After Putin’s podium victory, the war of words escalated
“Maximizing Russian Power Supply”
“Russia is activating its reserves,” says Markus Keube, a military economist at ETH Zurich. In the WELT interview, he analyzes the current situation of the war in Ukraine and says about the energy crisis: “German politics is very one-sidedly tied to Russia – for 20 years.”
Russia’s president openly threatens the West, woos Ukraine and its allies. After the Russian conquest of the main part of Luhansk, Moscow and Kiev, they established themselves orally. In the Bundestag, however, pressure for German arms deliveries failed. An overview.
NAfter weeks of fighting, Russia is in control of the key Luhansk region. Now that the fighting has subsided – everything points to Russia preparing for the next major offensive in its war of aggression. The Kremlin’s second major target in eastern Ukraine is the Donetsk region.
In the calm before the storm, the war of words between Moscow and Kiev threatens to escalate. Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned the West against military conflict. “Today we hear that they want to defeat us in battle. What can I say? Let them try,” he said. Everyone should know that Russia has not yet started in Ukraine.
Putin was speaking at a meeting with heads of State Duma party divisions in Moscow. The president hailed the politicians who supported the “military special operation” in Ukraine since its inception in late February as “real politicians and patriots.” “There are many parties, but only one motherland,” Putin told a meeting in the Kremlin. “Nothing is more important than the fate of the fatherland.” The West is conducting an “economic explosion against Russia”.
Vladimir Putin addresses party leaders at the Russian Parliament in the Kremlin
Which: via REUTERS
Putin again accused the West of wanting to fight “to the last Ukrainian”. “This is a tragedy for the Ukrainian people.” Influential Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podoliak strongly opposed this. Podoljak wrote on Twitter that Putin’s mantra of “war to the last Ukrainian” is further evidence of Russia’s planned “genocide” against Ukrainians. Putin uses “primitive propaganda”.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged the West to continue providing weapons in the war against Russia. “The more security assistance we have now for Ukraine, the sooner the war will end with our victory and the less the losses of all countries in the world,” he said in a video message Friday night. Kiev’s partners have accurate information about Ukraine’s needs. “This applies to both air defense and modern artillery.”
Against the backdrop of the announced departure of Boris Johnson as British Prime Minister, Zelensky emphasized Britain’s role as an arms supplier. London provided Kiev with air defense and anti-tank systems, among other things, but also artillery, ammunition and armored vehicles. “Britain’s role in safeguarding freedom is truly universal.” On February 24, Russian troops invaded Ukraine.
Germany, on the other hand, did not mention Selenskyj in its comments. The Kiev government has been critical of months of sluggish German arms deliveries. The Union wing in the Bundestag now repeatedly pressured the Bundestag to submit its own application for the short-term delivery of 200 Fuchs-type armored personnel carriers to the Bundestag.
But, it did not get a majority. On Friday night, Parliament voted against a related motion for a resolution of the Union Territories. Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht (SPD) had already warned that the Bundeswehr would be “looted” ahead of the vote. “We support everything possible and responsible for Ukraine. But Germany must ensure its ability to defend itself,” he told the German Press Agency.
President Olaf Scholes (SPD) also confirmed that he would support Ukraine as long as necessary. “As long as we show solidarity – at least that’s my wish – Ukraine can defend itself against the terrible and brutal Russian attack,” he said on ZDF on Thursday evening. For months now, German arms deliveries to Ukraine have been slow and sparse. This led to harsh criticism from Kiev, but also from Warsaw.
While the Bundestag rejected the Fuchs supply, it also decided on various measures to speed up procurement for the Bundeswehr. The legislation, passed late Thursday evening, would allow for an initial period of three and a half years to award contracts more quickly than was possible under the previous legal situation. For example, different orders can be placed together and joint projects with other EU countries can be easily implemented.
In reaction to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the Bundestag and Bundesrat decided a few weeks ago on a special project worth 100 billion euros to upgrade the equipment of the Bundeswehr. The money is to be used to buy new planes, helicopters, ships and tanks. However, in the past, such procurement plans have continued to be drawn up. The measures decided now should reduce this problem.
Meanwhile, the Canadian government announced that it would deliver 39 armored vehicles to Ukraine over the summer. Defense Minister Anita Anand says the vehicles from Canadian manufacturer General Dynamics could be used as ambulances, maintenance and rescue vehicles or to transport troops. The delivery is part of a military support package for Ukraine worth around 380 million euros.
Current situation in Ukraine
Source: Infographic World
Meanwhile, Russian troops continue to wreak havoc in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine in their relentless offensive. At least one person was killed and several others injured in an airstrike on the city of Kramatorsk on Thursday. According to Ukrainian sources, within 24 hours seven people were killed in the region and many others were injured. The nearby city of Sloviansk was again attacked by Russian forces.
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