Ukrainian President Zelenskyj has assessed the situation at the front as increasingly difficult. According to Chancellor Scholz, the western approach to arms deliveries to Ukraine is preventing an escalation. The latest developments in the live blog.
2:44 a.m
Zelenskyy admits the “difficult situation” at the front
The situation on the front in Ukraine is becoming “more difficult”, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. “During the 346 days of this war, I have said many times that the situation on the front lines is difficult and that it is getting more and more difficult,” the Ukrainian president said in his daily video address. “Now we are at such a point again. A point where the occupiers are increasingly mobilizing their forces to breach our defenses,” Zelenskyy added. The situation in “Bachmut, Wuhledar, Lyman and other regions” is difficult. According to Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maljar, Ukraine was able to successfully fend off an attack on Bakhmut: “This week the Russian occupying forces made every effort to break through our defenses and encircle Bakhmut.” But thanks to the “resilience of our soldiers,” they failed to do so, she added.
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.
2:44 a.m
New oil sanctions against Russia apply
From today, oil products from Russia may no longer be imported into the European Union. The import restriction is based on a sanctions regulation passed by the 27 member states last June because of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. It came into force shortly after the decision, but provided for a long transitional period for the oil products embargo. The import of Russian crude oil into the EU has been largely banned since last December. There is only one exception to the oil products embargo for Croatia.
2:44 a.m
Scholz: Joint action prevents escalation
Chancellor Olaf Scholz has countered fears that Germany could be drawn into Russia’s war against Ukraine by supplying main battle tanks. He told the “Bild am Sonntag”: “We have carefully weighed every delivery of arms, closely coordinated with our allies, above all with America. This joint approach prevents the war from escalating.” In telephone calls, he made it “very clear” to Russian President Vladimir Putin that Russia alone was responsible for the war. Putin threatened neither him – Scholz – nor Germany.
The federal government had promised Ukraine “Leopard 2” tanks from Bundeswehr stocks. Other countries such as the USA had also announced that they would supply battle tanks to Kyiv. Scholz was heavily criticized for hesitating on the battle tank issue. Putin had accused Germany of allowing itself to be drawn into a war with Russia. “It’s unbelievable, but it’s a fact: we’re being threatened again with the German tank ‘Leopard’,” he said. As in the Second World War, German weapons are being used to fight against Russia on Ukrainian soil. Contrary to what Putin portrayed, there were no “Leopard” tanks at the time.
Asked about Putin’s statements, Scholz said: “His words are part of a series of abstruse historical comparisons that he uses to justify his attack on Ukraine. But this war cannot be justified by anything. Russia is waging a merciless war against Ukraine.” When asked whether there was an agreement with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that weapons from the West would only be used on Ukrainian territory and that Russia would not be attacked on its territory, Scholz said: “There is a consensus on that.”