Latvia will supply arms to Ukraine | News from Germany about Ukraine

Latvia, amid the threat of a Russian invasion of Ukraine, will provide Kiev with military equipment. Riga is ready to “supply lethal and non-lethal products” to Kiev, Defense Minister Artis Pabriks said at a press conference in the Latvian capital on Wednesday, January 19. What kind of weapons Ukraine will receive will be made public only after their delivery, it is reported further. At the same time, Latvia is not considering sending its troops to Ukraine, Pabriks said.

At the same time, he criticized the restraint of a number of EU countries in providing defense assistance to Ukraine. “I’m very sorry that there are several European countries that are not ready for this for various reasons. I don’t think it’s right,” Artis Pabriks added.

Germany explains the refusal to supply weapons with historical reasons

One of the countries refusing to supply arms to Kiev is Germany. Members of the new German government coalition have repeatedly denied the possibility of supplying weapons to Ukraine or spoke with restraint about such a decision. On January 17, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, during her visit to Ukraine, once again refused Kiev’s relevant requests. “The position of the German government on the supply of weapons, given our restrictive policy of arms exports, is known, and this is also due to our history,” she said.

According to the West, there are currently about 100,000 Russian servicemen near the border with Ukraine and in the annexed Crimea. The United States, Germany and other countries are calling on Russia to withdraw troops from the Ukrainian border and threatening massive sanctions in the event of a possible invasion. In turn, Moscow denies preparations for a new invasion and calls on the US and NATO to provide “security guarantees”, demanding the reduction of US troops and weapons in Europe and the rejection of further NATO expansion to the east.

Last week, talks between the United States and Russia in Geneva, in the NATO-Russia Council and within the OSCE ended without results. On January 19, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken arrived in Kiev and met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba, the next day he will hold talks in Berlin with colleagues from Germany, France and Great Britain, and two days later he is scheduled to meet in Geneva with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov.

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Time.news of a new aggravation of the conflict in Donbass

Weapon systems check

So far, artillery firing on both sides of the Russian-Ukrainian border is carried out for test purposes. According to official data, the troops are checking the combat readiness of their weapons systems. In a video released by the Russian Defense Ministry, a Russian self-propelled mortar fires.

Time.news of a new aggravation of the conflict in Donbass

West expresses support for Ukraine

The West assures Kiev of its solidarity. In a first telephone conversation with his Ukrainian counterpart, US President Joe Biden reaffirmed to Volodymyr Zelensky “the United States’ unwavering support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of Russia’s ongoing aggression in Donbas and Crimea.” Similar statements were made by representatives of NATO and the EU.

Time.news of a new aggravation of the conflict in Donbass

Troops are pulling up to the Donbass

In early March, Russia began to increase its military presence on the border with Ukraine. Moscow said that in this way it is responding to Kiev’s provocations aimed at escalating the conflict in Donbass. According to observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), there were no provocations.

Time.news of a new aggravation of the conflict in Donbass

American destroyers are already in the Black Sea

The United States, NATO and the EU have pledged support to Ukraine in protecting its territorial integrity. On April 9, Ankara reported that at the end of March, the United States announced the passage of two of its warships through the Bosphorus to the Black Sea. The picture shows one of the two American destroyers that passed through the strait towards the Black Sea on March 20.

Time.news of a new aggravation of the conflict in Donbass

A war that has been going on for seven years

The conflict in eastern Ukraine erupted in early 2014, when pro-Russian separatists took control of parts of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions of Ukraine. According to the authorities in Kiev and their Western allies, the Kremlin is helping the separatists with illegal supplies of arms and mercenaries. Since then, the parties to the conflict have repeatedly agreed on a ceasefire, but these agreements have been constantly violated.

Time.news of a new aggravation of the conflict in Donbass

Bombed and destroyed

This man stands on the ruins of his house, located on the territory of the self-proclaimed “DNR”. The house was destroyed during the fighting between the separatists and the Ukrainian army. They involve soldiers, mercenaries, separatists and paramilitaries. But the fighting again and again affects the civilian population. At the beginning of 2019, according to the UN, about 3,300 civilians died in Donbass.

Time.news of a new aggravation of the conflict in Donbass

Clashes and deaths despite the truce

In total, since 2014, more than 13,000 people have died as a result of fighting in the Donbass. The current ceasefire, in place since July 2020, has been relatively stable, according to the OSCE. Recently, however, shelling has become more frequent. In recent days, at least five Ukrainian soldiers and a five-year-old boy have been killed on the territory of the “DPR”. Kiev denies involvement in his death.

Time.news of a new aggravation of the conflict in Donbass

Zelensky presented awards to Ukrainian soldiers

On April 8, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky visited the Donbass and tried to sort out the situation on the spot. He awarded Ukrainian soldiers who distinguished themselves in serving at the front. And on April 10, Zelensky will meet with Turkish President Erdogan. Ukrainian media reports that Zelensky is also scheduled to meet with French President Macron.

Time.news of a new aggravation of the conflict in Donbass

Russian citizenship under a simplified procedure

In 2019, Russia began issuing citizenship to residents of the “DNR”/”LNR” under a simplified procedure. According to various sources, about 600 thousand people with Russian citizenship now live there. Moscow has already reported that Russia will take all necessary measures to protect them. A US presidential spokeswoman said the Russian military presence on the border with Ukraine is now the largest since 2014.

Author: Jan Walter, Kevin Mertens