Selenskyj declares ceasefire failed – “German weapons save lives”
Created: 2023-01-07 22:19
By: Florian Naumann, Victoria Krumbeck, Markus Hofstetter, Patrick Freiwah, Fabian Müller
France, the US and Germany have pledged new tank supplies to Ukraine.
Russia warns of an "escalation".
The Belarusian opposition fears mobilization.
All information in the news ticker.
Ukrainian Ambassador
Oleksii Makeiev: "German weapons save lives"
Belarusian opposition
worries:
Mobilization possible in the country
Military aid
for
Ukraine
: Biden and the USA put together the largest package so far
This news ticker on diplomacy in the
Ukraine war
is constantly
updated
.
Update from January 7, 9:40 p.m .:
On Saturday evening, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj commented on the ceasefire declared by Putin about the Orthodox Christmas and declared it a failure.
"The world could see once again how false statements from Moscow are at every level," said the 44-year-old in his video message in the evening, shortly before the promised ceasefire period announced by Putin was to officially end.
Kyiv had rejected the Russian advance as hypocritical from the start, and many international observers also spoke of a pure propaganda gesture.
Even while the ceasefire was officially in place, Moscow admitted that it would continue to retaliate against Ukrainian attacks.
According to Ukrainian sources, two civilians also died as a result of Russian shelling in the city of Bakhmut in the eastern region of Donetsk.
"They said something about an alleged ceasefire, but the reality is that Russian shells again hit Bakhmut and other Ukrainian positions," Zelenskyy said.
Ukraine news: Country received aid worth 30 billion euros last year
Update from January 7, 1:25 p.m .:
According to its own statements, Ukraine was supported from abroad with the equivalent of more than 30 billion euros in aid and loans last year.
About 40 percent came from the United States, the Ukrainian central bank said on Saturday night.
Almost 25 percent came from the European Union and about eight percent from the International Monetary Fund.
Germany contributed another five percent.
The support was thus around 16 percent of Ukraine's pre-war economic output.
According to estimates by the Ministry of Economic Affairs in Kyiv, the Ukrainian gross domestic product collapsed by more than 30 percent in 2022 as a result of the war.
Ukrainian Ambassador to Germany: "German weapons save lives"
Update from January 7, 12:53 p.m .:
The Ukrainian Ambassador to Germany, Oleksii Makeiev, has shown himself confident that after infantry fighting vehicles, Western-style battle tanks could also be delivered to Ukraine.
"I'm an optimist.
After almost a year since the beginning of this great Russian invasion, many people in Germany have finally understood that this war is about the existence of Ukraine and about peace throughout Europe," Makeiev told Wirtschaftswoche when asked how big he was assess the chance that Germany will now also supply Leopard-type main battle tanks.
Ambassador of Ukraine Oleksii Makeiev.
© Horst Galuschka/IMAGO
"Our ground forces will benefit enormously from the Marder infantry fighting vehicle," Makeiev said.
He also thanked for the provision of air defense systems.
The announced Patriot system, together with the already delivered Gepard and Iris-T, will make a decisive contribution "to protecting the Ukrainian skies from Russian missiles".
"Even if it sounds strange to some: German weapons save lives and contribute to the return of peace in Europe."
Update from January 7, 12:20 p.m .:
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said on Saturday that the Belarusians support their Russian brothers and also recalled the Ukrainians.
“My visit to the military yesterday, to the Russian military, without hiding, means that we supported and still support our brothers.
But we don't forget the Ukrainians either.
Last year alone, about 10,000 Ukrainians who fled from the war found permanent housing and refuge in our country," Lukashenko said during a visit to the temple, as published by the Belarusian news agency Belta.
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War in Ukraine: Belarusian opposition fears possible mobilization
Update from January 7, 10:45 a.m .:
In the Belarusian opposition there are increasing concerns about a possible mobilization in their country to support Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.
The opposition politician Pawel Latuschka, who lives in exile in Warsaw, told the editorial network Germany on Saturday that the preparations for this were well advanced.
