Sunday 16 January 2022
“Danger of a Huge War”
Ukraine hopes for German weapons
Before Foreign Minister Baerbock’s inaugural visit, Ukraine is emphasizing its demand for weapons from Germany. The Ukrainian ambassador in Berlin warns of the danger of the “worst war since 1945” and appeals to the traffic light coalition.
In view of the inaugural visit by Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, Ukraine is raising hopes of German arms deliveries in the confrontation with Russia. The Ukrainian ambassador in Berlin, Andriy Melnyk, urged the Green politician to promise Kiev the delivery of weapons for national defense. The reluctance or even rejection of armaments aid by Baerbock and the entire new federal government is “very frustrating and bitter,” said the diplomat.
Baerbock will first travel to Ukraine on her inaugural visit tomorrow, Monday, where she will meet President Volodymyr Zelensky and Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. In the evening she travels on to the Russian capital. Talks with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov are scheduled for Tuesday in Moscow.
Ukraine is aware that the coalition agreement between the SPD, the Greens and the FDP stipulates a restrictive arms export policy that does not allow arms deliveries to crisis areas, said Melnyk. “But this political document is not a Bible. And the world is currently facing the greatest danger of a huge war in the middle of Europe, the worst since 1945.” The statehood of Ukraine is being threatened by Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Ukrainians have the “holy right to self-defense”.
Habeck open to delivery of “defensive weapons”
Ukraine has been demanding arms deliveries from Germany for years in order to be able to defend itself against a possible Russian attack – so far without success. However, Green Party leader Robert Habeck said during a visit to Ukraine during the election campaign last May that the country could hardly be denied “defensive weapons”. In view of the Russian troop deployment on the border with Ukraine, the designated CDU chairman Friedrich Merz also advocates considering arms deliveries.
Shortly before Christmas, Baerbock responded to the question: “Another military escalation would not bring any more security to Ukraine.” Russia has already criticized previous arms deliveries, including those from the United States, as a threat to the region because it increases the potential for military tension. Russia has recently repeatedly stated that it is not planning an attack on its neighbors. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov accused the United States of “false allegations” in an interview with US broadcaster CNN. Washington has not yet presented the announced evidence of a military escalation from the Russian side on the border with Ukraine.
The US and NATO have been complaining about a massive deployment of Russian troops near the Ukrainian border for months. They fear that Russia could plan an invasion of the neighboring country. Russia also dismissed allegations by the United States that its own false flag agents were planning a special operation in eastern Ukraine as “unfounded”. The US government had previously accused Russia of wanting to create an excuse for a possible invasion in this way.
Russia denies hacking allegations
Russia is calling for a return to businesslike politics and expects written responses from the US and NATO to its proposals for security in Europe in the next few days. During negotiations with NATO and the United States, among others, last week, Russia had demanded guarantees for its own security. For example, Moscow is demanding an end to NATO’s eastward expansion and the alliance’s renunciation of Ukraine. There were no results. Kremlin spokesman Peskov also denied allegations that Russia was responsible for the hacking of Ukrainian government websites on Friday. “Russia has nothing to do with these cyber attacks.”
In addition, security researchers from Microsoft discovered new malware on dozens of computers in Ukraine that could render devices unusable. The program is intended to destroy data on the attacker’s command, Microsoft announced during the night. The software was found, among other things, on the computers of government agencies and IT specialists. Microsoft sees an increased risk for all computer systems in Ukraine. The experts did not comment on the possible origin of the attack.
Dispute over Nord Stream 2
Ukraine is demanding tougher sanctions from Germany and Europe over Russia’s behavior in the conflict, including a halt to the commissioning of the already completed Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. The Greens are skeptical about the pipeline being laid from Russia to Germany. Chancellor Olaf Scholz, on the other hand, sees it as a private-sector project. He described the approval process as purely apolitical.
A possible exclusion of Russia from the international payment transactions of the Swift system is discussed again and again. The designated CDU chairman Friedrich Merz warned against this. He fears massive consequences for Germany as an export nation. “Questioning Swift could be the atomic bomb for the capital markets and also for goods and services,” he said in Berlin shortly before Baerbock’s trip. “We should leave Swift untouched.”