Zelenskyy names conditions for ending the war with Russia
Created: 05/12/2022, 07:15
By: Katja Thorwarth, Daniel Dillmann, Nail Akkoyun, Marvin Ziegele
The negotiations in the Ukraine war continue: the situation in the news ticker.
Germany trains Ukrainians
: Ukrainian soldiers are trained in Germany.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister:
Kuleba accuses the West of hesitant action.
Foreign Minister Baerbock in Kiev
: Annalena Baerbock visits the Ukraine in connection with the Ukraine conflict.
Support for Kiev:
You can read all developments in diplomatic efforts in the Ukraine war and help for Ukraine in our news ticker.
Update from Thursday, May 12, 7:13 a.m .:
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj believes that the war with Russia can only be ended after all occupied Ukrainian territories have been returned.
"If we take back everything that belongs to us, then we will end the war," said the head of state on Wednesday in an interview with French students.
"We want peace in our state," emphasized the 44-year-old.
Russia attacked Ukraine at the end of February and occupied large areas in the east and south of the country.
In 2014, Russia had already incorporated the Ukrainian Black Sea peninsula of Crimea.
The President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyj called Chancellor Olaf Scholz again on Wednesday and praised the communication between the two countries.
© Ukraine Presidency/AFP
Russian President Vladimir Putin also justified the war of aggression with the fact that Ukraine was planning to take back Crimea using military force.
Such an attempt was imminent, as Vladimir Putin said at the military parade in Red Square on Monday, without presenting any evidence.
Russia has always categorically ruled out returning Crimea.
Ukraine News: Selenskyj and Scholz talk about further help
+++ 10:06 p.m .:
During another phone call between Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the two heads of state discussed other options for Germany to help Ukraine defend itself against Russia’s attack.
As Selenskyj wrote on Twitter, he spoke to Scholz about defensive aid, cooperation in the energy sector and tougher sanctions against Russia.
+++ 19:48:
The Czech government has officially approved more than 100 citizens to volunteer in the Ukraine war.
This was confirmed by a spokesman for President Milos Zeman on Wednesday (May 11).
The background to the decision is a law that forbids Czech compatriots from participating in military operations abroad.
However, leading government officials had already decided in March not to punish compatriots who defy the law in the case of the Ukraine war.
The Czech president, who was once a close ally of Putin, had called the Russian leader a "madman" after Russian troops invaded Ukraine.
War in Ukraine: First Russian soldiers charged with war crimes
+++ 16.45:
In Ukraine, the first Russian soldiers are to be accused of war crimes.
It involves three Russian prisoners of war who are accused of attacking or murdering civilians, the Guardian reports.
Another soldier is said to have killed a man and then raped his wife.
Since the war began, Ukraine's Prosecutor General's Office, headed by Iryna Venediktova, has registered more than 10,700 crimes, and a handful of cases have now been filed or are ready to be filed.
G7 meeting: Foreign ministers want to discuss Ukraine in Germany
+++ 3.45 p.m .:
Germany will be the scene of intensive diplomatic contacts about the war in Ukraine in the coming days.
From Thursday (May 12) to Saturday (May 14) the foreign ministers of the seven major western industrialized countries (G7) will meet at Schlossgut Weissenhaus in Schleswig-Holstein.
This meeting will include informal consultations between the NATO foreign ministers in Berlin on Saturday (May 14) and Sunday (May 15), as the Federal Foreign Office announced on Wednesday.
The host of the meetings is Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens).
Germany holds the presidency of the G7 group this year.
The focus of the G7 deliberations is "the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine and its effects, for example on energy and food security," as a spokeswoman for the Federal Foreign Office said.
The foreign ministers of Ukraine and Moldova will take part in parts of the meeting as guests.
Indonesia's foreign minister should be involved - the Asian country is currently chairman of the G20 group.
Ukraine conflict: Germany begins training Ukrainian soldiers
+++ 15.42:
In Germany, the training of Ukrainian soldiers on the Panzerhaubitze 2000 has begun.
As the Federal Ministry of Defense announced, the soldiers arrived at the Bundeswehr artillery school in Idar-Oberstein in Rhineland-Palatinate and began their training.
The federal government again dismissed fears that Germany would become a warring party in Ukraine's conflict with Russia.
Germany wants to hand over seven self-propelled howitzers to Ukraine in 2000.
The Netherlands, for their part, are supplying five of the heavy artillery.
The training takes place in Germany in coordination with the Netherlands.
It usually lasts 40 days.
However, it can also be shortened if you have the appropriate prior knowledge.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the aim is to train “up to 18 crews” for the howitzer together with the Netherlands.
Depending on the operational situation, a crew consists of between three and five soldiers.
New military alliance between Sweden and Great Britain – Johnson wants to send soldiers
+++ 2.30 p.m.:
Great Britain forms a military alliance with Sweden with immediate effect.
