German Foreign Minister Annalena Beerbock said in an interview with French TV station LCI on Sunday that Germany would not get in the way if Poland sent German-made Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine.
Asked what would happen if Poland went ahead and sent Leopard 2 tanks without Germany’s approval, Barbock said, “No questions have been asked so far, but I wouldn’t mind if they did.” rice field.
The German Foreign Minister added: “We know how important these tanks are and this is why we are currently discussing them with our partners.” “People’s lives must be saved and Ukrainian territories must be liberated.”
early on Sunday, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz Berlin and Paris have reaffirmed their support for Ukraine in its fight against Russian occupation and will not allow Europe to return to “hate and ethnic strife”.
“We will continue to provide Ukraine with all the necessary support as long as it is needed. Together as Europeans to defend our European peace project,” he said. Visit Paris to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the landmark Franco-German Elysée Treaty.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said on Sunday that he expected a decision soon on handing over tanks to Ukraine.
Pistorius told German state television ARD that Berlin will not make a hasty decision because there are many factors to consider, including domestic implications for the safety of German citizens.
germany is under considerable pressure to deliver the Leopard 2 tank Allow Ukraine and other countries to send German-made tanks to the Ukrainian army.But Berlin hesitates to send Highly advanced Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine over concerns that it could lead to an escalation of the Russian war in Ukraine.
Poland has repeatedly accused Berlin of being hesitant.
“Germany’s attitude is unacceptable. Almost a year into the war, innocent people are dying every day,” Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki told the state-owned Polish news agency PAP. “Russian bombs wreak havoc in Ukrainian cities. Civilian targets hit, women and children killed.”
Here are other updates on the war in Ukraine on Sunday, January 22nd:
Norway estimates more than 300,000 casualties
About 180,000 Russian and 100,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed or wounded in the war in Ukraine, said Norwegian Defense Minister Eirik Kristoffersen.
“Russian losses are starting to approach about 180,000 casualties,” he said in an interview with TV2, but did not disclose how the figure was calculated.
“Ukraine’s losses are probably over 100,000 dead or wounded. In addition, Ukraine has about 30,000 civilians who died in this terrible war,” Christophersen said.
This comes after General Mark Milley, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, said in November that Russian forces had suffered more than 100,000 casualties and that Ukraine had “probably” similar casualties. This is the best estimate.
Neither Russia nor Ukraine have released casualty figures for months, and neither of the figures can be independently verified.
But Christophersen cautioned, citing Moscow’s mobilization and arms production capacity, that “Russia can go on (this war) for quite some time.”
Macron has not ruled out handing over French heavy tanks to Ukraine
French President Emmanuel Macron said his country was still considering France’s decision to hand over the deranged Leclerc heavy tank to Ukraine.
Speaking at a joint press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Sunday, Macron said he had asked the defense ministry to work on it, stressing that “nothing is excluded”.
However, the French president stressed that sending hardware to Ukraine to dislodge Russian forces should be decided “collectively” and coordinated with allies, including Germany.
Macron also said deploying heavy tanks in Ukraine should not undermine France’s own defenses or escalate the conflict.
Germany has recently come under great pressure to hand over its tanks to Ukraine. Berlin is hesitant to send highly advanced German-made Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine or to hand them over to other countries.
On Sunday, Scholz reiterated Berlin’s position on the issue, stressing that his country has always acted in close alignment with its allies.
Germany’s new defense minister plans to visit Ukraine
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said he was “sure” to go to Ukraine soon. “Probably in the next four weeks,” he said. Built am Sonntag newspaper.
Pistorius She took office on Thursday after her predecessor Christine Lambrecht resignedsaid his ministry was considering how best to prepare for possible decisions on the matter.
“We are in very close dialogue with our international partners on this issue, first and foremost with the United States.”
Putin’s allies warn against supplying Ukraine with offensive weapons
Russian Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin has warned that Western supplies of offensive weapons to Ukraine would lead the world to a “horrible war.”
“If Washington and NATO countries supply weapons used to attack civilian cities and attempt to occupy our territory, and they threaten, this will lead to retaliatory measures using stronger weapons. right.
“The delivery of offensive weapons to the Kyiv regime would lead to global catastrophe,” he said.
The Speaker of the Duma said Moscow was considering an attack on Ukrainian territory. Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhia and Kherson, which Russia annexed and occupied as an attack on its territory.
War prompted a ‘new revival’ of unity, says Zelensky
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he was confident of victory on the day of Ukrainian unity. Ukrainians celebrate the unification of the People’s Republic of Ukraine and the People’s Republic of Western Ukraine in 1919, January 22.
Zelensky said in the emotional video: Russian invasion of Ukraine It led to a “new revival of Ukrainian unity” as millions of Ukrainians united to defend their country.
“Each region protects the other,” he said. “And we are all defending Kyiv together. And we are all defending together. KharkivAnd we are all working together to free Kherson. ”
British intelligence: Russia struggles to expand its military
The UK Defense Ministry said in a regular update that Russia was likely struggling to find the supplies and personnel it needed after it announced plans to expand its military.
Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu recently announced measures to expand the army, including increasing the number of troops from 1.15 million to 1.5 million.
The British report said, “Shoigu’s plans show that Russia’s leadership is very likely to assess that an enhanced conventional military threat will persist for years after the current war in Ukraine. there are,” he said.
“But Russia will very likely struggle with the manpower and equipment needed for the planned expansion.”
The UK Foreign Office has released a daily intelligence report on the war since Russia launched it in Ukraine last year. Russia accused Britain of disinformation campaign.
Additional DW Coverage on War in Ukraine
A new investigation by a German newspaper suggests that Bulgaria’s former government secretly supplied Ukraine with weapons shortly after Russia’s invasion last year. DW examines news of secret weapons supply and what it means for Bulgaria.
A Russian attack on Ukraine’s energy grid has forced many cities to cut power to conserve energy. Kyiv residents talk about seriously affecting people on the streets.
fb/dj (AFP, AP, dpa, Reuters)
