New law: Putin is isolating Russia more and more internationally – the British are considering supplying main battle tanks

Created: 01/10/2023 04:50

By: Florian Naumann, Patrick Mayer

There is no talk of negotiations: Russia is again raising allegations of satanism in the Ukraine war – and making promises to its own citizens.

The news ticker.

• Modern

  main battle tanks

  for

  Ukraine

  ?

  Poland is in favor of a broad coalition.

• Putin

  continues to isolate

  Russia

  : Anti-corruption deal with Europe terminated.

• This

  news ticker

  on diplomacy in the

  Ukraine war

  is continuously updated.

Update from January 9, 10:10 p.m .:

According to information from Moscow, the Russian government’s human rights officer, Tatyana Moskalkova, wants to meet her Ukrainian colleague Dmytro Lubinez in Turkey this week.

"I confirm that I am planning such a meeting," Moskalkova told journalists on Monday, according to the Russian news agency Interfax.

The talks are to be held on the sidelines of a summit to which numerous human rights officers from various countries will be arriving from Thursday to Saturday.

Initially, there was no confirmation from Kyiv.

Russia invaded neighboring Ukraine in late February 2022.

Since then, the human rights commissioners of both countries have made repeated appearances, including in the context of prisoner exchanges.

Most recently, 50 soldiers were released on both sides in an exchange.

Arms deliveries to Ukraine: Chancellor Olaf Scholz defends his course

Update from January 9, 8:55 p.m .:

Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) has defended his course in arms deliveries to Ukraine.

At an election campaign event of the Berlin Social Democrats this Monday, he countered allegations that he was too hesitant about it.

"Germany is at the forefront when it comes to supporting Ukraine," said Scholz.

This applies not only to financial and humanitarian aid, but also to arms deliveries.

The Chancellor emphasized that Germany, together with Great Britain, is now Ukraine's most important arms supplier after the USA.

"We will continue to do this," said the head of government of the traffic light coalition.

As long as it is necessary, said Scholz: "We will - as in the past - always be at the forefront when it comes to the scope and quality of the deliveries that we organize."

However, Scholz also reiterated that this war must not become a war between Russia and NATO.

And he sticks to his principle that he will only act in coordination with his partners.

“Germany will not go it alone, Germany will always stay together with friends and allies and especially with our transatlantic partner, the United States of America.

Anything else would be irresponsible in such a dangerous situation," he said.

The majority of citizens find this attitude correct.

Germany will always stay together with friends and allies and especially with our transatlantic partner, the United States of America.

Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD)

Modern main battle tanks for Ukraine?

Poland is in favor of a broad coalition of several countries

Update from January 9, 7:55 p.m .:

Poland has spoken out in favor of a broad coalition of several countries regarding the possible delivery of modern battle tanks to Ukraine.

"Of course, theoretically we could also act individually, but here we need broader NATO cooperation because we also have to maintain our defense capability," said Deputy Foreign Minister Pawel Jablonski, according to ZDF, on Polish public radio.

Like the Bundeswehr, the Polish land forces rely on the German-made Leopard 2 main battle tank.

According to unconfirmed reports, the Polish army is said to have up to 250 copies.

Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Poland has been one of the biggest supporters of its eastern neighbor.

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Among other things, Warsaw says it supplied its partner in Kyiv with up to 200 old T-72 tanks from Soviet times.

Several AHS Krab self-propelled artillery pieces are said to have been handed over to Ukraine.

Most recently, in response to Russian aggression, Poland announced the purchase of as many as 1,000 South Korean Black Panther K2-PL main battle tanks.

The first models have already been received in Gdansk.

Sought after in Kyiv: German battle tanks of the "Leopard 2" type.

© IMAGO/Sven Eckelkamp

Update from January 9, 7.45 p.m

.: A US senator justifies new billions in payments from the United States for military aid to Ukraine by comparing the fighting against Russia in the Donbass with “trench warfare” from the First World War.

And he reminds of Adolf Hitler.

Scholz spokesman Hebestreit makes it clear: Germany is currently not planning any Leopard 2 deliveries to Ukraine

Update from January 9, 7:15 p.m

.: Germany is preparing to deliver 40 “Marder” infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine.

With the armored and armed tanks, infantry like Panzergrenadiers can be brought to the target area.

The federal government supports this decision unanimously.

"This is a very clear signal to Ukraine that we will continue to stand by their side - humanitarian, financial and military," said Green party leader Ricarda Lang on Monday.

Her party colleague Anton Hofreiter, a native of Munich, had previously increased the pressure on Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) to also make Leopard 2 battle tanks available to Kyiv.

But: Government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit also made it clear this Monday that he currently has no plans to deliver "Leopard 2" to Kyiv.

For months, the Ukrainian government has been asking in vain for copies of the main battle tanks, which are considered to be efficient.