The Belarusian ruler Alexander Lukashenko only needs to press the button on orders from the Kremlin to start mobilizing.
Former Belarusian culture minister Latushka is a member of opposition leader Svetlana Tichanovskaya's cabinet in exile.
As Latushka reported, citing sources from Minsk, almost all employees who report to the Belarusian Interior Ministry were asked to surrender their passports.
This information would come from various cities in the country.
"This means that these people will not be able to leave the territory of Belarus if they are mobilized," said Latuschka.
One can also observe that the Russian military presence in Belarus is constantly growing.
That affects the number of soldiers and the equipment.
"Military exercises of the Russian armed forces, including exercises on cooperation between the armed forces of Russia and Belarus, are held regularly," Latushka said.
Fears of active involvement of the Belarusian military in the war of aggression against Ukraine have existed practically since the start of the Russian invasion of the neighboring country at the end of February 2022. Russian armed forces have used the territory of ally Belarus as a launching pad for attacks on Ukraine.
Military aid in the Ukraine war: Biden and the USA put together the largest package so far
Update from January 6, 10:26 p.m .:
The US government is providing Ukraine with additional military aid worth billions to ward off the Russian war of aggression.
The US Department of Defense said on Friday the Ukraine war support package was worth more than $3 billion.
Of that, $2.85 billion worth of weapons came from US armed forces inventories.
It is the largest single package of its kind to date.
A Bradley infantry fighting vehicle in Washington.
(Archive photo) © Andrew CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP
About 50 Bradley armored personnel carriers will be delivered, which are equipped with anti-tank missiles, among other things.
The pack also includes 100 armored personnel carriers and mine-resistant vehicles, as well as 138 all-terrain vehicles known as the Humvee.
The US government had already announced the delivery of the armored personnel carriers on Thursday after a phone call from US President Joe Biden to Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD).
Ukraine-News: Selenskyj addresses his compatriots with a Christmas speech
Update from January 6, 8:10 p.m .:
Several Orthodox churches – including the Ukrainian Orthodox and the Russian Orthodox – traditionally celebrate Christmas on January 7th.
While an air raid alarm was triggered in Ukraine on Friday despite Putin's announced ceasefire, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy used Friday to send a Christmas message to his compatriots.
“This is a holiday of harmony and family unity.
And together we are all one big Ukrainian family," he said in a video released Friday night.
More than 300 days after the Russian invasion, the Ukrainian family is united like never before - "in their courage, their steadfastness, their mutual respect and their mutual help," said Zelenskyj, who is in the video in a festively decorated hall and a military green one wears a shirt with small armor embroidered on it.
"I wish you all a merry christmas!
(...) Take care of yourselves, take care of your families, take care of our Ukraine!”
Ukraine-News: Ministry of Defense is examining the sale of Bundeswehr armored personnel carriers
Update from January 6, 6:21 p.m .:
After the delivery commitment of Marder armored personnel carriers, the Ministry of Defense prepares the delivery from the Bundeswehr stocks.
According to dpa information, a corresponding test started on Friday.
In addition, it is being examined how the goal of quickly handing over 40 armored personnel carriers can be achieved.
The Bundeswehr owns more than 370 martens.
However, many of them would need to be overhauled before they could be used, since only about half of the tanks are considered operational.
In addition, Marder are bound for the NATO commitment in the rapid reaction force (VJTF).
Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht coordinated with her American counterpart Llyod Austin on Friday.
"The armored personnel carrier ammunition will initially come from Bundeswehr stocks," she said afterwards.
But where exactly the tanks should come from was not initially clear.
According to a statement by the Ministry of Defence, Lambrecht said that Germany was delivering as a levy from industrial or Bundeswehr stocks.
In the summer, the manufacturer Rheinmetall offered 100 armored personnel carriers for Ukraine.
Of these, 40 are intended for the ring exchange with Greece.
