Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier promised Ukraine further German support during his unannounced visit to Kyiv. On the one hand, the arms deliveries should be continued - German air defense systems in particular are in great demand in Kyiv - on the other hand, town twinning should get the war-torn country better through the winter. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked Germany yesterday for supporting his country attacked by Russia.
While the UN Security Council in New York was privately debating Russia's accusations that Ukraine was planning to detonate a "dirty" - i.e. nuclear-contaminated - bomb, in Russia the notorious Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov vented his anger at the course of the war and demanded to wipe out Ukrainian cities. A possible trigger are high losses in the units controlled by him. For Ukraine, the 245th day of the war begins today.
Zelenskyj: Thanks to Germany, appeal to Israel
Zelenskyy thanked Germany for the help and called for more support from Israel. "We will strengthen cooperation with Germany," he said yesterday in his daily video address. Selenskyj addressed an appeal to the Israeli leadership, which has condemned Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine, but for its own security interests is neither taking part in the sanctions against Moscow nor delivering weapons to Kyiv.
"The sooner peace is achieved in our country thanks to Ukraine's victory, the less evil Russia will be able to bring to other regions, including the Middle East, where it makes a pact with Iran." The Israeli people have understood that, and he hopes that the country's leadership will come soon, said the 44-year-old. Iran and Israel are very hostile.
Selenskyj said in his speech that Steinmeier had to seek shelter in the air raid shelter during his visit and experienced first-hand the importance of a functioning air defense system. The German Iris-T air defense system is highly efficient, praised Selenskyj. "We're waiting for more systems like this."
Steinmeier in Ukraine
Steinmeier, who arrived in Kyiv by train on Tuesday morning for his unannounced visit, not only visited the Ukrainian capital. Immediately after his arrival in the small town of Koryukivka, north-east of Kyiv, an air raid alarm was sounded there. Steinmeier had to go to an air raid shelter. "That gave us a particularly impressive understanding of the conditions under which people live here," he said. Back in Kyiv, Mayor Vitaly Klitschko showed him the consequences of the latest Russian air raids, including a destroyed house.
At the meeting with Zelenskyj at the end of the trip, Steinmeier promised to continue to provide assistance to Ukraine. Weapons are to be delivered, but Berlin also wants to help stabilize the electricity grid in Ukraine. Large parts of the electricity and district heating networks have been damaged by Russian missile attacks. In order to help Ukrainian municipalities through the upcoming winter, the presidents called for the rapid establishment of German-Ukrainian town twinning.
Kyiv wants to leave refugees abroad in winter
Because of the war damage to Ukraine's electricity and heat supply, the government is asking the men and women who have fled not to return until next spring. "If the opportunity arises, stay and spend the winter abroad!" Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said on national television in Kyiv on Tuesday.
Kadyrov calls for more toughness against Ukraine
Kadyrov again expressed his dissatisfaction with the course of the war. "We used to say that we were conducting special military operations on the territory of Ukraine, but the war is already taking place on our territory," Kadyrov said on his Telegram channel yesterday. He is very dissatisfied with it.
At the same time he threatened Ukraine's western support countries with annihilation. Martial law has already been imposed in regions bordering Ukraine, Kadyrov said. "But they continue to shoot at peaceful citizens and civilian objects." Russia's response to this was "weak". In retaliation, Kadyrov demanded that Ukrainian cities be wiped out "so that we can see the distant horizon."
Chechen soldiers under fire
Kadyrov's displeasure could have been triggered by reports that more than 100 soldiers from Chechnya had been hit by artillery in the Russian-occupied Cherson region. This was announced by the Ukrainian General Staff in its evening situation report. According to several consistent reports, Kadyrov's soldiers are said to have been hit and buried. The information could not be verified independently.
UN Security Council debates 'dirty bomb'
Russia brought its allegations that the Ukrainian government wanted to detonate a nuclear-contaminated bomb to the UN Security Council. On Tuesday there was a corresponding discussion of the most powerful UN body behind closed doors, as Deputy UN Ambassador Dmitry Polyanski announced after the meeting.
Further details were not initially known. Despite Western rebuffs, Russia maintains the claim that Kyiv wants to discredit Moscow with a "dirty" bomb.
What is important today
In Ukraine, the Kiev troops want to retake more territory. Both sides have deployed many new soldiers to the front in recent weeks.
At the political level, Kyiv is meanwhile turning its attention to Europe: President Emmanuel Macron is receiving Chancellor Olaf Scholz in France - the meeting also deals with defense policy issues.
