live blog
Status: 07.02.2023 05:11
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has confirmed that the fight for Bakhmut will continue in the east of the country. From the CDU comes harsh criticism of Chancellor Scholz in terms of tank deliveries. The developments in the live blog.
5:11 a.m
Zelenskyj: Fighting on for Bakhmut
Ukrainian forces in the city of Bakhmut in the east of the country continue to resist constant Russian attacks. “We oppose them,” said President Volodymyr Zelenskyj in his daily video address in the evening.
Earlier, at a meeting of the Stavka, Ukraine’s high command, the occupiers’ attempts to surround the city and break through the Ukrainian defense lines were discussed. “And I’m grateful to every soldier who uses his determination to support the resistance.”
Zelenskyj also reported on new occupations on the fronts in Ukraine. “In a number of regions, especially in the border and frontline areas, we are hiring managers with military experience,” said Zelenskyy. And these are people “who can defend themselves most effectively against the current threats”.
5:11 a.m
Harris travels to the Munich Security Conference
US Vice President Kamala Harris has confirmed that she will attend the Munich Security Conference. The White House said Harris will be traveling to Munich next week to attend the meeting. She will also give a speech there. Harris had already led the US delegation to the world’s most important security policy expert meeting last year.
The Munich Security Conference will take place from February 17th to 19th at the Hotel Bayerischer Hof. It is the first security conference since the start of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.
The White House said Harris’ participation demonstrated transatlantic unity and determination in the face of Russian aggression. She also underscored US global leadership and the country’s continued commitment to supporting Ukraine.
Expected at the Munich Security Conference: US Vice President Harris.
Image: AP
5:11 a.m
Tank question: Kiesewetter accuses Scholz of leadership failure
The CDU foreign politician Roderich Kiesewetter attributes the lack of delivery commitments for an international tank alliance to failures on the part of the federal government. “The problem with the Leopard alliance is that Germany did not make any arrangements with the alliance partners and therefore had no leadership or coordination role in advance,” Kiesewetter told the Düsseldorf “Rheinische Post” and the Bonn “General-anzeiger”.
“The problem is primarily a German one, because the main difficulties are finding partners for the battalion with Leopard 2A6,” said the CDU politician. It is “puzzling” why Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) committed himself to the delivery of comparatively modern Leopard 2A6 battle tanks “without internal consultation and without feedback from the Bundeswehr”.