Another 60 tanks will be refurbished and overhauled so that they can be handed over to Ukraine.
Ukraine-News: Former ambassador Andriy Melnyk on tank delivery - "Right but late decision"
Update from January 6, 5:07 p.m .:
The Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Andriy Melnyk also reported on the planned German arms deliveries to Ukraine.
He sees the announced delivery of German Marder infantry fighting vehicles in the Ukraine war as "a correct, but very belated decision".
The deliveries have a "bitter aftertaste", as the former Ukrainian ambassador to Germany told the news portal t-online.
The country had to wait "316, very long, bloody days of war".
Former Ukrainian Ambassador to Germany Andriy Melnyk.
© Michael Kappeler/dpa
He doubted that his "German friends were proud of this hesitant traffic light action today".
"It is also questionable whether you can describe this approach as a manager," said Melnyk, referring to Chancellor Scholz and his late support in the Ukraine war.
The delivery of the infantry fighting vehicle should be the “first breach of taboo” in order to immediately equip the army with all weapon systems, Melnyk told the editorial network Germany (RND).
"It's about all the heavy weapons that can be delivered immediately, such as battle tanks, combat aircraft, combat drones, warships, submarines, ballistic missiles," said the Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister
Deliveries of arms to the Ukraine: Strack-Zimmermann for battle tank use
After Chancellor Olaf Scholz's decision to deliver armored personnel carriers to Ukraine, the chairwoman of the Defense Committee in the Bundestag, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann (FDP), is also urging German support with battle tanks.
In an interview with the "Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung" (NOZ), she said: "The European partners are waiting for Germany to be ready to move some Leopard battle tanks.
We must never get used to this brutal war raging in Ukraine given the suffering of the people who have been struggling to survive there for over ten months.”
Strack-Zimmermann pointed out that "we should have trained Ukrainian soldiers in the Marder infantry fighting vehicle and the Leopard 2 battle tank in the autumn so that they could be deployed immediately after delivery to the Ukraine."
Both types are "strategically important, for example, in order to push back Russian positions in the battles for Bakhmut".
The decision by the French and American presidents to supply tanks to Ukraine "finally tied the knot".
"Under this pressure, the Federal Chancellor has finally given the green light to deliver the Marder infantry fighting vehicle to the Ukraine," emphasized Strack-Zimmermann.
"Shouldn't have crossed the border": Putin's message warns Scholz of Ukraine "escalation"
Update from January 6, 3:30 p.m .:
The Russian embassy in Berlin has sharply criticized the planned German arms deliveries to Ukraine.
"We resolutely condemn this decision and regard it as a further step towards the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine," the diplomatic mission wrote on its website.
Vladimir Putin has a reputation for losing touch with reality.
© Sergey Guneev/Sputnik Kremlin/AP/dpa
Emphasize again that the shipments of deadly and heavy weapons "represent the moral line that the federal government should not have crossed."
Like the “collective West”, Germany has no interest in “seeking a peaceful solution to the conflict”.
Berlin's decision to deliver heavy weapons will seriously affect German-Russian relations.
Update from January 6, 12:40 p.m .:
According to official information, Alexander Lukashenko has inspected the joint Russian-Belarusian troops in the country.
"During a visit to the Obuz-Lesnovsky training area, Alexander Lukashenko said that the experience gained through the integration of military units and formations is of great importance for Belarus," the Belarusian Defense Ministry said on Friday in its Telegram channel.
Speculations have recently increased that Russian troops could attack Ukraine again via Belarus.
The military training area is near the city of Baranavichy in the west of the country.
Alexander Lukashenko at the Osipovichi military training area.
© Uncredited/AP/dpa
Meanwhile, information about German tank deliveries to Ukraine is accelerating.
Government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit has announced that it is about 40 of the weapon systems that a battalion can be equipped with.
From the point of view of Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck (Greens), Ukraine should get all the Marder tanks that are available.
