Ukraine war for 365 days: Russia does not want to stop

365 days war in Ukraine. “We woke up in a different world,” said Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock a year ago. The traffic light coalition was fresh in office and presented itself as a progressive coalition. But little was left of this attitude after February 24, 2022. That night Russian President Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine. The war continues to hit the people of the country the hardest. Thousands have died or been injured, and millions have had to flee their homes. Meanwhile in Germany there was talk of whether weapons should be supplied and if so, how many. During these 365 days, terms such as the often quoted “turn of the era” by Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz were used. And things that many people in Germany could take for granted for a long time are no longer so.

On February 24, 2022, Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine

In the 472nd episode of the “Today Important” podcast, Michel Abdollahi has a say star-Reporter Bettina Sengling on the first year of the war. Even Sengling was surprised by the attack in February 2022, although she has been there several times and has only just come from the Donbass: “I would never have thought that it would break out. But when it actually did break out, it became clear relatively quickly that that it wasn’t going to end any time soon.”

When Russia attacked Ukraine on the night of February 24, 2022, no one expected Ukraine to stand firm. At the time, some experts speculated that Russia probably thought it would subdue Kiev in three days. But even today, a year after the start of the war, Putin has not managed to take Ukraine. On the contrary. “Militarily, the situation is much more difficult than the Kremlin or Putin had hoped,” she says star-Reporter. The front got stuck in the small town of Bakhmut. There is currently neither forward nor backward. But many Ukrainians no longer just want to return the areas that Russia attacked on February 24. They want all of Ukraine back, including Crimea, which Putin annexed back in March 2014.

“Russia is totally isolated”

After the outbreak of war, the West clearly sided with Ukraine. In a UN General Assembly resolution in March 2022, 141 countries voted to condemn Russian aggression against Ukraine. At the same time, many sanctions were imposed on Russia and Western industries were withdrawn. “There were sectors in which it really took off,” explains Bettina Sengling, citing the aviation industry as an example. Because Russia is a large country with enormous routes, its people and economy depend on airplanes. Now there are no deliveries of spare parts from abroad, which poses a problem for the Russian population and industry. Nevertheless, Western countries had hoped for more from the sanctions. The plan was to weaken the Russian economy significantly more. “Russia released figures a few days ago and said the economy was down, but only by 2.1 percent,” he said star-Reporter Senling. It is questionable whether the numbers are correct. But other countries, such as China and India, which do not participate in Western sanctions, are strengthening the ruble and the Russian economy. For example, in 2022 Russia bought more microchips than in 2022.

“important today”

Sure, opinionated, on the 12: “today important” is not just a news podcast. We set topics and initiate debates – with attitude and sometimes uncomfortable. Host Michel Abdollahi and his team speak out for this star– and RTL reporters with the most exciting people from politics, society and entertainment. They let all voices have their say, both the quiet and the loud. Anyone who hears “important today” starts the day well informed and can have a well-founded say.

The war in Ukraine could go on for a long time

When asked how the war could end, Bettina Sengling replies: “There will be negotiations at some point, but they are not in the air at the moment.” While a year ago the media was still talking about a “Blitzkrieg”, Sengling believes that the attack will develop into a “war of attrition”. Too much has happened for Ukraine to give up and hand over its territories to Russia. According to some surveys, morale also remains high. As difficult as this war is for the Ukrainians, who have been making a lot of sacrifices for the past year and have had to live in dramatic conditions, Bettina Sengling is certain: “The people can put up with it.”

Your subscription to “important today”