Germany Before the new Trump era: fierce attacks in the Ukraine war
Shortly before the inauguration of future US President Donald Trump, Russia and Ukraine are trying to improve their starting position for possible peace negotiations. Both sides want to demonstrate their strength - and are launching new attacks: Four people were killed in a Russian missile attack on the major Ukrainian city of Krywyj Rih, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selenskyj said in his evening video message. Explosions were then reported from the capital Kiev early on Saturday morning. Russia, in turn, reported that Ukrainian drones had set fire to two fuel depots near Moscow during the night.
18.01.2025, 05:58
SDA
During the election campaign, Trump repeatedly claimed that he could end the war in Ukraine within 24 hours. After his election victory, the Republican was more cautious and stated that he hoped to have six months to achieve this goal with regard to a possible end to the war. There is great fear in Ukraine that Trump could drastically reduce US military aid after his inauguration and thus hand the country a defeat.
Selenskyj said that the attack on the industrial city of Kryvyi Rih in the Dnipropetrovsk region resulted in 14 casualties as well as deaths. "These attacks and losses could have been prevented if we had the air defense systems that we have been discussing with our partners for a long time - systems that already exist in the world," said Selensky.
Kryvyi Rih is the birthplace of Zelenskyi. Since the beginning of the Russian war of aggression almost three years ago, the invaders have repeatedly shelled the city in the south of Ukraine.
According to Ukrainian media reports, there were also explosions in Kiev on Saturday morning. Air alarms were sounded throughout the city. According to Mayor Vitali Klitschko, a metro station and a water pipe were damaged. No casualties were initially reported. Klitschko called on citizens via Telegram to stay in shelters.
Russia: Ukrainian attacks set fuel depot on fire
According to Russian reports, two fuel depots in the Russian regions of Tula and Kaluga were set on fire by Ukrainian drone attacks on Saturday night. An oil tank belonging to a company was hit, Governor Dmitry Milyaev announced on Telegram. There were no casualties. The firefighting work was ongoing. A total of five drones were destroyed. The information could not be verified independently.
Just a few hours earlier, Russia had reported that a tank farm in the Kaluga region south-west of Moscow had been set on fire by a Ukrainian drone attack. According to the governor of the region, an industrial plant in the town of Lyudinovo had been hit. So far, there have been no fatalities or injuries. Lyudinovo is located around 350 kilometers from Moscow.
Russia and Ukraine are repeatedly attacking each other from the air. In addition to military facilities, Kiev is also increasingly targeting fuel depots in order to weaken the Russian military's logistics and supplies.
Ukraine has been defending itself against Russia's war of aggression since February 2022 and is dependent on Western military aid. Under the outgoing administration of Joe Biden, the USA is Ukraine's most important supporter and largest arms supplier. Trump's assumption of office could change this - his approach so far has seemed to be aimed at putting massive pressure on the parties to the conflict in order to force negotiations and a quick peace.
Gas dispute: Selensky praises Slovakian opposition
Against the backdrop of the gas dispute with the Slovakian government, Zelensky praised the opposition in the neighboring country to the west. He had met with opposition leader Michal Simecka and was pleased that he agreed with him on energy security issues, Selensky reported in his video message.
Selenskyj and the Slovakian head of government Robert Fico had recently come to an open dispute over Russian gas supplies, which continued to flow to Europe via the Ukrainian pipeline system until the end of the year despite Moscow's war of aggression. However, Kiev did not extend the expiring contract - and incurred Fico's displeasure with the move, which had been announced long in advance. The Prime Minister, who critics describe as a left-wing populist friend of Russia, sharply criticized the end of the transit and threatened to stop electricity supplies to Ukraine in return.
Scholz hopes for an end to the war this year
Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) hopes that the war in Ukraine can be ended this year. He said at an SPD election campaign event in Wolfsburg that all options must now be explored "to stop the killing and make peace possible". "I hope that this will succeed this year, but we will see whether it is possible." However, a peace solution should not be decided over the heads of Ukrainians and Europeans, he emphasized - obviously also with a view to Trump's upcoming swearing-in as US President.
SPD leader Lars Klingbeil was clearer in his speech. He had an important message for the new US administration: "We will not stand by and watch if you make a rotten deal with (Kremlin boss) Vladimir Putin. There can be no decision over the heads of the Ukrainians. That is social democratic policy."
Scholz reiterated that he also wanted to turn the Bundestag election into a vote on the financing of further aid to Ukraine worth billions. "Some people are trying to deceive the people," he said. They did not explain where the money would come from. "That, please, must be said before the election, and the people can vote on it."
Scholz only wants to agree to new arms deliveries worth three billion euros if they are financed by suspending the debt brake. The CDU/CSU, FDP and Greens are in favor of "unscheduled expenditure".