In the context of the Ukraine war: Sweden and the USA intensify defense cooperation

Update from January 9, 5:30 p.m

.: The NATO aspirant Sweden and the USA have started negotiations about deepening their defense cooperation in the context of the Ukraine war.

This is about an agreement that is intended to regulate the legal conditions for the presence of US forces in the Scandinavian country, as announced by the Swedish Ministry of Defense in Stockholm.

"By creating the conditions for an American presence in Sweden, including in the form of exercises, our security will be strengthened," the ministry said.

Such an agreement - a so-called Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA) - has therefore also been concluded by the USA with several other allies.

It opens the way to even closer cooperation, both bilaterally with Washington and within the framework of NATO, the Swedes explained.

The United States is the country's most important security partner.

A declaration of intent on intensified defense cooperation had already been signed in May 2016.

Under the impression of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, Sweden, like neighboring Finland, applied for NATO membership in May last year.

28 of the 30 current NATO members have already ratified it, only Turkey and Hungary are still missing.

Leopard 2 deliveries to Ukraine?

Greens put pressure on Chancellor Olaf Scholz

Update from January 9, 4:25 p.m

.: The Greens are putting pressure on Chancellor Scholz and the SPD on the issue of Leopard 2 deliveries. “We Greens have always said that we have to support Ukraine with everything that is possible,” said Group leader Katharina Dröge now the Bavarian radio.

"Sometimes it would have been good if we had acted faster."

The Greens European politician Anton Hofreiter again expressly demanded the delivery of Leopard 2 main battle tanks.

"I would only wish that it would succeed without the choking and the months of delay, as we saw with the marten," he told the broadcasters RTL and ntv.

The hesitation only means "that Ukrainian soldiers die unnecessarily".

The federal government, together with its partners, is constantly adapting its decisions to developments "on the battlefield" "in order to provide Ukraine with maximum support," said Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck on Sunday (January 8) in the ARD program "Report from Berlin” said.

A delivery of Leopard tanks to Kyiv is "of course not" out of the question.

Advertises for tank deliveries to Ukraine: Munich Green Party politician Anton Hofreiter (left), here with Ukrainian Parliament President Ruslan Stefantschuk in the German Bundestag.

© IMAGO/Christian Spicker

According to Kyiv, arms deliveries from the West are not enough

Update from January 9, 4:04 p.m

.: Kiev has shown its gratitude for the previous and announced Western arms deliveries – but from the country’s point of view they are not yet sufficient.

"No one has done enough as long as Russian boots are on Ukrainian soil," Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba tweeted.

Arming the Ukrainian army is the shortest way to restore peace and security in Europe.

Leopard 2 main battle tanks from Germany to Ukraine: "No intentions at the moment" 

Update from January 9, 3:11 p.m

.: The traffic light coalition under Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) initially does not want to give in to the demand from Ukraine, but also from coalition politicians from the FDP and the Greens, for the delivery of heavy Leopard 2 main battle tanks.

"The federal government currently has no intention of supplying Leopard 2 main battle tanks to Ukraine," government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said in Berlin.

Battle tanks to Ukraine: British consider delivery

Update from January 9, 2:34 p.m

.: According to the TV channel Sky News, Great Britain is considering delivering up to ten Challenger 2 battle tanks to Kiev.

The vehicles could therefore be used to ward off Russian attacks.

Corresponding discussions have been going on for weeks, the report said.

Such a move would also encourage other states to supply main battle tanks, a "Ukrainian source" quoted Sky News as saying.

The British Ministry of Defense initially did not comment on the report.

The UK has so far delivered more than 200 armored vehicles to Ukraine, including Stormer anti-aircraft systems, sources said.

A military exercise by Italian soldiers with Challenger 2 main battle tanks in Hohenfels, Germany (symbol image).

© piemags/Imago

Lavrov on the phone with Xi: Russia and China's foreign ministers united against the West

Update from January 9, 2:14 p.m

.: Russia’s chief diplomat Sergey Lavrov spoke to Qin Gang, China’s new foreign minister, on the phone.

Both sides had demonstrated unity towards the West.

They rejected "the policy of the United States and its satellites to establish hegemony in international relations," according to a press release from the Russian Foreign Ministry.

Beijing and Moscow accuse the West of interfering in internal affairs.

It was the first conversation between the two diplomats since Qin took office.

Lavrov invited his colleague to visit Russia.

Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin and China's head of state and party leader Xi Jinping had previously spoken on the phone.

Xi also received an invitation to an official state visit.

Update January 9, 1:05 p.m

.: Western states have complied with Ukrainian demands for the delivery of tanks after much hesitation.

However, according to Moscow, these will not affect the outcome of the war.

"In principle, these deliveries cannot and will not change anything in Ukraine," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday, according to the Interfax news agency.

It's not just about the French AMX-10RC light tanks, which he was asked about, but about all western arms supplies.

After France, Germany and the USA have also promised Ukraine armored personnel carriers.