This was announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson during a visit to Scandinavia.
In this context, he signed a “political declaration of solidarity”.
In it, the states promise to strengthen military relations and to help each other in the event of an attack.
Great Britain apparently also wants to sign a similar declaration with Finland.
Johnson will then travel to Finnish President Sauli Niinistö.
Johnson also said on Wednesday afternoon that more British troops would be sent to Scandinavia for stability.
"This is not a short-term emergency solution,
+++ 12.30 p.m .:
Hungary is demanding a comprehensive exemption from the planned EU sanctions against Russian oil imports.
"The Hungarian government will support the oil embargo if it doesn't affect us," Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said in a video posted to his Facebook page on Wednesday.
For example, the proposed sanctions would be acceptable to Hungary if all oil supplies coming from Russia via pipelines are exempted, he added.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister makes serious accusations against the West: Hesitation “cost lives”
+++ 11:00
a.m .: According to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, the West’s hesitant attitude towards arms deliveries has cost the lives of many Ukrainians since the beginning of the Russian war of aggression.
"Had we been consulted from the start on all the weapons that we need to get, we would have gotten all those guns by now," the 41-year-old said in an interview published by Politico on Wednesday.
By then, their own soldiers would have been trained on the new systems and the situation at the front would be better, said Kuleba.
"We all lost time here and gave Putin an advantage that he shouldn't have." From Kuleba's point of view, the West's relationship to arms deliveries has changed, above all after the withdrawal of Russian troops from the northern Ukrainian regions occupied at the beginning of the war.
“People like success stories.
And we have a track record of surviving much longer than anyone could have expected," he said.
Sanctions against Russia in the Ukraine war: Ramelow for arms deliveries
+++ 9.30 a.m .:
Despite the risk of job losses, Thuringia’s Prime Minister Bodo Ramelow (left) supports the sanctions against Russia.
"We are going step by step into sanctions with the aim of making it clear to Vladimir Putin that he should stop the war," Ramelow said on Wednesday in the ARD "Morgenmagazin".
"Due to war-related losses", however, a loss of 7,000 jobs can be expected in the Thuringian glass industry.
Nevertheless, the Prime Minister wants to support everything "that leads to preventing Mr. Putin from continuing the war".
Ukraine-News: Selenskyj praises his army's courage and willingness to make sacrifices
+++ Update from Wednesday, May 11, 6:20 a.m .:
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj has praised the courage and sacrifice of his country’s troops in the fight against the Russian army.
"I am grateful to all our protectors who are defending themselves and showing truly superhuman strength to drive off the invaders' army," he said in his daily video address Tuesday night.
And that in the fight against the "once the second strongest army in the world".
Despite further successes on various fronts, Zelenskyy did not want to allow euphoria and "excessive emotions" to arise.
"There is no need to create an atmosphere of specific moral pressure when certain victories are expected on a weekly and even daily basis," he warned.
Diplomatic visits to Kyiv: Air raid alert during foreign minister's visit
+++ 10:06 p.m .:
Due to an air alarm before a planned meeting with Mayor Vitali Klitschko during his visit to Kiev, Dutch Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra had to stay safe in a bomb cellar for some time.
This was reported by the German Press Agency on Tuesday evening (May 10th).
However, no explosions were heard, and there is no information about flights.
The situation is stable, it was said from Kyiv.
Hoekstra traveled to Kyiv by train with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on Tuesday morning, where they had held a few appointments together.
Baerbock himself was reportedly not affected by the protective measure.
The minister had previously stated that even after the withdrawal of Russian troops from the Kyiv region, the war in Ukraine would not be over.
"It can hit any place in this country with a missile," she said.
Ukraine war: Macron on possible oil embargo against Russia
+++ 17:19:
After the visit of the EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen in Budapest, French President Emmanuel Macron also spoke to the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban about a possible oil embargo against Russia.
The purpose of the talks was "to come to an agreement on the sixth package of sanctions as quickly as possible," it said on Tuesday from the Elysée Palace.
Orban's spokesman confirmed that both leaders discussed "energy security issues".
+++ 4.15 p.m .:
Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) welcomed the trips by Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) and Bundestag President Bärbel Bas (SPD) to Ukraine.
At a press conference with Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo in Berlin on Tuesday, he emphasized once again that he was happy about the previous talks between Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj.
"Well, I think that's a good basis for the still important collaborative relationships that we have."
Ukraine News: Zelenskyy warns against cooperation with Russia
+++ 3:25 p.m .:
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj has warned Slovakia and other EU countries against further cooperation with Russia.
As a result, they are threatened with a similar fate as Ukraine is currently suffering, he said in a video message to the plenary session of the Slovakian parliament in Bratislava on Tuesday.
He understands that Slovakia finds it difficult to do without Russian gas imports.
