Kyiv is hoping for more concrete accession prospects from an EU-Ukraine summit today. "I believe that Ukraine deserves to start negotiations on EU membership already this year," said Zelenskyy in his evening address yesterday. Further integration into the European Union would give Ukrainians "energy and motivation to fight despite all obstacles and threats".
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Council President Charles Michel want to meet Zelenskyj in Kyiv. As Ukraine continues to resist heavy Russian attacks, Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin used the commemoration of the Battle of Stalingrad in World War II to once again defend his war of aggression against the neighboring country.
EU leaders meet Selenskyj
Another topic of today's summit, which is taking place under tight security, is additional European support in the war against Russia. Von der Leyen, who has been in Kyiv since yesterday, has already announced further financial, military and humanitarian aid. 150 million euros are to be made available for the reconstruction of the energy infrastructure destroyed by Russia. A new package of sanctions against Russia is to be decided by the first anniversary of the start of the war on February 24.
Ukraine has had candidate country status since June. However, it usually takes many years to become a member. However, the 27 EU countries have agreed that promises of reform must first be kept.
Among other things, it is about the selection process for constitutional judges and the fight against corruption - especially at a high level. The EU is also demanding that standards in the fight against money laundering be observed and that a law against the excessive influence of oligarchs be implemented.
2023 over 15 billion euros for reconstruction
Ukraine has also requested specific funding from the European Union for the ongoing reconstruction of the destroyed infrastructure. "This year the requirement is 17 billion US dollars (around 15.6 billion euros)," said Prime Minister Denys Schmyhal. Above all, the Russian funds frozen in the course of the sanctions against Moscow should be used for this.
Kyiv continues to demand longer-range missiles
According to a report by the Ukrinform agency, Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov once again called for longer-range missiles for his country. Ukraine is also ready to guarantee that no attacks on Russian territory will be carried out. The war has now lasted more than eleven months.
Putin threatens Germany
80 years after the Red Army defeated the Wehrmacht in the Battle of Stalingrad, Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin has accused Germany of now 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 Leopard tank," Putin said at a ceremony in Volgograd (formerly: Stalingrad).
The Wehrmacht did not have any tanks with the type designation Leopard in their inventory. As in the Second World War, German weapons are being used to fight against Russia on Ukrainian soil, the Kremlin chief said. Germany emphasizes that, despite the military aid to Ukraine, it is not or does not want to become a war party.
Russia will defend itself this time too, Putin said, referring to the war against Ukraine, which he himself ordered: "We have something we can answer with. And the matter is not over with the use of armor technology. Everyone should understand that." , said the president of the nuclear power.
Critics repeatedly accuse Putin of using the commemoration days, which are important for many Russians, to commemorate the victory over Hitler's Germany in World War II for propaganda purposes.
