04/24/2022
Ukraine war in the live ticker
+++ 01:10 Bundeswehr should get new transport helicopter +++
According to a newspaper, the federal government is opting for the “Chinook” CH-47F from Boeing as the new transport helicopter. The Ministry of Defense wants to buy 60 machines, reports the “Bild am Sonntag” in advance, citing government circles. The estimated costs are around five billion euros, which should be financed from the 100 billion package for the Bundeswehr. This means that the Sikorsky model CH-53K is left behind. The new helicopters could be delivered in 2025/2026 at the earliest. Airbus should take over the maintenance, the report said. A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Defense told Reuters when asked that no decision had yet been made.
+++ 00:45 Merz threatens to reject the 100 billion special fund for the Bundeswehr +++
The CDU chairman Friedrich Merz is threatening not to approve the planned special fund of 100 billion euros for the Bundeswehr. The Union will not allow itself to be presented with finished results, “which we should then simply agree to,” says Merz of the “Bild am Sonntag”. “If the chancellor wants to persuade us to change the Basic Law and introduce 100 billion euros in new debt, then he has to talk to us.” Merz demands from Chancellor Olaf Scholz that the 100 billion euros “only benefit the upgrading of the Bundeswehr”. In addition, at least two percent of gross domestic product must be spent on defense in the long term. “If these requirements are met and a repayment plan is presented for the new debt, then we can agree,” says Merz.
Read more about it here.
+++ 00:14 Ukraine warns of collapse of Russian natural gas transit into the EU +++
The Ukrainian state-owned company Naftogaz has warned of a collapse in Russian gas transit via Ukraine. “We estimate that a third of the volume of gas exported from Russia to the EU via Ukraine could be lost if the occupying forces don’t stop disrupting the functioning of our stations,” said Naftogaz boss Yuriy Vitrenko. Naftogaz operates the Ukrainian gas transmission system.
+++ 23:38 Esken considers Melnyk’s criticism of the SPD to be “excessively excessive” +++
The SPD leader Saskia Esken defends herself against the harsh criticism of her party by the Ukrainian ambassador Andrei Melnyk. “These are serious allegations that are grossly exaggerated in terms of the choice of words and the content,” Esken told Spiegel. “I can understand very well that many of them feel attacked.” Melnyk had repeatedly attacked the SPD and some of its representatives in recent weeks. The diplomat speaks of a “spider web of contacts with Russia” or a “Putin-friendly policy” that brought about the “barbaric war of annihilation” against Ukraine in the first place. “Mr. Melnyk is fighting for his country, but he’s wrong in his accusations,” says party leader Esken. “The blame for this war lies solely with Vladimir Putin.”
+++ 22:54 number of dead after attack in Odessa increased to eight +++
The number of dead from air raids in the southern Ukrainian port of Odessa has risen to at least eight, according to information from Kyiv. 18 to 20 other people were injured, said President Volodymyr Zelenskyj at a press conference in Kyiv. According to him, a total of seven Russian rockets were fired at Odessa. A residential building was hit.
+++ 22:17 OSCE staff are being held in eastern Ukraine +++
According to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), some of their employees are being held in eastern Ukraine. They say they are “extremely concerned” about this process in Donetsk and Luhansk. The OSCE used all available channels to secure the release of its staff. Details are not mentioned.
+++ 21:56 football legend Oleg Blokhin wants to stay in Ukraine +++
Despite the Russian war of aggression, Ukrainian football legend Oleg Blokhin does not want to leave the country and expects Ukraine to win the conflict. “I never intended to go anywhere, I was born here,” the former Dynamo Kyiv star forward told Ukrainian television. “When shells fly overhead and a house burns down just 200 meters away, you realize something is wrong in this life.” “Russian aggression” is “under no circumstances acceptable,” says the 69-year-old. “We will win this fight,” he is certain.
+++ 21:26 Selenskyj relies on help from the USA so that Germany supplies weapons +++
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is hoping for US support for arms deliveries from Germany. “So that they (Germany) can start delivering what they have and what they aren’t using,” Zelensky said at a press conference in Kyiv. He reminds you of this in every conversation with German representatives. The war is in Ukraine and “you have what you don’t need right now, and we need a lot,” stressed the head of state. Visitors are currently very welcome, but not to take any “selfies”. “You can’t come to us today empty-handed. We don’t just expect gifts or cakes. We expect concrete things and concrete weapons.”
Zelenskyj spoke at a press conference in a subway station.
(Photo: dpa)
+++ 8:50 p.m. FDP party congress calls for delivery of heavy weapons to Ukraine +++
With a decision of their federal party congress, the FDP demands a delivery of heavy weapons from Germany to the Ukraine. The country must be supported quickly and effectively in fending off the Russian war of aggression, according to a motion by the federal executive committee, which, according to the party congress presidium, was passed with an “overwhelming majority”. “This also includes the delivery of heavy weapons and the rapid provision of armaments by German industry, for which Germany, as announced, will provide the financing,” the decision said. “We Free Democrats support Ukraine in exercising its legitimate right to military self-defense against the Russian war of aggression,” affirmed the delegates.
What do you mean?
You can read about previous developments here.