In the midst of the Russian invasion, which has been going on for almost a year now, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj wants to push ahead with his country's planned EU accession. Kyiv expects "news" from an EU-Ukraine summit at the end of this week, said Zelenskyj in his evening video address.
France meanwhile announces the delivery of further howitzers. And in view of the chaotic mobilization of recruits in many places last fall, Moscow acknowledged the illegal conscription of thousands of men. Germany's Vice Chancellor speaks out against the delivery of fighter jets to Kyiv.
Zelenskyj: Awaiting decisions from our EU partners
"We expect decisions from our partners in the European Union that (...) correspond to our progress. Progress that is obviously there - even in spite of the large-scale war," Zelenskyj said. He reiterated that reforms are being worked on in Kyiv.
On February 24, 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion of the neighboring country. The war has increased the desire among many Ukrainians to join the EU soon. The country has been a candidate for EU membership since June. Associated with this, however, are conditions, among other things, in the fight against corruption.
Habeck speaks out against fighter jets for Ukraine
German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck (Greens) has spoken out against the delivery of fighter jets to Ukraine. In the ZDF program "Markus Lanz," Habeck spoke of a "balancing act" between "maximum support" for Ukraine, without Germany itself becoming a party to the war. "And of course it's not entirely clear where the line runs there."
From what he knows, Ukraine needs the maintenance of the West for the modern Western fighter jets, which could then "probably" go a step too far, said Habeck. It is right to supply main battle tanks to Ukraine. "But there is a difference between war tanks and fighter jets."
France delivers twelve more Caesar howitzers
France delivers twelve more Caesar howitzers to Ukraine. This was announced by France's Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu during a visit by his Ukrainian counterpart Oleksiy Resnikov to Paris. France has already delivered 18 of these howitzers to Ukraine and has now freed up tens of millions of euros for the maintenance of the guns, Lecornu said. In addition, Ukraine is to receive a GM 200 air surveillance radar and fuel supplies from France.
Greece does not supply Leopard tanks
Greece will not deliver Leopard tanks to Ukraine because of tensions with Turkey. This was announced by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis during a visit to Japan. "We will not give Leopard-2s for the simple reason that they are absolutely necessary to our defense strategy," Mitsotakis said. Relations between Greece and Turkey are currently going through a very tense phase due to a dispute over sovereign rights in the eastern Mediterranean.
Moscow admits: Thousands of men wrongly mobilized
Russia has admitted that since last fall it has wrongly conscripted several thousand men into the army for the war against Ukraine. "More than 9,000 citizens who were illegally mobilized were brought back home - including those who should not have been called up for health reasons," Prosecutor General Igor Krasnov said at a meeting with Putin.
However, critical observers assume that significantly more people were illegally recruited during the mobilization ordered by Putin last September - and may never have returned. In the first few weeks in particular, chaotic conditions in the district military replacement offices were described in many places. They had drafted a total of 300,000 men for the front across the country.
Ukraine: A good 13,000 people prevented from leaving the country
According to their own statements, the Ukrainian border guards have prevented more than 13,000 people from leaving the country since the Russian invasion last year. "In total, more than 9,100 people have been arrested at the green border since February 24," said authority spokesman Andriy Demchenko. Most of them were picked up at the border sections with Romania and Moldova. As part of the general mobilization at the beginning of the war, a ban on leaving the country was imposed for conscript Ukrainians between the ages of 18 and 60, with a few exceptions.
What will be important on Wednesday
Defense Minister Boris Pistorius found out more about the Leopard 2 main battle tank on Wednesday during a visit to the Bundeswehr in Augustdorf in North Rhine-Westphalia will.
