What to do?
A nuclear power raids a neighboring country for land grabs.
This has not happened in Europe since the Second World War.
Wait a minute, that's wrong:
that has never happened in Europe before, because Hitler's Germany was not a nuclear power.
Anyone who realizes the historical dimension we are dealing with here must shudder.
But it also means that
every misjudgment, every mistake made by the West in this conflict could also have historical consequences.
Today marks the first anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
And it cannot be ruled out that we will also have to celebrate the second anniversary.
Putin's propaganda works with a simple perpetrator-victim reversal
, in the end Russia is only defending itself according to this interpretation.
That's pretty simple and cheap, but some people in this country aren't stupid enough to follow it, at least partially.
In these people's world, all the West has to do is cut off arms sales - aka fail Ukraine - and then there will be peace.
Really?
If the Ukrainians give up and submit to Russia, the result will not be peace, but a regime of occupation and oppression.
And at whose border would Putin gather the next troops?
At the same time, some in this country see themselves as (potential) victims because they are being taken in by Putin's nuclear propaganda.
Putin is handling the fear of the bomb, not the bomb.
If the West let Putin go because Russia is a nuclear power, which country would be safe from nuclear blackmail?
True, only those countries that are themselves nuclear armed.
A race to nuclear armament threatened internationally.
So there is a lot to be said for defending the rules-based world order.
But when will this war end?
When will there really be peace?
When Putin stops.
Then the nightmare will end.
And when does it stop?
Possibly when he has more to lose than he has to gain.
Accordingly, the aim of the arms deliveries is to bring Russia to the negotiating table and end the war.
Not to extend it.
Honestly, I'm tired of the war, and most of you are probably too - and that's why Ukraine must be supported in its fight for freedom, in line with the UN Charter.
Olaf Scholz in "Maybrit Illner" on the Ukraine war: admonish, tease, conjure
You can find more news and background information on the war in Ukraine here:
The most recent developments:
According to President Zelensky, there will be no direct negotiations with the current leadership of the Kremlin.
The US is planning new sanctions against Moscow.
And: Many incidents in nuclear power plants.
Baerbock's fight for three pages of paper:
Diplomacy with SMS and tally lists: Foreign Minister Baerbock campaigned to the end for the adoption of a UN peace resolution for Ukraine.
In the end, 141 states voted for it.
More than just a symbolic success?
UN General Assembly calls for Russia's withdrawal from Ukraine:
Germany and other states want to isolate the Kremlin on the international stage: 141 member states of the United Nations have now adopted a resolution condemning Russia's war in Ukraine.
141 of 193
The world remains largely united against Russia's war of aggression.
However, this has no consequences, it is only a mood test.
Yesterday evening, 141 of the 193 UN members called for the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine via a (unfortunately non-binding) resolution at the General Assembly.
Seven voted against: in addition to Russia, these were Belarus, North Korea, Eritrea, Mali, Nicaragua and Syria.
The combo of rogue states.
What made a positive impression: Brazil voted for the resolution and with it almost all South American countries.
On the negative side, China and India once again abstained as in the past.
Unfortunately, South Africa was also part of this group.
The Chinese could still become decisive for the further course of this war.
Because if Beijing's Xi Jinping wanted, he could pull the plug on Putin, politically and militarily.
Peace could soon reign.
But he doesn't want that.
It's becoming clearer and clearer.
Beijing published a 12-point paper on Ukraine overnight.
It calls on both sides to engage in direct negotiations and to protect civilians.
However, according to SPIEGEL information, Russia is apparently already negotiating with China about the delivery of kamikaze drones.
According to the information, the Russian military and the Chinese drone manufacturer Xi'an Bingo Intelligent Aviation Technology are said to be in exchange for the mass production of such kamikaze drones.
Bingo is said to have agreed to produce and
test 100 prototype ZT-180 drones and deliver them to the Russian Defense Ministry by April.
According to military experts, each ZT-180 should be able to carry a warhead of 35 to 50 kilograms.
The design is likely to be similar to that of Iran's Shahed-136 kamikaze drone, they say.
The Russian army has used hundreds of them in its attacks in Ukraine.
The victims were often civilians, the Russians aimed at residential buildings, power plants, district heating systems.
In a further step, Bingo is planning to deliver components and know-how to Russia so that production can be set up there.
It should be
possible to build
around 100 drones a month .
If that happens, then one thing is clear: China will side with Russia.
It would then not be able to be a mediator, but would become the leader of the International of Autocracies, with Russia as a junior partner.
China has benefited from the rules-based world order like few other countries in recent decades – both politically and economically.
Now it's apparently starting to set its own rules.
The interest in power decides, not the law.
Russia will (have to) integrate into this Chinese attempt at a new world order.
The West will (have to) oppose this if it wants to survive politically.
And that also means that we should give serious thought to the potential and dangers of economic sanctions against China.
Secret deal with Beijing?
