A Latvian soldier in front of the national flag
Photo: INTS KALNINS/ REUTERS
This article will be continuously updated.
Zelenskyj asks for missile defense systems
6.03 a.m .:
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj has reiterated his appeal for the delivery of modern missile defense systems in the war against Russia.
The leadership in Kyiv will not slack off in their efforts to obtain sufficient numbers of these weapons, he said in a video message.
Russia has again attacked targets in the country.
Some of the missiles were shot down by Ukrainian air defense forces, Zelensky said.
Creating protection against rocket attacks before the end of this year is an extreme challenge for the state.
»But fulfilling this task depends not only on us, but also on our partners’ understanding of our basic needs.«
Spain increases military spending by €1 billion
5.15 a.m .:
In view of the Ukraine conflict, Spain will increase military spending by a good one billion euros in the coming year.
The government of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that this was decided in the cabinet on Tuesday a few days after the NATO summit was held in Madrid.
This corresponds to an increase in military spending of around 7.7 percent.
According to NATO information, the country recently spent a good 13 billion euros on defense.
According to the government communiqué, the new funds are needed “to cover the extraordinary expenses of the armed forces caused by the (Russian) invasion of Ukraine”.
Spain's military expenditures account for around one percent of the country's gross domestic product.
According to Sánchez, Spain should reach the minimum mark of two percent of GDP demanded by the USA and NATO by 2029.
Heavy fighting in the Luhansk border region
4.33 a.m .:
According to the governor Serhiy Hajday, there is heavy fighting on the outskirts of the Luhansk region.
“There is still a lot of shelling in both the Luhansk and Donetsk regions.
They shoot at everything that gets in their way,” says Hajdaj, referring to Russian forces.
"They are suffering rather heavy losses."
Russian army and reserve forces were sent there to cross the Severskyi-Donets river.
'Some battalions were transferred there to replace the number of wounded... They don't take all the wounded with them.
The hospitals are overcrowded, as are the morgues.” Reuters has not been able to independently verify his statements.
35 countries are demanding the exclusion of Russian sports associations and officials
4.31 a.m .:
Germany and 34 other countries are demanding sanctions for Russian and Belarusian sports associations and officials.
According to their will, they should be suspended by international associations such as the IOC and no longer be allowed to hold important posts.
The US Department of the Interior released a corresponding statement on Tuesday.
The German Parliamentary State Secretary Mahmut Özdemir (SPD) from the Ministry of the Interior responsible for sports is one of the signatories.
The collective of "like-minded nations" recognizes the autonomy of sports federations, but takes the position that "Russian and Belarusian national sports federations should be suspended from international federations".
People who are closely connected to the Russian or Belarusian state should also be removed from important posts.
This does not only apply to government officials.
In addition, national and international sports organizations should consider suspending TV broadcasts of their competitions to Russia and Belarus, it said.
Bundestag questions Scholz and initiates NATO expansion
4.08 a.m .:
Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) will answer questions from the members of the Bundestag on Wednesday (1 p.m.).
At the beginning, Scholz gives a report on a current topic after the cabinet meeting in the morning.
Afterwards, the deputies can put questions to the chancellor.
Approximately one hour is allotted for the survey.
Even before that, the first reading of the ratification law for the NATO accession of Finland and Sweden is scheduled for the start of the plenary session.
Finally, the Bundestag will vote on the admission of both countries on Friday, and the Bundesrat will also decide on the same day.
Finland and Sweden broke with their traditional military neutrality in May because of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine and applied for NATO membership.
Latvia reintroduces conscription
2:34 a.m.:
In response to the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, Latvia is reinstating conscription.
"Latvia's current military system has reached its limit," said Latvian Defense Minister Artis Pabriks.
"In the meantime, we have no reason to assume that Russia will change its behavior." According to the minister, military service is to be introduced in the coming year and will apply to men.
Pabriks also announced plans to build a new military base in the country.
The Baltic state abolished conscription in the years after joining NATO.
Since 2007, the Latvian Armed Forces have consisted of professional soldiers, and there is also a National Guard made up of volunteers.
The country with almost two million inhabitants and borders with Russia and Belarus currently has only 7,500 professional soldiers and national guardsmen.
In addition, 1,500 NATO soldiers are stationed in Latvia.
The Russian war of aggression against Ukraine has raised fears in many Eastern European countries that they themselves could become the target of Russian aggression.
The left calls for the end of energy sanctions and talks about Nord Stream 2
2:00 a.m.:
The left in the Bundestag is pushing for an end to the sanctions against Russia and the start of talks on the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline to secure gas supplies in Germany , remain limited, «says the parliamentary group’s economic expert, Klaus Ernst, to the newspaper «Rheinische Post».
The energy policy sanctions did not work.
They would not stop Russia, and the country continues to earn good money from its raw materials "and our citizens and our economy are the victims of a completely failed sanctions policy.
Against this background, it is immoral to maintain sanctions in this way.
An interruption in the gas supply could also irreparably damage Germany's industrial backbone.
"The federal government must now do everything to ensure the energy supply." To do this, despite the war, which is illegal under international law, one must talk to Russia.
"Possibly also about putting Nord Stream 2 into operation for a limited period of time if the gas supply cannot be guaranteed otherwise."
USA: G20 must increase pressure on Russia to open sea routes
12:31 a.m.:
At the meeting of the G20 foreign ministers in Bali this week, the US government will press for the opening of the sea routes through Russia for grain deliveries from Ukraine, according to government sources.
"G20 countries should hold Russia accountable and insist that it support ongoing UN efforts to reopen sea routes for grain shipments," said Ramin Toloui, deputy secretary of state for economic and corporate affairs, in reference to an initiative trying to bring Ukrainian and Russian food and fertilizers to world markets.
Foreign Minister Antony Blinken will also address energy security at the main G20 ministerial meeting on Friday and at bilateral meetings in Bali.
mrc/nck/dpa/Reuters/AFP