October 5, 2023
Ukraine war in the live ticker
+++ 02:24 Federal government continues to reject delivery of Taurus rockets – no formal rejection +++
According to several media reports, the federal government will not fulfill Ukraine’s demand for Taurus cruise missiles for the time being. As “Bild” and the ARD capital studio report, no missiles are to be delivered that can be used to attack Russian positions far behind the front line. However, there was no confirmation of this on Wednesday evening. “There is no new status to report on the question of Taurus cruise missiles,” said a government spokeswoman when asked by the German Press Agency. However, there is no formal rejection. According to the spokeswoman, it has been made clear internally that the Taurus rockets are not currently being delivered. So Scholz is keeping his options open for the future. The Chancellor has recently repeatedly stated publicly that Germany currently wants to concentrate on the delivery of air defense systems. His skeptical attitude towards cruise missiles has long been known.
+++ 01:43 Corruption allegations: Mayor of Sumy remains in custody +++
Oleksandr Lysenko, mayor of the Ukrainian regional capital Sumy in the northeast of the country, remains in custody. This is reported by the Ukrainian newspaper “Kyiv Independent”. However, there is an option to pay a deposit of 3,000,000 Ukrainian hryvnias ($82,000), Ukraine’s Supreme Anti-Corruption Court said on Facebook, according to the report. The Secret Service of Ukraine (SBU) arrested Lysenko and the head of the city council’s infrastructure department on October 2 as they tried to accept part of a 2.13 million hryvnia ($58,000) bribe.
+++ 00:47 London: Russia could attack civilian ships in the Black Sea +++
According to the British government, Russia could use sea mines against civilian shipping in the Black Sea. “Russia most likely wants to avoid openly sinking civilian ships and instead falsely blame Ukraine for attacks on civilian ships in the Black Sea,” a British Foreign Office statement said, citing intelligence information. “By publishing our assessment of this information, the UK seeks to expose Russia’s tactics to prevent such an incident.” In July, Russia withdrew from an agreement that allowed Ukraine to safely transport food through what has traditionally been the country’s most important export corridor.
+++ 22:57 Zelenskyj invited to the European summit in Granada – but “probably” cannot attend +++
Tomorrow, Thursday, representatives from almost 50 European countries will discuss Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and other trouble spots on the continent in Granada, southern Spain. It is the third summit of the European Political Community, an informal discussion platform on topics such as geopolitics, digitalization and climate change. The heads of state and government of the 27 EU states and 20 other countries are invited. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy said he was also invited. He said this in an interview with the Italian broadcaster SkyTg24. At the same time, Zelenskyy added that he “probably” would not be able to attend because his “presence here in Ukraine is necessary.” Zelensky took part in the last summit in Moldova in June.
+++ 22:04 Zelensky expects new commitments to air defense +++
Ukrainian President Zelensky expects new commitments from the West to supply additional anti-aircraft systems. “We are doing our best to equip Ukraine with more air defense systems before winter,” Zelensky said in a video message. “We expect certain decisions from our partners.” He doesn’t give any details. The head of state had repeatedly called for more anti-aircraft systems to make cities safer and, above all, to better protect the energy infrastructure attacked by the Russians. Work in the regions to protect important facilities and the urgent restoration of infrastructure must be completed before winter, Zelensky emphasized. The anti-aircraft systems supplied by the West so far help Ukraine repel the majority of Russian attacks with drones, rockets and cruise missiles. However, according to the leadership in Kiev, many more such systems are needed.
+++ 21:24 Biden announces major speech on aid to Ukraine +++
US President Joe Biden wants to give a major speech soon on Ukraine and support for the attacked country. He will explain “why it is crucial for the United States and our allies that we keep our commitment,” Biden said on the sidelines of an appointment in Washington. When asked whether he was worried that the US might soon no longer be able to provide the promised aid, the US President replied: “That doesn’t worry me. I know that the majority of members “The House and Senate and both parties support financial aid to Ukraine.” When asked how long the US would be able to support Ukraine, Biden spoke of a “next tranche” and then said that there was “another way” how the financing could be secured. But I won’t go into that now.”
+++ 20:36 Scholz firmly expects further US aid for Ukraine +++
Despite the turbulence in the US House of Representatives, Chancellor Scholz is convinced that the US will continue to supply Ukraine with weapons. “I’m very confident,” says Scholz. There is a clear majority among both Democrats and Republicans for further help. President Joe Biden made it very clear in a conversation with allies yesterday “that we can certainly continue to rely on the USA in the future,” emphasizes the Chancellor.
+++ 19:47 Report: Scholz does not want to deliver Taurus rockets +++
According to a media report, Chancellor Olaf Scholz does not currently want to deliver Taurus missiles to Ukraine. This is reported by “Bild”, citing German and Ukrainian government circles. At the same time, according to information from the newspaper, there are discussions between Berlin and Kiev about strengthening air defense and a possible further delivery of Patriot anti-missiles from Germany. Several ministers had previously raised hopes in Ukraine with statements about a quick decision on the Taurus issue.
+++ 19:18 US Army: Confiscated Iranian ammunition already in Ukraine +++
The United States has delivered to Ukraine more than a million rounds of confiscated ammunition that Iran planned to send to Houthi rebels in Yemen. The US broadcaster CNN had previously reported on a planned delivery (See the ticker entry from 5:48 p.m.). The US Army said the 1.1 million rounds of 7.62 millimeter rifle caliber ammunition were handed over to the Ukrainian armed forces on Monday. The ammunition reportedly came from a ship that was stopped by a US warship in the Gulf of Oman last December. According to the US military command Centcom, the ammunition came from the Iranian Revolutionary Guards and was intended to be delivered to the Houthi rebels in the civil war-torn Yemen, in violation of a UN Security Council resolution. The USA confiscated the ammunition and subsequently declared it its property.
You can read more about the events of the previous day here.