Dhe new Ukrainian ambassador to Germany, Oleksij Makejev, is calling on the federal government to step up its support for his country. “When I look at Germany’s actions in this war, I sometimes think: there’s a German sports car driving on the autobahn at 30 km/h,” Makeyev told “Bild am Sonntag” in advance.
Instead of delivering quickly, which would help in the fight against the Russians, they spent weeks explaining why the Ukrainian demands could not be met. “You could do so much more, so much faster,” says Makeyev.
All developments in the live ticker:
2:57 p.m. – Kyiv on Moscow’s offer to negotiate: First withdrawal of all troops
After repeated offers from Moscow to negotiate during the war, Kyiv has named a complete Russian troop withdrawal as a prerequisite for this. “The only realistic proposal should be an immediate end to the Russian war against Ukraine and the withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukrainian territory,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Oleh Nikolenko said in a statement. He was reacting to new statements by Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who confirmed Vladimir Putin’s offer to Ukraine for negotiations.
14:52 – Russia: Ukrainian drones had Canadian control modules
According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the Ukrainian drones used in the attack on the Black Sea Fleet were equipped with Canadian control modules. That was the result of the analysis of the wreckage. It reiterates the accusation that the British directed the Ukrainian attack on ships in the Crimean port of Sevastopol. Britain denied the allegations on Saturday.
2:09 p.m. – IAEA silent on inspections in Ukraine over bomb allegations
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) initially did not comment on the new inspections actually planned in Ukraine. IAEA chief Rafael Grossi confirmed on Thursday that inspectors, at the invitation of the Ukrainian authorities, wanted to check two locations later this week, where Russian allegations are being made that a “dirty bomb” is being worked on. An IAEA spokesman did not respond to questions about the status of this mission. He only referred to the message from Thursday.
According to the IAEA, the aim of the planned inspection visits is to detect possible undeclared nuclear activities and materials in connection with the development of “dirty bombs”. Vladimir Putin had accused Ukraine of working on such a nuclear-contaminated bomb. The government in Kyiv wants to “cover up the traces of the construction of a ‘dirty bomb'”. He also knows roughly where the construction is taking place. Kyiv has firmly denied the allegations and asked for an IAEA mission.
2:03 p.m. – Baerbock: Moscow must not jeopardize the safety of grain ships
Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has called on Russia to comply with its obligations under the agreement on Ukrainian grain exports across the Black Sea. “Millions of people are starving around the world and Russia is once again compromising the safety of grain ships. That has to stop,” said the Greens politician in Berlin. “Whether families in Lebanon, Niger or Bangladesh can pay for their next meal must not depend on the Russian president’s war plans.”
13:24 – Poland: EU countries can help transport food
Poland says it stands ready, together with EU partners, to help Ukraine transport basic foodstuffs after the suspension of the Grains Agreement. The Foreign Ministry in Warsaw says the suspension of the UN-Turkey-brokered deal between Russia and Ukraine shows once again that the Moscow government is unwilling to honor international treaties.
12:54 p.m. – Russia: Ukrainian attacks repelled in three regions
According to reports from Russian news agencies, the Defense Ministry in Moscow has announced that the army has repelled Ukrainian attacks in the Kharkiv, Cherson and Luhansk regions. TASS also reports that according to the ministry, Ukrainian artillery shells have landed near the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant. An increase in radioactivity was not registered.
11:07 am – Slovenia delivers 28 main battle tanks to Ukraine
Slovenia has handed over 28 Soviet M-55S main battle tanks to Russia-attacked Ukraine. This was reported by the Slovenian news portal “24ur.com”, citing the Ministry of Defense in the capital Ljubljana. The tanks were brought to Ukraine by rail via Poland. The EU and NATO partner country Slovenia will now receive 43 heavy military trucks from Germany as part of a so-called ring exchange.
10:22 am – EU: Russia should revoke grain decision
The EU calls on Russia to revoke its withdrawal from the grain deal. The decision endangers the export of urgently needed grain and fertilizers, writes EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Twitter. However, the exports are necessary in the fight against the global food crisis that arose in the course of the Russian war against Ukraine. “The EU calls on Russia to reverse its decision.”
09:23 – Lithuania is waiting for more self-propelled howitzers for Ukraine
Lithuania sent two more self-propelled howitzers back to Russia-attacked Ukraine in 2000 after being repaired in the Baltic EU and NATO country. The two artillery pieces were handed over to the Ukrainian army this week, the Defense Ministry said in Vilnius. Two more howitzers are said to be on their way to Lithuania for repairs.
The self-propelled howitzers were delivered to Ukraine by Germany and the Netherlands as military aid for the fight against Russia. Because of the high rate of fire in the battle, a good third of the German guns are said to be in need of repairs, according to a report by Der Spiegel in early October.
08:36 – Russia slams US for statements about canceling grain deal
Russia has criticized the US for its assessment of the suspension of the grain agreement. “Washington’s response to the terrorist attack on the port of Sevastopol is outrageous,” Russian ambassador to the US Anatoly Antonov wrote on Telegram. The ruthless actions of the regime in Kyiv have not yet been condemned.
Russia had announced that it would suspend the grain agreement brokered by Turkey and the United Nations. The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that Ukraine had attacked ships of the Russian Black Sea Fleet near Sevastopol. Ukraine was supported by Great Britain.
Britain dismissed the allegations as false. Joe Biden described Russia’s move as outrageous. This would fuel famine.
8:26 a.m. – Selenskyj adviser expects agreement on German tank deliveries to be reached quickly
Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s adviser, Mykhailo Podoliak, expects an agreement to be reached quickly with the German government on the delivery of Western battle and infantry fighting vehicles. “I think that we can find a consensus with our German partners for the tanks,” said Podoljak in an interview with WELT AM SONNTAG.
There is progress in talks between the two countries. “We are ready to pay any price for the security of Europe. But help us with weapons!” Podoljak appealed to the Germans.
12:02 a.m. – Weber: There must be no obstacles to the admission of Ukrainians
The head of the European People’s Party, Manfred Weber, has called for the willingness to accept Ukrainian refugees in Germany and has also addressed his party, the CSU. Russian President Vladimir Putin is deliberately destroying critical infrastructure in Ukraine. “In winter, the number of refugees from Ukraine will continue to increase,” Weber told the editorial network Germany (RND). “Then Germany and the CSU must be ready to help. There can be no artificial barriers to accepting Ukrainians.”
At the same time, the CSU should work to “ensure that law is consistently implemented at the EU’s external border,” Weber demanded. People who do not come from crisis regions would have to be turned away if they did not meet the admission criteria.
“Kick-off Politics” is WELT’s daily news podcast. The most important topic analyzed by WELT editors and the dates of the day. Subscribe to the podcast at Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music or directly via RSS feed.