"Well, if you ask me, everyone who is operational should come to Ukraine as soon as possible," Habeck said on Friday on the sidelines of his trip to Norway.
A military expert expects further debates after the "taboo break".
Putin's Ambassador Blames US After Weapons Announcement: "Dangerous Course"
Update from January 6, 8:30 a.m .:
Moscow’s ambassador in Washington accused the United States of a lack of will to end the war after the announcement that it would deliver armored personnel carriers to Ukraine.
All recent US actions directly show that Washington has no desire for a political solution in Ukraine, Russian Ambassador Anatoly Antonov said in Washington, according to the Russian state agency TASS.
"There should be no doubt as to who is responsible for prolonging the recent conflict."
So far, only Soviet models have been delivered to the Ukraine war zone by Eastern European countries.
However, the country received anti-aircraft, armored transport and armored recovery vehicles from Western manufacturers.
The change of course was already indicated on Wednesday, when French President Emmanuel Macron promised his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyj heavily armed reconnaissance tanks.
The US wants to send Bradley armored personnel carriers to the war zone in Ukraine.
© Jörg Hüttenhölscher/Imago
Antonov said the weapons delivered to Kyiv were not of the "defensive character" claimed.
The US government's decision to supply Bradley infantry fighting vehicles "confirms that the United States has not listened to repeated calls from the Russian side to consider the possible impact of such a dangerous course by Washington."
Russia wants to keep the ceasefire - but respond to offensive actions by Ukraine
Update from January 5, 9:38 p.m .:
Despite a 36-hour ceasefire ordered by Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin, Russian troops will continue to respond to Ukrainian attacks in the Ukraine war, according to an occupation chief.
"The decision concerns the cessation of initiating fire and offensive actions from our side," wrote Denis Puschilin, who was deployed by Moscow in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk, on Thursday in the Telegram news service.
Puschilin added: "This does not mean that we will not respond to the opponent's provocations!
Or even give the enemy any chance to improve their positions on the front lines during these holiday hours.”
Ukraine war: Zelenskyj adviser reacts to ceasefire with serious allegations
Update from January 5, 7:06 p.m .:
Shortly after Russia announced a ceasefire for the Ukraine war for the Orthodox Christmas, the Ukrainian side reacted to Putin’s scheduled ceasefire.
Mikhailo Podoliak, an adviser to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, wrote on Twitter: "First, Ukraine is not attacking foreign territories or killing civilians like Russia is doing."
Ukraine is only destroying the "occupational army," Podoljak continued.
"Secondly, Russia must leave the occupied territories." Because only then can there be a temporary ceasefire: "Keep your hypocrisy to yourselves," concludes the tweet about the possible 36-hour ceasefire in the Ukraine war, which is probably from Russia Orthodox Christmas is scheduled.
Medvedev threatens NATO with Zirkon hypersonic missile – Putin announces ceasefire in Ukraine
Update from January 5, 6:29 p.m .:
The fact that the frigate Admiral Gorshkov was in combat should bring sense to anyone who dares to threaten Russia, wrote Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council, on Thursday in his telegram Channel.
The Zirkon hypersonic missile launched from the ship, Medvedev called "a great New Year's gift."
Speaking to NATO, Putin's stalwart added: "We will use force against you because you refuse to understand what we have said." He warned that Russia would produce more advanced weapons in the future.
Update from January 5, 4:20 p.m .:
Before the Orthodox Christmas, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a one and a half day ceasefire in Ukraine.
Putin instructed the Russian Defense Ministry to cease hostilities in the neighboring country from Friday noon (12 p.m. local time) until Sunday night (midnight local time), according to a Kremlin statement on Thursday.
The Ukrainian side was also called upon to order a ceasefire.
Ukraine news: Germany's tank turnaround in the war?
Update from January 5, 4:10 p.m .:
Is Germany’s tank turnaround in military support for Ukraine now?
Apparently, Olaf Scholz's traffic-light government is actually considering supplying German tanks to the Ukrainian military.
