War against Ukraine: ++ Kyiv: Russians demolish theaters of Mariupol ++

The Russian occupation authorities are said to have started demolishing the Mariupol theater. According to Kyiv, hundreds of people were killed there in a Russian attack in March. The economist Schnitzer promotes longer nuclear power plant runtimes. All developments in the live blog.

3:52 a.m

Steinmeier: “Peace not yet tangible”

Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier thanked the citizens for their humanity in the face of the war in Ukraine and called for confidence for the coming year despite the crisis. Steinmeier said in his Christmas speech this year that he knew how much this crisis was asking of everyone, that many had to limit themselves.

Steinmeier said he was grateful for the humanity and love that refugees from Ukraine experienced. He also wanted to thank everyone who had worked for others this year. They would help “make life a little brighter for others”.

The most ardent wish in the face of the brutal Russian attack on Ukraine is probably the wish for peace. “But this peace is not yet tangible,” said Steinmeier. It must be a just peace that neither rewards land grabbing nor leaves the people in Ukraine to the arbitrariness and violence of their occupiers, he added in his speech, which will be broadcast on Christmas Day.

3:52 a.m

Economist Schnitzer for longer nuclear power plant terms

In connection with the energy crisis caused by the Ukraine war, the chairwoman of the “Wirtschaftswise” newspaper, Monika Schnitzer, campaigned for a further extension of the nuclear power plant operating times. “From an economic point of view, it would make sense to quickly order new fuel rods now,” she told the “Rheinische Post”. “That would give us more security next winter, even if the contribution shouldn’t be overestimated.”

The federal government should urgently consider letting the three nuclear power plants run “two or three years” longer. “The unsolved repository problem doesn’t get bigger if the runtime is extended a little.” As justification, the economist pointed out that the electricity prices were so high because the supply was scarce and the particularly expensive gas-fired power plants were therefore often used.

Schnitzer also endorsed the suggestion of the “economic wise men” to ask high earners to pay more in order to distribute the burden of the energy crisis more fairly. In November, the Council of Economic Experts spoke out in favor of a temporary energy solidarity surcharge or an increase in the top tax rate. “The energy solos can still be introduced in 2023, said Schnitzer. This makes sense: “It expresses that the country is becoming poorer and that strong shoulders have to carry more burdens than weak ones.”

3:52 a.m

Russians begin demolition of theater in Mariupol

The Russian occupation authorities have started demolishing the famous theater in the occupied city of Mariupol in Ukraine, according to Ukrainian sources. “The theater in Mariupol no longer exists,” Ukrainian Culture Minister Oleksandr Tkachenko wrote on Facebook. The occupiers wanted to destroy the traces of their crimes. According to Ukrainian sources, a Russian attack on the theater in March killed several hundred people who had sought shelter there.

conflicting parties as a source

Information on the course of the war, shelling and casualties provided by official bodies of the Russian and Ukrainian conflict parties cannot be directly checked by an independent body in the current situation.

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