Situation at a glance: Before the new Trump era: Violent attacks in the Ukraine war

Shortly before the inauguration of the future US President Donald Trump, Russia and Ukraine are trying to improve their starting position for possible peace negotiations. Both sides want to demonstrate strength – and are attacking each other with new attacks: Four people were killed in a Russian rocket attack on the Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj said in his evening video message. Explosions were reported in the capital Kyiv early on Saturday morning. Russia said that Ukrainian drones had set fire to two fuel depots near Moscow during the night.

During the election campaign, Trump repeatedly claimed that he could end the war in Ukraine within 24 hours. After his election victory, the Republican expressed more restraint and, with a view to a possible end to the war, stated that he hoped to have six months to achieve this goal. There is great fear in Ukraine that Trump could drastically reduce US military aid after being sworn in, thereby causing the country a defeat.

Zelensky said that in addition to the dead, 14 people were injured in the attack on the industrial town of Kryvyi Rih in the Dnipropetrovsk region. “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,” Zelensky said.

Kryvyi Rih is Zelensky’s birthplace. Since the Russian war of aggression began almost three years ago, the invaders have repeatedly shelled the city in southern Ukraine.

According to Ukrainian media reports, there were also explosions in Kyiv on Saturday morning. Air alarms were triggered throughout the city. According to Mayor Vitali Klitschko, a metro station and a water pipe were damaged. Nothing was initially known about the victims. Klitschko called on citizens via Telegram to stay in shelters.

Russia: Ukrainian attacks set fuel depots on fire

According to Russian sources, two fuel depots in the Russian regions of Tula and Kaluga caught fire on Saturday night due to Ukrainian drone attacks. A company’s oil tank was hit, Governor Dmitry Milyaev said on Telegram. There were no injuries. The extinguishing work was underway. A total of five drones were destroyed. The information could not be independently verified.

Just a few hours earlier, Russia had reported that a fuel depot in the Kaluga region southwest of Moscow had caught fire as a result of a Ukrainian drone attack. The region’s governor said it hit an industrial plant in the town of Lyudinovo. According to current knowledge, there are no deaths or injuries. Lyudinovo is about 350 kilometers from Moscow.

Russia and Ukraine repeatedly attack each other with air attacks. In addition to military facilities, Kiev is increasingly targeting fuel storage facilities 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 United States is Ukraine’s main supporter and largest arms supplier. Trump’s assumption of office could change that – his approach so far seemed to be aimed at putting massive pressure on the conflicting parties in order to force negotiations and a quick peace.

Gas dispute: Zelensky praises Slovak opposition

Against the backdrop of the gas dispute with the Slovakian government, Zelensky praised the opposition in the neighboring country to the west. Zelenskyj reported in his video message that he met with opposition leader Michal Simecka and was happy that he agreed with him on energy security issues.

There had recently been an open dispute between Zelensky and the Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico over Russian gas deliveries, which continued to flow to Europe via the Ukrainian pipeline system until the end of the year despite Moscow’s war of aggression. But Kiev did not extend the expiring contract – and incurred Fico’s displeasure with the step that had been announced long beforehand. The Prime Minister, whom critics describe as a left-wing populist friend of Russia, sharply criticized the end of the transit and in return threatened to stop electricity deliveries to Ukraine.

Scholz hopes the war will end this year

Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) hopes that the war in Ukraine can be ended this year. All possibilities must now be explored “how the killing will stop and peace becomes possible,” he said at an SPD election campaign event in Wolfsburg. “I hope that this will happen this year, we’ll see if that’s possible.” However, a peace solution should not be decided over the heads of the Ukrainians and Europeans, he emphasized – obviously also with a view to Trump’s upcoming swearing-in as US President.

SPD leader Lars Klingbeil became clearer in his speech. He has an important message for the new US government: “We won’t stand by if you make a bad deal with (Kremlin chief) Vladimir Putin. There can be no decision over the heads of the Ukrainians. This is social democratic politics .”

Scholz confirmed that he also wanted to make the federal election a vote on the financing of further aid to Ukraine worth billions. “There are some people trying to lead the people behind the scenes,” he said. They didn’t explain where the money would come from. “This, please, must be said before the election, and the citizens 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 Union, FDP and Greens are in favor of “unplanned spending”.