September 23, 2023
Ukraine war in the live ticker
+++ 01:21 Kiesewetter: Taurus delivery would also be a signal to the USA +++
CDU defense politician Roderich Kiesewetter is pushing for German cruise missiles to be delivered to Ukraine. In view of a possible imminent commitment by the USA for ATACMS missiles, which are often compared to the Taurus cruise missiles because of their range, Kiesewetter told “T-online”: “A delivery of Taurus from Germany would be such an important sign of transatlantic burden sharing and would Help President (Joe) Biden tell his own people: The Europeans have understood, they are doing more for their own security.” Kiesewetter warns that time is running out and every hesitation costs human lives.
+++ 00:02 Germany grants asylum to 90 Russians +++
Around 3,500 Russian men of military age have applied for asylum in Germany since the beginning of the Russian war of aggression. This emerges from the response of the Federal Ministry of the Interior to a parliamentary question from the left-wing MP Clara Bünger, which is available to the Editorial Network Germany (RND). Accordingly, the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees has so far decided on more than 1,500 of the applications. Around 90 people received protection status. For around 1,100 applications, another EU member state is responsible for carrying out the asylum procedure due to the Dublin regulation.
+++ 23:04 Possible ATACMS delivery: Zelensky confident +++
Ukrainian President Zelensky is optimistic about the delivery of longer-range American missiles. They are talking about different types of weapons with longer ranges and artillery pieces as well as air defense systems, says Zelenskyj during his visit to the Canadian capital Ottawa. “I believe that we will be able to reach an agreement on most of what was discussed with President (Joe) Biden yesterday,” the Ukrainian continued. It is also a question of time. After the meeting between Zelensky and Biden, US media reported that the United States could soon provide Ukraine with longer-range ATACMS missiles.
+++ 22:13 Ukrainian commander: “Tokmak is the minimum target” +++
Ukraine’s big breakthrough – the biggest in this counteroffensive – is yet to come, says the commander of Ukrainian forces in Donetsk and Zaporizhia Oblasts, Oleksandr Tarnavsky. In an interview with the US broadcaster CNN, the general was optimistic about success. However, he acknowledged that Ukrainian forces would have to at least reach the town of Tokmak in Zaporizhzhia to make the counteroffensive successful. “Tokmak is the minimum target,” he said. “The overall goal is to reach our state borders.” Tarnavsky does not believe winter will slow the Ukrainian offensive. “The weather can be a serious obstacle to the advance, but considering how we move forward, mostly without vehicles, I don’t think so [das Wetter] will have a strong impact on the counteroffensive.”
+++ 21:41 Trudeau promises Ukraine 50 armored vehicles +++
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has made a “long-term, multi-year commitment” to Zelensky “that will deliver predictable, sustained support for Ukraine.” The announced additional military aid of $482 (453 euros) will be used, among other things, to build 50 armored vehicles. The vehicles will be built in Canada and then transported to Ukraine – although it is currently unclear exactly what type and specification they are and when Kiev can expect delivery. Trudeau also promised Ukraine financial aid to support mental health care.
+++ 21:11 Zelenskyj in front of Parliament: Justice is not an empty word for Canada +++
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked Canada for Canadian support during his first visit to Canada since Russia’s war of aggression against his country. It enabled the Ukrainians to “save thousands of lives,” Zelensky said in a speech to parliament in Ottawa. “One of the most amazing things about your country is that justice is not an empty word for Canada,” he stressed. “You always stand on the sunny side of history… I have no doubt that you will choose the side of freedom and justice,” he added. “In discussions with Prime Minister Justin [Trudeau] “We discussed the Canadian initiative for the G7 to … confiscate Russian assets,” Zelensky continued. “These funds with which Russia and its henchmen paid for their war should be used to finance the war on terror “The Russian aggression must “end with our victory,” Zelenskyj continued. He was celebrated with great applause and cheers.
+++ 20:40 Morawiecki: Zelensky should never insult Poland again +++
Poland has reacted sharply to recent statements by Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Zelensky, who accused his neighbor of “political theater” in connection with the ban on grain exports. “I would like to tell President Zelensky never to insult Poles again, as he recently did in his speech to the United Nations,” Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki was quoted as saying by the PAP news agency. Polish President Andrzej Duda had previously tried to de-escalate and stated that the dispute between Poland and Ukraine over grain imports would not put a significant strain on good bilateral relations.
You can read more about the events of the previous day here.