A corresponding plan has now been leaked.
Ukraine News: Putin laments “destructive” West towards Erdogan
Update from January 5, 3:25 p.m .:
In conversation with the Turkish head of state Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin complained, according to the state news agency Ria Novosti, of a “destructive role for western states”.
They would "pump" the "Kiev regime" full of weapons and military equipment.
In addition, Western Ukraine is also providing "operational information" and helping to set targets.
Ukraine News: Erdogan talks to Putin
Patriarch Kirill supports Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin's war.
© Sergei Chirikov/EPA/dpa
Update from January 5, 1:10 p.m .:
Russia has once again confirmed its willingness to talk to Ukraine.
In a phone call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Vladimir Putin said "that Russia is open to serious dialogue," the Kremlin said.
The condition is "that the authorities in Kyiv adhere to the known and repeatedly expressed demands and take into account the new territorial realities".
Erdogan called on Putin to call for a ceasefire in Ukraine.
Kyiv, meanwhile, has rejected Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill's call for a ceasefire over Orthodox Christmas on January 6-7.
"It's a cynical trap and an element of propaganda," Presidential Advisor Mykhailo Podoliak tweeted on Thursday.
The Russian Orthodox Church is not an authority in world orthodoxy and only acts as a "war propagandist".
Podoljak also accused the Moscow Patriarchate of calling for genocide against the Ukrainians.
Peace in the Russia-Ukraine War?
Erdogan calls on Putin for a "unilateral ceasefire".
Update from January 5, 11:35 a.m .:
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called on Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin for a “unilateral ceasefire” in Ukraine.
During a telephone conversation, Erdogan said that "calls for peace and negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv should be accompanied by a unilateral ceasefire and a vision for a fair solution," the Turkish presidential office said.
Erdogan also wants to speak to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday.
In the past, the Turkish president has used his good relations with Moscow and Kyiv to mediate in the conflict.
Turkey helped launch the UN-backed grain deal.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called on Vladimir Putin for a unilateral ceasefire.
(Archive photo) © Vyacheslav Prokofyev/dpa
At the same time, Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill called for a ceasefire over the Orthodox Christmas holiday.
“I, Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, call on all sides involved in the internal conflict to cease fire and establish a Christmas truce from January 6 at 12 noon to January 7 at midnight so that believers can attend mass on Christmas Eve and on the day of Christ's birth," said Kirill, who is considered a close ally of Putin, in an appeal published on Thursday.
However, the Kremlin had recently declared that there would be no such ceasefire.
Deutsche Panzer für die Ukraine: SPD-Chefin Eskin hält sich weiterhin bedeckt
Update vom 5. Januar, 10.38 Uhr: Auch nach der französischen Ankündigung, die Ukraine mit Spähpanzern zu unterstützen, hält SPD-Chefin Saskia Esken sich zur Lieferung deutscher Kampfpanzer bedeckt. „Die deutsche Regierung und der deutsche Bundeskanzler sind dazu immer wieder in engen Abstimmungen mit den Partnern, mit den Freunden - insbesondere natürlich mit den Amerikanern“, sagte Esken am Donnerstag in der RLT/ntv-Sendung „Frühstart“ auf die Frage, wann Deutschland Panzer des Typs Leopard 2 liefere.
"We have supported Ukraine with arms deliveries from the start, and we will continue to do so in the future for as long as it is necessary and also in accordance with military developments and according to necessity." The Chancellor was "in close talks with special partners and friends ' Esken repeated when asked.
"And that will continue to be the case, and then we will make decisions accordingly."
SPD leader Saskia Esken remains silent on questions about tank deliveries to Ukraine.
