Ukraine live blog: ++ fewer Ukrainians came to Germany in 2023 ++

According to the Federal Statistical Office, significantly fewer people from Ukraine came to Germany in 2023 than in the previous year. According to Ukrainian information, Russian troops continue to advance around Avdiivka. All developments in the live blog.

The CDU chairman Friedrich Merz has advocated in the Bundestag for Ukraine to be supplied with the “Taurus” cruise missile for its defense against Russia. “Ukraine continues to not receive the full amount of material it urgently needs to effectively repel the Russian war of aggression,” said the CDU parliamentary group leader in the debate on German foreign and security policy.

He called on MPs from the coalition factions SPD, Greens and FDP to join the Union’s proposal, which calls for the delivery of the German weapons system. However, this is rejected by Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD).

US President Joe Biden insulted Russian head of state Vladimir Putin at a public event. At a meeting with Democratic Party donors in San Francisco, Biden said climate change was the “existential threat to humanity” despite “crazy bastard Putin.”

The Kremlin criticized Biden’s choice of words and advised the US President to seek better advice. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said his choice of words made Biden seem like a “Hollywood cowboy” and damaged America’s reputation. Putin has never made such rude statements.

Russia is withdrawing from a fisheries agreement with Great Britain that the then Soviet head of state Nikita Khrushchev concluded with Great Britain almost 70 years ago. “When Nikita Khrushchev agreed to this agreement in 1956, it is difficult to say what he was guided by, but it was definitely not of national interest,” he told influential Duma President Vyacheslav Volodin, according to the Reuters news agency.

By withdrawing from the agreement, Russia was apparently reacting to new sanctions that Great Britain imposed on six people responsible for the Arctic prison camp where Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny died last week. “If we are asked whether we can respond to sanctions, the answer is: we can,” Volodin explained. He pointed out that under the agreement, British fishing vessels caught thousands of tons of cod and haddock in Russian waters. The fisheries agreement of May 1956 allows British ships access to the rich fishing grounds of the Barents Sea region.

Germany and the Czech Republic are in talks about another so-called ring swap to supply Ukraine with heavy weapons. Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala reported on a corresponding offer from Berlin after a cabinet meeting on Wednesday evening. “This will enable us to reduce our dependence on Russian technology and modernize our army,” said the liberal-conservative politician. Germany could therefore provide the Czech Republic with additional Leopard 2A4 main battle tanks. According to information from the dpa news agency, these are tanks procured from Switzerland and contractually agreed not to be delivered to Ukraine. In return, the Czech Republic would hand over additional Soviet T-72 tanks from its stocks to Ukraine.

Two years after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko praised German military aid, but at the same time called for additional weapons systems. For his country, “one of the most important questions” is whether Germany will deliver the requested “Taurus” cruise missiles, said Klitschko in an interview with the dpa news agency. “We are defending our country. And that’s why we need ‘Taurus’. We can use it to destroy the Russians’ military logistics.”

Klitschko emphasized again that Ukraine is fighting not only for its own existence, but also for Europe. “Everyone must understand: We defend each of you. Putin goes as far as we allow him to go. The danger is there, the danger is great.” Kiev’s mayor expressed his appreciation that Germany is now doing a lot for Ukraine in terms of military aid. “Germany has finally woken up and is helping us a lot,” he said. But more help is needed. The former boxing world champion also appealed to all other allies to continue to support Ukraine.

Significantly fewer people are moving to Germany from Ukraine than in the year of the Russian invasion in 2022. A total of 277,000 people moving in from Ukraine and 156,000 people leaving were recorded last year, as the Federal Statistical Office announced. This results in net immigration (immigration minus departures) of 121,000 people.

For comparison: in 2022 there were around 1.1 million arrivals and 138,000 departures, resulting in a net immigration of 960,000 people. Last year, however, this remained higher than before the Russian war of aggression: in 2021 it was only 6,000, in 2020 it was 5,000 and in 2019 it was 7,000. According to the Federal Office, the proportion of the Ukrainian population in Hamburg and Berlin was recently highest.

After the Russian capture of the city of Avdiivka, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is calling on allies to provide quicker help. He again expresses his dissatisfaction over the slowdown in Western aid to the Ukrainian war effort, without directly mentioning the United States. “We have to act faster. That means we have to get rid of all the bureaucracy. Otherwise we have no chance,” he says in excerpts from an interview with the US broadcaster Fox News, which is scheduled to be broadcast on Thursday.

US President Joe Biden’s demand to extend a large aid package for Ukraine has so far failed due to disputes in the US Congress. Zelensky admits that it may not be easy to find an alternative to US aid. “Of course we will find one. We won’t just sit there and wait. We have to survive. We have to find solutions in parallel.”

Before the second anniversary of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the Bundestag is today holding two debates about further support for the country. The vote will then be taken on a proposal from the coalition factions, in which the federal government is called on to supply “additionally required long-range weapon systems” – although “Taurus” cruise missiles, which Kiev has long been demanding, are not expressly mentioned. “Taurus”, however, is listed in a proposal from the Union faction.

The FDP defense politician Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, who has long been calling for a “Taurus” delivery, has therefore announced that she will also support the Union’s proposal. However, it was unclear in advance whether this would be voted on on Thursday. He could also initially be referred to the responsible committee.

The chairman of the European People’s Party, Manfred Weber, wants to focus the European Union’s (EU) ammunition production exclusively on Ukraine. “The Ukrainian army is increasingly running out of ammunition. As in the Covid pandemic, all EU production must now be bundled in a show of strength and delivered to Ukraine,” Weber told the newspapers of the Funke media group.

In particular, existing contracts for global deliveries to countries that are currently not urgently dependent on ammunition deliveries should be examined. The delivery of the German “Taurus” cruise missiles is also overdue. The EU states must finally give priority to supporting Ukraine and not “act with the handbrake on.” After all, Ukraine is not only defending itself, but actually the whole of Europe.

The Russian forces that captured the eastern Ukrainian town of Avdiivka last week are continuing to advance on the surrounding towns and villages, according to the Ukrainian armed forces. “The capture of Avdiivka is not enough. They continue to attack (our positions),” said Andriy, a Ukrainian drone pilot with the 47th Brigade. “After Avdiivka, it’s the turn of the surrounding villages. And then Myrnohrad and Pokrovsk, the next larger cities.”

Maksym Zhorin, deputy commander of Ukraine’s third assault brigade, wrote on Telegram: “The situation on the Avdiivka front is quite clear. The Russians will advance as far as their forces allow, depending on how many survive.” Russian troops secured Avdiivka after months of bombardment reduced the city to rubble. It was the biggest Russian success since the capture of Bakhmut in May 2023.

EU Commission President von der Leyen does not expect accession talks with Ukraine before the European elections. Interior Commissioner Johansson praises Germany for its commitment to accepting refugees. Wednesday’s live blog for reading.