AForeign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) has no hope of a ceasefire in Ukraine anytime soon. “Nobody but Putin started this war, and if Putin wants it, then the war will be over tomorrow,” she told the “Bild am Sonntag”. The Russian President only has to order his soldiers to withdraw. “But unfortunately there are anything but honest signs of this.” She also opposed a ceasefire on Russian terms: Such a ceasefire would “not end the horror for the people of Ukraine”.
The worst situation is for the people in the occupied territories, said Baerbock. “Not only is there a lack of electricity and heat here, not even international aid deliveries come through here. Every day people live in fear of being kidnapped, tortured, murdered by the Russian occupying forces.”
Current developments in the live ticker:
09:02 am – EU Parliament President calls for additional weapons for Ukraine
EU Parliament President Roberta Metsola calls for additional financial and military support for Ukraine against the Russian war of aggression. “This war must be ended urgently. And Ukraine must win this war,” Metsola told Funke media group newspapers (Sunday editions). This means “more weapons for Ukraine, more financial and humanitarian aid, more practical solidarity and more sanctions against Russia”.
Metsola said she was “proud of the support we offer Ukraine since the beginning of this unjustified war” at EU level. However, the Union could “do more” and therefore welcome the further sanctions recently decided against Russia.
The EU’s ninth package of sanctions against Russia came into force on Friday.
Parliament President Metsola also called for a trial against the Funke newspapers for war crimes committed in Ukraine. The crimes against Ukrainians, for which there is “growing evidence” and the “continued destruction of civilian infrastructure” are “a gross violation of international law”. In addition, a special tribunal must be set up to try the “crime of aggression” committed against Ukraine.
08:44 – Russian defense minister inspects frontline in Ukraine
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has visited Russian military positions in Ukraine, officials said. “The head of the Russian military authority flew around the deployment areas of the armed forces and inspected the front positions of Russian units in the area of the special military operation,” the Defense Ministry announced on its Telegram channel on Sunday. In Russia, the war against Ukraine is officially called only “special military operation”. The text is accompanied by a video showing Shoigu in the helicopter.
The report goes on to say that Shoigu listened to the commanders’ reports and spoke to private soldiers. He also thanked them for their “exemplary fulfillment of duty”. The visit was primarily about supplying the armed forces. After the partial mobilization ordered by Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin in September, numerous recruits complained that they were inadequately equipped and trained in Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.
Schoigu had already inspected the front in the summer. In November, the minister was spotted once more in the command staff of the units responsible for the Ukraine war. Putin, on the other hand, has not been at the front since the beginning of the war – in contrast to his Ukrainian adversary Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who appeared close to the front several times to speak to the soldiers.
02:24 am – Nobel laureate: War crimes tribunal can save lives
According to Ukrainian Nobel Peace Prize winner Olexandra Matviychuk, the establishment of a tribunal for Russian war crimes could have a short-term impact on the actions of the Russian army in her country. “Even if we take the first steps to an international tribunal, that sends a signal to the perpetrators that they will be held accountable,” the lawyer told the “Tagesspiegel”. “That can potentially save lives.” Together with partners and witnesses, 27,000 cases of war crimes have been documented. “That’s just the tip of the iceberg.”
The Ukrainian head of state Volodymyr Zelenskyj had already campaigned for a special tribunal before the UN General Assembly in September. Matviychuk received the Nobel Peace Prize for the Center for Civil Liberties she heads.
She does not consider the Criminal Court in The Hague to be sufficient for investigating and punishing war crimes. “The International Criminal Court will only investigate some cases. Who will bring justice to the hundreds of thousands of victims whose cases are not selected?” Matviychuk said. “We must give all victims a chance for justice, no matter who they are.”
Olexandra Matviychuk, Ukrainian human rights activist
Source: Maja Suslin/Tt/TT NEWS AGENCY/AP/dpa
One shouldn’t wait: “We have to set up an international tribunal and hold Putin, Lukashenko and other war criminals accountable.” In order to create such a tribunal, one needs the support of an international organization, preferably the United Nations. Alternatively, a tribunal could also be set up under the umbrella of the European Union or the Council of Europe.
We know from history that authoritarian regimes and their leaders who thought they were untouchable suddenly found themselves on trial – like former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic. The war has a “genocidal character”. The Kremlin elite and their propanandists deny Ukraine’s right to exist. “We cannot stop resisting. If we do that, we will be no more.”
10:40 p.m. – Wladimir Klitschko honored at “A Heart for Children”.
Wladimir Klitschko (46) is with the “Image” fundraising gala “A heart for children” been awarded. On Saturday evening in Berlin he accepted the Golden Heart on behalf of all the helpers of the war-affected children in Ukraine. In her laudation, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen recalled the people of the country.
Wladimir Klitschko thanked the ZDF broadcast. He didn’t just want to say thank you to those who cared for the children directly behind the front line. He also mentioned the people in the studio and in Germany, everyone who financially supported or took in refugees. The sum donated by the TV gala: 24,236,721 euros.
10:20 p.m. – Selenskyj: Almost six million Ukrainians have electricity again
After the worst Russian rocket attacks in weeks against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, power has been restored for almost six million people. This was announced by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday in his video message distributed every evening in Kyiv. “The repair work continues,” said Zelenskyj, referring to the “terrorist attack” on Friday. Russia fired more than 70 missiles at Ukraine.
In view of the severe damage, Zelenskyy called on the international community to give Ukraine the means to protect its airspace. What is meant is an effective anti-aircraft system. “You can do that. You can give our people protection – 100 percent protection against these Russian terrorist strikes,” said Zelenskyy. Accordingly, Ukraine is waiting for final approvals for the delivery of the weapons. Selenskyj is hoping for the US Patriot air defense systems. This is to prevent damage to the infrastructure in the future.
“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.