© Wolfgang Kumm/dpa
FDP puts pressure on arms deliveries: After Macron's yes, Berlin must also deliver battle tanks
Update vom 5. Januar, 08:38 Uhr: Der Druck auf Olaf Scholz (SPD), Panzer an die Ukraine zu liefern, wächst. Die FDP hat den Bundeskanzler zu einem Kurswechsel aufgefordert. Scholz könne derartige Lieferungen auch von deutscher Seite nun nicht länger ablehnen, sagte die FDP-Verteidigungsexpertin Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann am Donnerstagmorgen der Nachrichtenagentur AFP. Zuvor hat Frankreich der Ukraine die Lieferung von Spähpanzern zugesagt, die USA erwägen die Lieferung von Schützenpanzern.
"The argument constantly put forward by the Federal Chancellery that Germany should not go it alone is absolutely passé," said the Chair of the Defense Committee.
France is once again taking on the role expected of Germany and going ahead itself.
"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.
Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann (FDP), chairwoman of the Bundestag's Defense Committee, is demanding that the federal government deliver tanks to Ukraine © Michael Kappeler/dpa
Schützenpanzer für die Ukraine: US-Regierung erwägt Lieferung von „Bradleys“
Erstmeldung vom 5. Januar: Kiew/Washington – Die US-Regierung erwägt die Lieferung von Schützenpanzern des Modells „Bradley“ an die Ukraine. Dabei handelt es sich um Fahrzeuge, die mit den deutschen Modellen Marder oder Puma vergleichbar sind.
Die gepanzerten Kettenfahrzeuge verfügen laut US-Militär normalerweise über eine Kanone, ein Maschinengewehr sowie panzerbrechende Raketen. US-Präsident Joe Biden bejahte am Mittwoch die Frage eines Reporters, ob die Lieferung der Schützenpanzer an die Ukraine von der Regierung erwogen werde. Er nannte keine Einzelheiten. Damit blieb zunächst unklar, welche Modellvariante des „Bradley“ für Kiew in Frage käme.
Panzer-Lieferung aus Frankreich: Wolodymyr Selenskyj bedankt sich für Spähpanzer
Frankreich sagte der Ukraine am Mittwoch (4. Januar) die Lieferung „leichter Kampfpanzer“ zu. Es geht dabei um den Spähpanzer AMX-10 RC. Der ukrainische Präsident Wolodymyr Selenskyj hat die angekündigte Lieferung französischer Spähpanzer als wichtiges Signal auch an andere westliche Staaten gewertet. „Frankreich hebt die Verteidigungsunterstützung für die Ukraine auf ein neues Level und ich danke Präsident (Emmanuel) Macron für diese Führungsrolle“, sagte Selenskyj in seiner Videoansprache am Mittwochabend.
Wie viele Panzer Frankreich der Ukraine bis wann übergeben will, war zunächst noch unklar. Aus dem Élyséepalast hieß es, dies seien die ersten Kampfpanzer westlicher Bauart, die an die ukrainischen Streitkräfte geliefert würden. Selenskyj lobte: „Das sendet ein klares Signal an alle unsere Partner: Es gibt keinen rationalen Grund, weshalb Panzer westlicher Bauart bislang nicht an die Ukraine geliefert wurden.“
Waffen für die Ukraine: Bundestags-CSU will europäische Initiative für Lieferung von Kampfpanzern
In fact, Ukraine has received Western tanks in the past, although these tended to be troop carriers like the US model M113 - a smaller tracked vehicle.
Germany has also provided Ukraine with 30 Gepard anti-aircraft tanks.
To date, Ukraine has not received a full-fledged western main battle tank such as the French Leclerc model or the German Leopard.
Pictures of the Ukraine war: great horror and small moments of happiness
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It is becoming increasingly difficult for the German government to justify its refusal to provide main battle tanks for Ukraine.
The CSU in the Bundestag is now calling for a European initiative by the federal government to work with allies to deliver western-style main battle tanks to Ukraine.
“We want Ukraine to be able to exercise its right to self-defense.
She needs more heavy weapons for this - including Leopard 2 tanks," said CSU regional group leader Alexander Dobrindt of the German Press Agency.
"The federal government must start a European initiative for the joint sale of battle tanks," he demanded.
