Day 390 since the war began: Ukraine has attacked targets in Crimea with drones. And Xi is visiting Moscow. All information in the news blog.
The most important things at a glance
Great Britain wants to supply ammunition with depleted uranium – Russia warns
5:37 p.m.: Russia condemns a British plan to provide Ukraine with depleted uranium ammunition. A spokeswoman for the ministry said such munitions are carcinogenic and pollute the environment.
The background is a statement by the Conservative British MP and Secretary of State at the Ministry of Defense, Annabel Goldie. In response to a request on Monday, she said that such ammunition would be transferred to Ukraine along with Challenger 2 tanks. It is “very effective in combating modern tanks and armored vehicles”. Depleted uranium increases the penetrating power of armor-piercing weapons and was used in the Gulf Wars, for example. The exact consequences for humans and the environment are disputed.
According to a media report, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu sees a potential “nuclear collision” between the West and his country approaching in this context. The Interfax news agency quoted Schoigu as saying that there were fewer and fewer steps left until then. His statement was in response to reports that Britain was planning to provide Ukraine with depleted uranium ammunition.
Russia and China apparently want to hold military maneuvers
5:59 p.m.: According to a media report, Russia and China want to hold joint maneuvers of their air and naval forces on a regular basis. The Interfax news agency reports that the cooperation and trust between the respective military forces should be deepened, citing a joint statement after the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping. The document underlines that relations between Russia and China are not a “military-political alliance”.
Who does not want to fight becomes an “untouchable”
5:58 p.m.: Russia burns its fighters so quickly that new recruits are needed. The Kremlin is apparently relying on the perfidious caste system in prison. Read more here.
German Putin fighter has had enough of the war
5:47 p.m.: Alexander F. fought for the separatists in Donbass and for Russia against Ukraine. He was the first German to be taken prisoner in Ukraine in 2022 – t-online and ZDF “Frontal” met him. Read more here.
Baerback talks about Xis visit to Putin
5:38 p.m.: Against the background of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock expressed her disappointment at the visit of China’s head of state and party leader Xi Jinping to Moscow. The visit would have been “an opportunity for China to live up to its responsibility and role as a permanent member of the Security Council,” said the Green politician on the fringes of the Green Party’s parliamentary group retreat in Weimar.
However, she noted that in statements by both governments on their websites, “the fact that we experienced a war of aggression in the world last year has not even been mentioned in other words, as it is otherwise called, but as if the entire last year had not existed”.
China has a special responsibility as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, Baerbock said. “It’s not just a privilege that you can veto it. The primary task for the permanent members of the Security Council is to serve world peace.” It was therefore a sign of hope that the Chinese announced at the Munich Security Conference in February that they wanted to present a peace plan. Unfortunately, instead, a position paper was created that did not name the attacker and the victim “and therefore, in my view, cannot make any real contribution to peace.”
With regard to Xi’s visit to Moscow, Baerbock said both governments had described their deep friendship on their websites. The Chinese side had also made it clear to Russia what a wonderful year 2022 was, also economically. This is regrettable because “China, as a permanent member of the Security Council, actually has a special responsibility for peace in the world.”