Russia is reportedly negotiating with China over the supply of kamikaze drones
Germany demonstrated
We'll take a little breather here and staccato through some of the events and demonstrations announced today for the anniversary.
Not as a service, but to illustrate how present the war is in Germany.
(If you want the Ukraine to capitulate, you can skip this passage, the large demo that suits you will not take place until Saturday).
In the morning,
Frank-Walter Steinmeier,
as Federal President, will give the opening speech at the official German event marking the anniversary in Bellevue Palace, with Volodymyr Zelenskyj joining in.
Ukrainian flags are raised on the palace and the Reichstag building.
At lunchtime there is a demonstration at the Brandenburg Gate under the motto »support Ukraine«;
The Berlin Left is commemorating the war dead around the corner with a vigil in front of the Russian embassy –
and sends greetings to the many Putin apologists in their own ranks
.
In the early afternoon, a human chain wants to form from Munster to Osnabrück. In Munich, "Together against the war" is demonstrated, with the SPD mayor and the leader of the European conservatives.
The DGB is holding its rally in Hamburg, and right-wing extremist Björn Höcke is taking part in Dresden.
In the evening, the Ukrainian ambassador will speak at the Brandenburg Gate and Franziska Giffey will also be there.
NRW Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst speaks in Cologne.
In general, we pray a lot together.
How SPIEGEL reporters experience the war
Here in the morning, a colleague from the Ukraine or Russia reports every day this week.
»What was your most impressive moment during this year of war?«
– I asked them this question.
Today Alexander Sarovic, who was at the graves of Isjum in mid-September, writes:
First there were rumors, then the first pictures came: several hundred graves had been found in a wooded area near Isjum, simple wooden crosses, some with no names, only numbers.
We had just rushed across the country from the front in southern Ukraine to the Kharkiv region, where Izyum is located. The Ukrainian army surprised the world and the enemy there with a rapid attack, recapturing villages and small towns, including Izyum. Journalists had not yet let those responsible in, we were among the first on site.
There were repeated bangs in the background, deminers blew up duds. The Human Rights Speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament had come; he walked around between the pines, talking about genocide.
Forensic scientists dug the graves. Some had been killed in an exchange of artillery shells, others showed signs of execution: their hands had been tied behind their backs. From some graves, experts only lifted sacks of bones.
I decided not to put on a corona mask. A pungent smell crept up my nose into my throat and made me hoarse. He was gone again by evening, and the memory of the graves at Isjum has remained to this day.
War in Ukraine: The Tombs of Izyum
Here is the current quiz of the day
The starting question today: Where is the largest US Air Force base outside of the US?
Listening tip of the day...
... is our SPIEGEL Daily Podcast
, which is freely available today.
There you can meet some of the reporters again that I have allowed to speak here in the LAGE in the morning over the past few days.
They talk about their research and the turning points in twelve months of war.
It begins with Alexandra Rojkov, who travels to Kiev shortly before the start of the war.
In her suitcase: bulletproof vest and helmet.
She is laughed at by the officials at the airport: »They made fun of me.
Because at that time war was something completely absurd.«
Unfortunately, things turned out differently.
Bucha, Kharkiv, Kiev: How SPIEGEL reporters experienced the turning points of the war
The latest news from the night
According to Chancellor Scholz, a return to conscription makes »no sense«:
The Ukraine war also triggered a discussion about conscription in Germany.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz, however, now makes it clear in an interview: he thinks little of such mind games.
Acquittal revoked – Bremen pastor Latzel has to appear in court again:
He spoke at a marriage seminar about “gender dirt” and “homo-lobby”: The case of Bremen pastor Olaf Latzel is being renegotiated.
A higher regional court received an acquittal from May 2022.
Boeing has to stop deliveries of "Dreamliner" again:
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has ordered the aircraft manufacturer Boeing to suspend deliveries of the long-haul 787 jet "Dreamliner" for the time being.
There have been a number of problems with the model.
The SPIEGEL + recommendations for today
The banks owe the ECB fat excess profits - completely risk-free:
The banks park trillions at the ECB and have the money earn attractive interest - but they do not pass on much of the profit blessing to their own customers.
And the ECB is making losses.
How rich founders want to improve the world:
The boundaries within German society are becoming increasingly sharp.
A few entrepreneurs and the rich are countering this with projects worth millions.
Your utopia: protected places without digital interference.
Why the danger of raw food is underestimated:
Many are not aware of the risk of foodborne illness.
A microbiologist from the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment explains what needs to be considered when preparing and eating - and where germs are particularly common.
Three stars instead of schnitzel:
The decline of the Moselle was palpable for a long time - at the latest when cheese cubes were handed out, especially to camping holidaymakers.
But the small municipality of Piesport shows that things could be different.
I wish you a good start into the day.
Yours sincerely, Sebastian Fischer, head of SPIEGEL's capital city office