According to Kremlin spokesman Peskov, Western tank deliveries to Ukraine will not affect the outcome of the war.

(Archive photo) © Sergei Bobylev/Imago

According to Peskov, Western weapons would only prolong the suffering of the Ukrainian people.

"These deliveries cannot thwart the achievement of the objectives of the military special operation," said the 55-year-old.

Putin continues to isolate Russia: Anti-corruption deal with Europe terminated

Update from January 9, 11:16 a.m

.: Vladimir Putin isolating Russia more and more internationally.

The Kremlin chief wants to withdraw from Russia's participation in the Council of Europe's Criminal Law Convention on Combating Corruption.

According to the law database, Putin introduced a law to this effect in parliament on Monday.

He justified the dismissal with discrimination against Russia.

The Council of Europe curtailed Russia's full membership of the Group of States against Corruption (GRECO).

"In accordance with this decision, Russia's membership of GRECO will be suspended, except in cases where GRECO conducts its observer mission on compliance with our country's commitments, in which case Russia loses the right to participate in the discussion or adoption of reports and the right to vote,” says the explanatory letter to the law.

This discrimination is unacceptable for Russia.

Since the start of its war of aggression against Ukraine, Moscow has already suspended its membership in a number of international organizations and reneged on international treaties.

Russia has left the Council of Europe and, for example, no longer recognizes the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights.

Since the start of the Ukraine war: human trafficking has increased dramatically

Update from January 9, 7.55 a.m

.: According to the Secretary General of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Helga Maria Schmid, human trafficking has increased dramatically since the start of the Ukraine war.

"Global online searches for sexual services and pornographic depictions by Ukrainian women and children have increased by up to 600 percent since the beginning of the war," Schmid said in Monday's edition of Die

.

The trade in pregnant women has also increased significantly since the beginning of the war.

The victims of sex crimes are lured online with false promises, abused in private accommodation in host countries or intercepted directly at the border by undercover human traffickers.

Schmid also spoke out against Russia's exclusion from the OSCE.

Keeping diplomatic channels open does not mean that there is agreement.

"In any case, from today's perspective, I think it makes sense for Russia to remain a member of the OSCE." Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba had called for Moscow's exclusion.

"One day we will need communication channels again," said the top German diplomat.

Lavrov spokeswoman rages in Ukraine war: "This is pure Satanism"

First report from January 8

: Moscow - Western governments see Russia in the Ukraine war before a new dilemma - Vladimir Putin's government now seems to be relegated to promises, known allegations and slogans to persevere.

There was no talk of negotiations on the first weekend of January (January 7/8) either on the Ukrainian or on the Russian side.

Instead, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy issued new sanctions against clergy.

The spokeswoman for Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Maria Zakharova, made the most severe accusations against Ukraine on Sunday (January 8) - in a well-known, religiously tinged style.

Western experts also classified the most recent "ceasefire" not least as a propaganda measure.

Among other things, Selenskyj had 13 priests of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which is considered to be close to Moscow, revoke their citizenship.

“And that on Orthodox Christmas!

This is pure Satanism," Zakharova raged on her Telegram channel, according to the state agency TASS.

Ramzan Kadyrov, who is loyal to Putin, has again accused Ukraine and NATO of "satanic" acts.

The US Institute for the Study of War recently analyzed that Russia wants to present itself as the “true protector” of the Christian faith.

The Orthodox Church is considered an important supporter of Putin.

Ukraine has also sanctioned Russian cultural workers.

One of the internationally best-known names in the decree published on Saturday is the Vienna-based opera singer Anna Netrebko, who has been criticized for being close to the Kremlin.

She and 118 other people - including three Ukrainian nationals - are to have their assets in Ukraine blocked.

Maria Zakharova, the spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry (archive photo).

© Maxim Shipenkov/dpa/EPA

Putin employee makes promises to Russia: "victory" and "beautiful life" for sure

In a telegram post, Kadyrov also tried to use reassuring words for the Russian people.

"Don't worry," he emphasized.

Kadyrov claimed Western aid was a "money laundering scheme" little of which was getting through to Ukraine.

Pictures of the Ukraine war: great horror and small moments of happiness

View photo gallery

The deputy head of the Russian presidential administration, Sergei Kiriyenko, made quite big promises.

"The goals set by the President with regard to the military special operation will be unconditionally fulfilled," he told journalists, according to Tass.

"Victory is certain, as is a normal and beautiful life," explained Kiriyenko.

Russia continues to describe its war of aggression as a “special military operation” – even though Vladimir Putin recently used the word “war”.

"God should judge" Ukraine, Kiriyenko said, referring to attacks during the Kremlin's "ceasefire".

Recently there have been increasing signs that the Russians are increasingly feeling the effects of the war.

A regional MP's vacation in Mexico provoked anger right up to the top of Putin's United Russia party.

At the same time, Ukraine is now apparently also attacking infrastructure targets in occupied areas.

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