win this war. ... It also represents an opportunity for Europe because Ukraine could become the driving force behind economic recovery in the EU once the war is over. And in view of Russia’s aggressive, expansionist policy, Ukraine has another, very weighty argument: the country has the best army in Europe.” Chancellor shoots from the hip The taz fears this would only make things more difficult for Ukraine: “For example, its relations with the other EU candidate countries in the Western Balkans. They have been waiting for 20 years – and would feel sidelined by the preferential treatment accorded to Ukraine. Military cooperation with Ukraine would also become problematic. So far the EU has had no obligation to provide assistance. Merz now wants to give Zelensky European security guarantees and activate the mutual assistance clause in the EU Treaty. That would change everything. EU countries would suddenly be obliged to stand by Kyiv if the war with Russia escalates. Nobody knows what that would mean in practice. ... Merz shoots from the hip again – the consequences are impossible to foresee.”