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Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann (FDP), Chairwoman of the Bundestag's Defense Committee
Photo: Kay Nietfeld / dpa
This article will be continuously updated.
Strack-Zimmermann: Tank delivery would no longer be a solo effort
8.51 a.m .:
After France’s decision to deliver light battle tanks to Ukraine, the FDP asked Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) to change course.
Scholz can no longer refuse such deliveries from the German side, said the FDP defense expert Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann of the AFP news agency in Berlin.
"The argument constantly advanced by the Federal Chancellery that Germany should not go it alone is absolutely passé," said the chair of the Bundestag's defense committee.
"France is once again assuming the role expected of Germany and leading the way," said Strack-Zimmermann.
"In the spirit of Franco-German friendship, the Chancellor should finally recognize the signs of the times and follow suit - the ball is now in Berlin." Ukraine must now "win in order to defend our freedom and our values - and that's only possible." supporting tanks,” said the Liberal.
The previous evening, French President Emmanuel Macron announced in a telephone call to his Ukrainian colleague Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Paris would deliver French-made "light battle tanks" to Kyiv.
These are AMX-10 RC tanks.
Russia distributes long-range bombers to different air bases, according to London
8.34 a.m .:
Under the impression of the alleged Ukrainian attacks on the Engels air base, Moscow has apparently begun to distribute its aircraft to different airfields.
This is reported by the British Foreign Office, citing secret service circles via Twitter.
Apparently, at the end of December 2022, Russia deployed long-range Tu-95MS BEAR heavy bombers and Tu-22M3 BACKFIRE medium bombers to eastern Ukraine.
After the attacks on the Engels base on December 5 and 26, 2022, in which several aircraft were damaged, Moscow responded with a general dispersal of long-range aircraft, especially at airfields further from Ukraine.
Now the Kremlin forces are still able to fire air-launched cruise missiles at Ukraine because the weapons have a range of 5,000 kilometers, in addition to the flight range of the bombers.
However, operating from distributed locations introduces additional maintenance stress and is likely to further eat up the limited flying hours of these aging aircraft, the report says.
Key developments: US considers supplying armored personnel carriers to Ukraine
8:22 a.m .:
France has already promised reconnaissance tanks – and soon Ukraine could also receive Bradley tanks from the USA.
And: Kyiv reports the next heavy blow against the Russian army.
You can read about the most important developments here.
mgo/AFP/dpa/Reuters
