live blog
Russia reports defense of 19 Ukrainian drones over the Black Sea. Ukrainian Sports Minister Bidny criticizes IOC President Bach over the participation of athletes from Russia and Belarus in the Olympics. The developments in the live blog.
The job centers in Germany have sent around 154,000 war refugees from Ukraine to integration courses since the beginning of 2023. This emerges from preliminary data from the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (Bamf) for the period between the beginning of January 2023 and the end of January 2024, which is available to the dpa news agency. That’s around two thirds of the total number of 234,300 participants.
Russia says it fended off 19 Ukrainian drones in four regions and over the Black Sea last night. “An attempt by the regime in Kiev” to carry out an attack with “19 aerial drones on locations on Russian territory” had been prevented, the Russian Defense Ministry said early this morning. According to local authorities, the attack primarily targeted energy infrastructure.
Ukrainian Sports Minister Matwij Bidny once again criticizes IOC President Thomas Bach for his motto that sport must behave in a politically neutral manner. “Thomas Bach himself doesn’t believe in this illusion,” Bidny told the dpa news agency. “He should understand that sport, especially Olympic sport, has always been a big part of politics.”
Bidny therefore believes that the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes as neutral athletes in the Olympic Games in Paris, which the International Olympic Committee is considering under certain conditions, sends completely the wrong signal. There are no neutral athletes, especially in Russia, he said.
The Ukrainian sports minister is very skeptical about the process that is supposed to check which Russian or Belarusian athlete meets the criteria for a start. “Of course we asked the International Olympic Committee: describe to us and explain to us how the process should work. At the moment it is not transparent,” said the sports minister. He announced that he would provide evidence himself. A database was created with screenshots and videos of 700 athletes from Russia who support Russian aggression against Ukraine.
According to Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, Russian forces are successful in most combat areas in Ukraine. This is reported by the Interfax news agency, citing the Russian Defense Ministry. According to the ministry, Shoigu took part in a meeting of the so-called Army Group “West”. It was decided that further reconnaissance operations were necessary, according to the agency.
Chancellor Scholz arrived in Washington for a short visit. After meetings with members of Congress and entrepreneurs, he will be received by President Biden. The conversation in the White House will primarily be about continuing military aid to Ukraine. The USA and Germany are the two most important arms suppliers to the country attacked by Russia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has not ruled out the release of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who is accused of espionage in Russia, in exchange for a Russian imprisoned in Germany.
“We are ready to solve the problem, but there are certain conditions that are being discussed between the intelligence services. I believe that an agreement can be reached,” Putin said in an interview with US presenter Tucker Carlson. He suggested that Moscow, in return, demand that Germany release Vadim Krasikov, who was sentenced to life in prison in Berlin in 2021 for the murder of a Georgian.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has ruled out a Russian attack on Poland or Latvia – and described defeat in the war against Ukraine as “impossible”. “We have no interest in Poland, Latvia or anywhere else,” Putin said in an interview with right-wing US presenter Tucker Carlson. “Why would we do that? We simply have no interest in it.” A Russian attack on the countries is “absolutely impossible.”
Former Fox News host Carlson had previously asked the Russian president whether there could be a scenario in which “you send Russian soldiers to Poland.” Putin replies: “Only in one case: if Poland attacks Russia.”
Carlson was the first Western journalist to interview Putin in Moscow on Tuesday since Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine began almost two years ago. The interview aired on Carlson’s website Thursday evening. Carlson is known for sharply right-wing positions, the spread of conspiracy theories, a close proximity to former US President Donald Trump – and, with regard to the Ukraine war, for a very Russia-friendly and Kiev-critical stance. He has repeatedly criticized US aid to Ukraine.
Russia and Ukraine each exchanged 100 prisoners. According to Human Rights Watch, at least 8,000 people were killed in the Russian siege of Mariupol.