Russian invasion - War against Ukraine: this is the situation
Despite the blocking of billions in financial military aid from the USA and the EU, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi has celebrated a "historic week". In his evening video address, he referred to the EU's decision to begin accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova. "The negotiation process will not be easy, but the most important thing is that we have historically decided on one thing: Ukraine will always be a part of our common European home," said Selenskyj. Last week, the Ukrainian President traveled from West Africa via South America and the USA to Scandinavia and finally to Germany to the US headquarters for Europe.
Selenskyj asked for further support for his country in the US capital Washington on Tuesday. However, US President Joe Biden dampened the prospects of further US aid being approved quickly. The release of new US aid is currently being blocked by a dispute in the US parliament. According to the government in Washington, the previously approved US aid for Ukraine will be used up by the end of the year. The European Union has also not released funds as Ukraine had hoped: Due to a veto by Hungary, the other EU heads of state and government were unable to approve a 50 billion euro financial aid package on Friday night as planned. Negotiations will therefore have to continue in January.
In his video address, Selensky nevertheless expressed confidence with regard to further financial support for his country. In addition to direct financial aid, Zelenskyi focused primarily on the possible allocation of billions from frozen Russian assets. "The assets of the terrorist state(Russia) and its allies should be used to support Ukraine in order to protect lives and people from Russian terror," he said. "That will be fair." His government is already "preparing the necessary draft decisions".
According to the Commission, more than 200 billion from the Russian central bank are frozen in the EU alone, with the income from the safekeeping of the capital constantly increasing. According to EU plans, the latter could be allocated to Ukraine.
Kuleba in favor of increasing weapons production
In its defensive war against Russia, Ukraine is relying on a ramp-up of the arms industry in its own country and among its allies. "Ukraine and its partners must also increase the production of weapons," said Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on the ARD program "Bericht aus Berlin", referring to similar announcements from Moscow. Ukraine and its allies must act together as a military coalition. "We must remain resolute, stick together and support each other."
Just over a week ago, Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin said that the country's own arms industry was producing many times more than at the start of the war almost 22 months ago. At the beginning of December, Ukraine itself announced that the Russian arms industry had ramped up production of missiles and combat drones.
Kiev: Russian air defense shoots down its own fighter jet
According to Ukraine, the Russian air defense system shot down one of its own Sukhoi Su-25 fighter jets. "I can say with certainty that it was not the Ukrainian air defense that shot down the Russian attack aircraft," Ukrainian Air Force Commander Nikolai Oleshchuk announced on Telegram. He thanked the Russian air defense "on behalf of the entire Ukrainian people" and added: "To be continued". The information could not be independently verified.
Fighting in the Belgorod region of southern Russia
Several villages in the Russian region of Belgorod, not far from the border with Ukraine, were hit by fighting and artillery fire. While Russian media reported an attack by regular Ukrainian units, Ukrainian military intelligence spoke of an unexpected attack by "opponents of the Kremlin regime". Independent clarification was not possible. Belgorod is located almost 50 kilometers north of the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv.
Fighting continues in Ukraine - new airstrikes
New Russian attacks were also reported on Sunday from the various sections of the Ukrainian front. According to the General Staff in Kiev, Russian units once again attempted to push in the bridgeheads of the Ukrainian armed forces on the left bank of the Dnipro near Kherson. In the east, several Russian attacks were repelled near Avdiivka and in the vicinity of Bakhmut. The information could not be independently verified.
Late on Sunday evening, another air alert was triggered in several parts of the country. According to media reports, Russian military forces had again launched several waves of so-called kamikaze drones at various targets in Ukraine.
This will be important on Monday
Further fighting is expected on the frontlines in Ukraine.
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- In response to the Russian invasion, Ukraine initially sought financial aid from Germany, but discussions with Chancellor Olaf Scholz were reportedly not fruitful.
- The German government, however, has agreed to provide Ukraine with military equipment, including anti-tank weapons and ammunition, a move that has been criticized by Russia.
- Meanwhile, Ukraine has been seeking support from other European countries, including those in Scandinavia, to bolster its defense industry.
- In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of Finland, Norway, and Sweden expressed their strong support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, while also urging a diplomatic solution to the crisis.
- Russia has accused Western countries, including Germany and the USA, of fueling the conflict in Ukraine by supplying weapons to Ukraine's armed forces.
- However, the USA has maintained that it is providing defensive aid to Ukraine only, and not intended for offensive purposes.
- The conflict in Ukraine has also sparked concerns in West Africa, with several countries expressing support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
- In addition to military aid, the EU has also pledged financial assistance to Ukraine, despite objections from Hungary which has blocked the approval of a 50 billion euro aid package.
- The Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, has also called on the USA to provide further aid to Ukraine, addressing US President Joe Biden during a visit to Washington DC.
- Zelensky has also highlighted the need to freeze and extract funds from Russia's defense industry, given its alleged role in supporting the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
- The conflict in Ukraine has also spilled over into neighboring Moldova, with concerns of a potential spillover into South America and Russia's Belgorod region nearby.
Source: www.stern.de