However, Ukrainian politicians used to argue in a similar way and allowed the Black Sea Fleet to be stationed in large quantities in exchange for cheap gas.
Diplomacy in the Ukraine war: Annalena Baerbock announces the opening of the German embassy
+++ 2.50 p.m .:
Annalena Baerbock announced in a press conference on Tuesday afternoon that the German Embassy in Kiev would reopen today.
According to the Foreign Minister in Ukraine, work is being carried out on site with minimal staff and limited operations.
Abduction allegations against Russian troops – USA give new details
+++ 10.41 a.m .:
Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) has landed in Ukraine.
Baerbock visited the town of Bucha, which has become synonymous with suspected war crimes by the Russian army, reports AFP.
There Annalena Baerbock spoke to the residents of the city.
Update from Tuesday, May 10, 6:30 a.m .:
The Düsseldorf-based armaments group Rheinmetall will soon be able to deliver the first repaired Marder-type tanks.
"We could, for example, provide a total of 100 martens in the medium term, the first ones would be ready in three weeks," said Armin Papperger, CEO of the Süddeutsche Zeitung (Tuesday edition).
“We are waiting for the government's final decision.
But there are currently enough countries that want these vehicles, not just Ukraine.”
The largest German armaments company has large stocks of used tanks, such as the Marder and Leopard 1, which are now being refurbished in view of the war in Ukraine.
The martens are at the center of a discussion about the delivery of heavy weapons to Ukraine.
Among other things, the federal government considered an exchange of rings, whereby the armored personnel carriers would be delivered to Slovenia, which in return would sell tanks to the Ukraine.
Ukraine war: Stoltenberg calls on Putin to start negotiations
+++ 09.30 a.m .:
NATO asked Russia’s President Vladimir Putin on “Victory Day” over Hitler’s Germany to stop hostilities in Ukraine immediately.
"I am calling on President Putin once again on May 9 to end the war immediately, withdraw his troops from Ukraine and start peace negotiations," Stoltenberg told the daily Welt.
"We stand firmly by Ukraine's side and will continue to help the country assert its right to self-defense." He expects "that on May 9 of this year, Putin will again spread lies about NATO and the West as a whole," said Stoltenberg.
During the military parade in Moscow on May 9, Putin also addressed his compatriots with a speech.
+++ Update from Monday, May 9th, 7.30 a.m .:
Shortly before the celebrations to mark the end of the Second World War in Moscow, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj accused his Russian colleague Vladimir Putin of forgetting history.
"Russia has forgotten everything that was important to the victors of World War II," he said in a video message on Sunday evening.
Decades after World War II, "evil is back, in a different uniform, but with the same goal."
Update from Sunday, May 8th, 7 a.m.:
Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) will advise on Sunday via video conference (5 p.m.) with the other heads of state and government of the G7.
It deals with current issues and in particular with the war in Ukraine.
The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj will also take part and report on the situation in his country.
This is the third exchange of heads of state and government of the seven major industrial nations since Germany took over the G7 presidency at the turn of the year.
Ukraine war: Baerbock travels to Kyiv instead of Scholz – Selenskyj jacket auctioned for $110,000
+++ 1 p.m.:
President
Volodymyr Zelensyi invited Chancellor Olaf Scholz to Kyiv on May 9th.
Scholz could take a "very strong political step" and come to the Ukrainian capital on May 9, the president said at an event hosted by the London think tank Chatham House.
In response to the invitation, a spokesman for the Federal Government referred to the Chancellor's appointments that were already known.
This includes the inaugural visit by French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday (9 May).
For weeks there was disagreement between Kyiv and Berlin because a visit from Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier was not desired.
Scholz had previously described the unloading as an obstacle to his own trip.
On Thursday (May 5), Steinmeier and Selenskyj cleared up the irritations in a phone call.
Scholz then announced that Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock would travel to Kyiv.
+++ 9.50 a.m .:
A fundraising gala to support Ukraine took place in London.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson also took part in the “Brave Ukraine” campaign.
During the gala, a fleece jacket belonging to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was auctioned for $110,000.
In his speech, Johnson called Zelenskyy "one of the most incredible leaders of modern times".
Volodymyr Zelenskyy sets conditions for peace talks with Russia
First report from Saturday, May 7th:
Kiev - The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj has again commented on possible peace negotiations with Russia in the Ukraine war.
Should these resume, Russian President Vladimir Putin would first have to meet a number of conditions, Zelensky said.
According to Zelenskyy, the Russian troops would have to withdraw completely to the positions they held more than two months ago before the start of hostilities in the Ukraine war.
That is the “minimum”, emphasized Zelenskyj.
According to the US news portal Newsweek, the Ukrainian president said on Friday that the country was not prepared to cede territory to Russia.
Ukraine has a "bright future" ahead of it, and the "atrocities committed by the Russian troops" will not change that.
(dil/marv/nak/khto with dpa/AFP)