Enlarge image
Andriy Melnyk
Photo: Metodi Popov / IMAGO
This article will be continuously updated.
Melnyk calls for fighter jets and submarines for Ukraine
10.15 a.m .:
The Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine, Andriy Melnyk, demands from Germany the delivery of Tornado and Eurofighter fighter jets, warships and submarines to his country.
With regard to the delivery of Leopard tanks, Melnyk says to RTL/ntv: "That should only be the first step." He also said: "We have a very powerful opponent, the Russians are producing weapons at full speed." Boris Pistorius on the point »Leadership.«
It is also about support for the Ukrainian Navy: “We need warships so that the coast can be protected, we have a very long coast.
We would also need submarines to avert the danger of a new attack from the sea in the Black Sea,” says Melnyk.
The danger of a new attack by Russia, also on the capital Kyiv, is still there: "The war is far from over."
Grünenchef Nouripour on Leopard deliveries: Germany is leading the way
10.01
a.m .: Green chief Omid Nouripour has shown his relief given the expected delivery of battle tanks to Ukraine.
»Germany is moving forward.
And other states are going along with it," said Nouripour in the ZDF morning magazine.
This will solve a big problem.
With a view to media reports that the USA apparently wanted to deliver its own Abrams-type battle tanks to Ukraine, Nouripour said: "The fact that the Americans have now come on board is a success."
Nouripour justified the German government's hesitation on the battle tank issue with the urgent need to coordinate with partner countries.
"And that happened." When asked whether there was concern about a possible counter-attack by Russia, Nouripour replied: "There is always a need to ensure that one does not contribute to the escalation." But it shouldn't be that Russia always does formulate the conditions.
The Kremlin lives from the fact that people in their own country and abroad are afraid.
"And if we let that fear paralyze us, then we won't move forward."
Air alert in Ukraine - explosions in Kherson
9.58 a.m .:
In the capital Kiev and all regions of Ukraine there was an air alarm in the morning.
This was reported by the public TV channel Suspilne.
Its correspondents also report explosions from Cherson.
Shares of armaments group Rheinmetall at record high
9.37 a.m .:
The shares of the Leopard tank manufacturer Rheinmetall increase by almost three percent to 229.50 euros, reaching a record high.
Germany will apparently deliver the Leopard main battle tank, manufactured by the armaments company, to Ukraine.
"While the direct financial impact would be limited, it would provide a very positive sentiment for the stocks," said one trader.
The tanks supplied by the states would have to be replaced, which speaks for increasing demand and orders for Rheinmetall.
The arms company's stocks have soared 170 percent since Russia invaded Ukraine last February.
Wissler warns of escalation
9.20 a.m .:
Left party leader Janine Wissler has criticized the planned delivery of Leopard battle tanks to Ukraine and warned of an escalation of the conflict.
This is "not good news" and: "We fear that this is really a very dangerous mistake," said Wissler in the ZDF morning magazine.
Ukraine and the people in Ukraine would not be helped if this war escalated beyond Ukraine "and we slipped into a slide that could really mean a very dangerous escalation," the left leader continued to warn.
"Delivering more and more and heavier weapons into this country is not a strategy."
The fact that Russia is bombing civilians and destroying civilian infrastructure "is criminal," Wissler said.
"It's not entirely clear to me how the delivery of the Leopard battle tanks is supposed to solve this problem now." Instead, the left leader called for greater diplomatic efforts.
Russia must be forced to the negotiating table.
It is also important "to get countries like China on board and to increase the pressure on Moscow there."
Military expert sees Russia strengthened - tanks important for Ukraine
9.11 a.m .:
According to a military expert from Switzerland, Russia has overcome a phase of weakness in the war against Ukraine.
"We are heading towards a situation in which main battle tanks play an important role in terms of defense and counter-offensives," says Niklas Masuhr, researcher at the Center for Security Studies at the University of Zurich in Zurich, the German Press Agency.
Since the fall, Russia has improved its position, for example by building defensive lines.
