Ukraine-Russia news today: Zelenskyj on Russia plans by IOC chief Bach: "Invite him to Bachmut"

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According to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, it is "impossible not to be disappointed with the attitude of the IOC President".

Photo:

Ukrainian Presidential Press Off / dpa

This article will be continuously updated.

Selenskyj counters Bach's plans for Russia: "Invite him to Bachmut"

8.02 a.m .:

Volodymyr Zelenskyj sharply criticized IOC President Thomas Bach’s considerations of reintegrating athletes from Russia and Belarus into world sport.

»I invite Mr. Bach to Bakhmut, there he can see for himself that neutrality does not exist«, said Zelenskyj about Bach's plans: »It is obvious that every neutral banner of Russian athletes is stained with blood.«

In a media round on the sidelines of the Luge World Championships in Oberhof, Bach had previously reiterated the IOC's position of being open to a return of these athletes to world sport.

"It does not correspond to the values ​​​​and the mission of the Olympic Charter to exclude athletes because of their passport," said Bach.

"Possibly" athletes with Russian and Belarusian passports could also start as "neutral, independent athletes" at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

It was impossible "not to be disappointed by the attitude of the IOC President," Zelenskyy replied.

He spoke to Bach "more than once" and never realized "how he wanted to protect sport from wartime propaganda by admitting Russian athletes to international competitions."

Bach also took the position on Friday in Oberhof that the IOC's mission was "to bring together all athletes from all over the world, that's the special symbol of the Olympics".

A threatening boycott of Ukraine, which Sports Minister Wadym Hutzajt outlined on Facebook, is in this case “not in line with our mission.

We know the view of Ukraine, which not only wants to isolate Russia as a state, but also wants to isolate all Russians completely," said the 69-year-old.

Rosneft Germany sees good talks for oil from Kazakhstan

7.55 a.m .:

The co-shareholder of the Brandenburg PCK refinery, Rosneft Germany, has shown confidence in the fuel supply in view of planned oil deliveries from Kazakhstan.

"We are in further talks," said a spokesman for the subsidiary of the Russian oil company Rosneft.

He described the talks as good.

Rosneft Germany and the associated RN Refining & Marketing are under federal trusteeship.

They hold a majority stake in the Schwedt refinery.

According to Rosneft Germany, the supply of fuel is not in danger even with oil via the port of Rostock.

"If quantities are added via Gdansk, there will be no problem." The first alternative delivery of oil via the port of Gdansk was already expected at the refinery.

Crude oil from Kazakhstan is intended for this purpose.

The scope and schedule are still open.

Rosneft Germany believes that not only oil from Rostock and Gdansk is necessary for sufficient utilization of the refinery, but also from Kazakhstan.

"We need all three options," the announcer said.

UNHCR: Russian missile strikes do not trigger new flight

7.46 a.m .:

According to the United Nations, the Russian rocket attacks, which are currently violent, have not triggered any new large-scale flight from Ukraine.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, told the dpa news agency.

During a visit to the neighboring Republic of Moldova, the authorities confirmed to him that there are currently not more people leaving Ukraine.

However, because of the winter, fewer people returned to Ukraine than before Russian missile attacks on Ukraine's power system began last October.

"The winter is very hard with the conflict in some regions," said the 65-year-old.

That's not very encouraging for a lot of people.

Altogether, Grandi was in Ukraine for six days and visited the cities of Odessa, Mykolaiv, Dnipro, Zaporizhia, Kharkiv and Poltava.

Ambassador: Israel is helping Ukraine 'behind the scenes'

7.43 a.m .:

According to the Israeli ambassador to Germany, Ron Prosor, his country supports Russia's attacked Ukraine more than is publicly known.

Israel is helping, "but behind the scenes and much more than is known," the diplomat told the newspapers of the Funke media group.

He asked for understanding for the Israeli reticence on the subject: "We have the Russians in Syria.

As you know, the Israeli army regularly blocks arms shipments from Iran to Syria and Lebanon.

These include Iranian drones and missiles that Russia is using in Ukraine,” Prosor said.

He also stated that there is a large Jewish community in Russia.

"Those are the two main reasons we keep a low profile."

/AFP/dpa/Reuters/AP