Situation at a glance: Zelensky thanks Germany – NATO foreign ministers meet

After the Chancellor’s first visit to Kiev in two and a half years, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj reiterated his gratitude for the ongoing support from Germany in the defensive fight against Russia. Germany is “number one on the continent (…) when it comes to support for Ukraine, almost 30 billion euros,” emphasized Zelensky in his evening video speech. “I would like to thank you personally, Olaf, and I thank your country, I thank Germany!”

The USA is the most important supporter and arms supplier of Ukraine, which has been resisting a military invasion by its neighbor Russia for almost three years. However, Germany and other European countries also play a key role, which is likely to become even more important in view of the impending change of power in Washington. At a two-day meeting between NATO foreign ministers and the new Ukrainian chief diplomat Andrij Sybiha in Brussels today, topics will include, among other things, the situation at the front and the current need for support in the defensive war against Russia.

During his visit to the capital Kiev yesterday, Scholz assured Ukraine of continued arms deliveries and sent a message to Moscow: “We have staying power. And we will stand by Ukraine for as long as it is necessary.” This year, further armaments worth 650 million euros are to be made available from funds already committed. The weapons package includes dozens of battle tanks, thousands of missiles as well as drones and anti-aircraft systems.

Ukrainian wishes remain unfulfilled

However, after the meeting with Zelensky, Scholz reiterated his rejection of the delivery of the Taurus cruise missiles requested by Kiev, which could theoretically be used to hit targets far from the border in Russian territory. “That has something to do with the range and the need to control the targeting,” said the Chancellor, who arrived in Kiev that morning after a nine-hour journey on a special train from Poland. The Ukrainian wish to be invited to NATO also remains unfulfilled.

It is important for Ukraine that the extent of German support does not decrease in the future, emphasized Zelensky. “This will be the most important signal to all our other partners.” In addition, it was agreed with Scholz that Germany would continue to support Ukraine in the future, “regardless of what happens in world politics and what mood swings there may be.”

Ukraine fears a change of power in Washington

In view of Donald Trump’s victory in the US presidential election, there are fears in Ukraine and its European supporting countries that the US could soon stop its aid to Kiev – and that Russia will effectively emerge as the victor from the war of aggression through a unilateral peace settlement at the expense of Ukraine, the Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin ordered in February 2022 in violation of international law. Trump has indicated several times that he would significantly reduce support for Kyiv.

This is one of the reasons why the outgoing administration of US President Joe Biden is trying to strengthen Ukraine before the change of power in Washington on January 20th – and is providing additional military equipment worth around 725 million US dollars (around 690 euros) to defend against Russian attacks million euros) available. According to the US State Department, the new package contains, among other things, ammunition for the Himars rocket launcher system as well as drones, Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, anti-tank weapons and artillery ammunition in 155 and 105 millimeter calibers.

Biden’s security adviser Jake Sullivan said the US President had instructed the Defense Department to deliver the material to Ukraine “quickly”. Hundreds of thousands of additional artillery shells, thousands of additional rockets and other important military equipment will be delivered by mid-January “to support Ukraine in defending its freedom and independence.” The Ukrainian troops are currently under great pressure, especially in eastern Ukraine, and are having to abandon positions almost every day.

More protection for supply hub in Poland

Meanwhile, Norway wants to send several combat aircraft, around 100 soldiers and Nasams air defense systems to Poland to protect the airport in Rzeszow near the Ukrainian border. “The situation in Ukraine is critical and the transport of material into the country largely takes place through Poland,” said Norwegian Defense Minister Bjørn Arild Gram. The protection mission will be integrated into NATO’s air and missile defense in Polish airspace and will last until Easter.

The EU and NATO country Poland is a politically and militarily important ally of Ukraine and plays a crucial role as a logistical hub for Western military aid. The airport near Rzeszow, about 100 kilometers from the border with Ukraine, is central to the transport of military equipment. US soldiers are stationed there and the airport is protected by units of the American Patriot air defense system. Germany has also announced that it will once again relocate Patriot systems to southeastern Poland at the beginning of the year.

Heavy fighting in western Russia

Meanwhile, the Russian and Ukrainian armed forces continue to engage in fierce fighting in the western Russian region of Kursk. Ukrainian troops made a surprise advance into Russian territory there in August and have been occupying it ever since. Ukrainian media reported that a massive Russian attack with artillery support was repelled in the Novoivanovsk region and that 16 Russian military personnel were killed. The information could not be independently verified, and figures for Ukrainian casualties were not given.

To recapture the Kursk region, Russia has massed around 50,000 troops there, including 10,000 fighters from North Korea. According to Ukrainian statements, the goal of the Russian military is to bring the area back under Russian control before Trump takes office on January 20th. The Ukrainian leadership, in turn, sees the occupied territories in the neighboring country as a bargaining chip in possible ceasefire negotiations.