Retrofitting Ukrainian tanks is made more difficult because Russia has destroyed many factories and production lines for tank ammunition, for example.
The NATO states have already made their old reserves available.
Accordingly, Western main battle tanks such as the German-made Leopard or the Abrams from the USA now came into focus.
With a minimum of 100 western tanks, Ukraine could equip a western-style tank brigade, Masuhr said.
»But main battle tanks are not a silver bullet.
They must be deployed and repaired in tandem and equipped with ammunition.”
Regarding the course of the war, the military expert said: »Ukraine has carried out its previous counter-offensives during Russian weak phases, especially in the autumn.
Since then, however, Russia has consolidated itself and has a steady hand at command level.' Ukraine also cannot rely on the fact that 'Russian shortcomings from the first year will necessarily be repeated'.
Moscow reports testing of hypersonic missile
8:54 a.m .:
The Russian Ministry of Defense reports that the frigate "Admiral Gorshkov" has tested hypersonic missiles in the Atlantic.
The Zirkon missiles, which have a range of 900 kilometers, were tested with the help of a computer simulation.
However, the message does not state whether the frigate actually fired a missile.
The ministry said two weeks ago that the warship was holding exercises in the North Sea.
It is equipped with Zircon missiles that can reach nine times the speed of sound and have a range of more than 1000 kilometers.
Russian T-14 tanks in poor condition, London reports
8.33 a.m .:
The Russian army apparently has problems with its own battle tanks.
The T-14 Armata was supposed to be on a par with the latest generation of western main battle tanks such as the Challenger or Leopard and is now also being used in Ukraine, but according to the British Ministry of Defense the Kremlin troops are hesitant to use it: the vehicles are in poor condition.
"For the past three years, Russian officials have publicly described problems with the T-14's engine and thermal imaging systems," according to the ministry's daily briefing, which is based on intelligence materials.
Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu described the production series planned for 2022 as “experimental-industrial”.
"As such, deployed T-14 tanks are unlikely to meet the standards for new equipment to be considered operational."
Association warns of the consequences of Leopard deliveries for the Bundeswehr
8.21 a.m .:
According to the chairman of the Bundeswehr Association, André Wüstner, the Bundeswehr’s readiness for action is weakened by the delivery of Leopard main battle tanks to Ukraine.
The delivery was "good for Ukraine on the one hand, bad for the operational readiness of the Bundeswehr on the other hand," said Wüstner on Wednesday in the ZDF morning magazine.
One should not believe that the Ukraine war will be over in two or three months - and the tanks already delivered and promised by Germany will not remain.
"If we not only want to support Ukraine, but also want to be able to defend ourselves again," Wüstner demanded that politicians should strengthen industry so that the necessary equipment would be available in the coming years.
"In the last few months it has been said that we are only partially ready to defend ourselves - if at all," said Wüstner.
Politicians are not only responsible for supporting Ukraine against the Russian war of aggression, but also for defending the country and the alliance.
Reactions to plans for tank deliveries: "Where is it all going?"
8.17 a.m .:
The traffic light coalition and the Union praise the federal government’s decision to deliver Leopard tanks to Kiev.
But an SPD foreign politician feels his fears have been confirmed.
Read more here.
Recommended reading: The situation in the morning –
Scholz struggles through
8.14 a.m .:
Today we are dealing with the Western main battle tanks for Ukraine: US President Biden is apparently sending Abrams tanks - and Olaf Scholz in return releases the Leopard.
This is a domestic political success for the chancellor.
But it comes at a price.
Mathieu von Rohr, head of the foreign department, wrote the situation in the morning, you can read more here.
Zelenskyj: »It's not about five or ten or fifteen tanks.
The need is greater«
8:12 a.m .:
The President of Ukraine is cautious about reports of Leopard deliveries.
Will there soon be a demand for fighter planes?
And: Moscow accuses the US of a “blatant provocation”.
You can read about the developments up to the morning here.
mgo/AFP/dpa/Reuters
