Live
Published January 7, 2024last updated January 7, 2024
Former President Joachim Gauck has criticized the German government’s “hesitation” in delivering Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine, and urged Europe to bolster its independent defense capabilities. Follow DW for more.
https://p.dw.com/p/4aw8X
Ukraine has repeatedly requested long-range German “Taurus” cruise missiles such as this one, which belongs to the South Korean military.Image: Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty ImagesSkip next section What you need to knowWhat you need to knowGermany’s former President Joachim Gauck has criticized Chancellor Olaf Scholz’ for “hesitating” to deliver long-range Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine.
Gauck also warned that Germany and Europe were not adequately prepared to respond to the military threat posed by Russia.
Meanwhile, Japan’s foreign minister Yoko Kamikawa arrived in Ukraine on Sunday morning ahead of spontaneous meetings in Kyiv.
You can find DW’s full coverage of Russia’s war in Ukraine here.
Skip next section Kyiv reports 28 Russian drones and 3 missiles fired overnightJanuary 7, 2024
Kyiv reports 28 Russian drones and 3 missiles fired overnightUkraine’s air force said on Sunday morning that its air defense systems had shot down 21 out of 28 Russian drones launched against the south and south east of the country overnight.
“The enemy is shifting the focus of attack to the frontline territories – Kherson and Dnipropetrovsk regions were attacked by drones,” Air Force spokesperson Yuriy Ihnat told national television.
According to local governor Serhiy Lyssak, an educational institution and its dormitory, two multi-apartment buildings and one administrative building were damaged in the city of Dnipro, injuring 12.
The air force also said that Russia had fired three cruise missiles but did not specify what had happened to them.
The attacks came a day after 11 people, including five children, were killed and 10 more injured in a Russian missile strike near the city of Pokrovsk in the eastern Donetsk region.
https://p.dw.com/p/4awAWSkip next section Japanese foreign minister arrives in Ukraine in show of supportJanuary 7, 2024
Japanese foreign minister arrives in Ukraine in show of supportJapan’s Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa made an unannounced visit to Ukraine on Sunday morning ahead of a meeting with her Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kubela.
In an official statement, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said Kamikawa “will once again reiterate to the Ukrainian side that Japan’s consistent policy of standing with and supporting Ukraine remains unchanged.”
Japan has imposed sanctions on Russia since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, including export bans and asset freezes, and plans to host a conference in Tokyo in February to promote the economic reconstruction of Ukraine.
Beacuse of its broadly pacifist constitution rooted in its defeat in World War II, Japan has not exported weapons to Ukraine. However, it has agreed to provide some of its stocks to the US for use elswhere, that might enable the US to redirect more weaponry to Kyiv.
During her visit to Kyiv, Kamikawa will oversee the ceremonial handover of large-scale power and heating equipment and intends to “demonstrate Japan’s determination to uphold the international order based on the ‘rule of law’ from the perspective that unilateral changes to the status quo by force, such as Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, cannot be accepted,” according to the statement.
Tokyo’s commitment to a rules-based international order is rooted in concerns over its own regional territorial disputes, including with Russia over the four southernmost Kuril Islands, which are considered by Japan to be “illegally occupied” by the Soviet Union and now Russia since the end of the Second World War.
Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa has made a surprise visit to UkraineImage: Ahn Young-joon/AFP https://p.dw.com/p/4awA1Skip next section Former German President criticizes Olaf Scholz for ‘hesitation’ over Taurus missilesJanuary 7, 2024
Former German President criticizes Olaf Scholz for ‘hesitation’ over Taurus missilesGermany’s former President Joachim Gauck has issued stark criticism of Chancellor Olaf Scholz over the latter’s hesitation in delivering long-range Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine.
“The Chancellor must keep asking himself whether he is living up to his stated goal of doing all he can to prevent Russia obtaining a victorious peace,” Gauck the Bild am Sonntag Sunday paper.
Asked specifically about Ukraine’s repeated requests for Taurus missiles, whose 500-kilometer (roughly 300-mile) range would enable Kyiv to strike targets inside Russian territory, Gauck said: “I don’t understand why we are hesitating to deliver these and other weapons.”
“Given the grueling war of attrition and the abhorrent air attacks on the civilian population, I regard our actions with concern and ask myself whether our support is sufficient,” he continued, saying that “a Russian victory would put the medium-term security of further European states at risk.”
Ukraine’s allies have generally been more reticent to provide Kyiv with ammunition and weaponry capable of striking into Russian territory, typically offering stocks better suited to attacking occupied areas recognized internationally as part of Ukraine, like Crimea or parts of the Donbas.
Gauck also said that Germany and Europe were “not sufficiently armed” to combat the “truly warlike threat” posed by Russia and said it was “important to increase Europe’s military capabilities.” He also said that in the event of the US no longer providing security guarantees, Europe would need an independent nuclear deterrent. Germany is not a nuclear power.
Gauck, 83, held the largely ceremonial role as Germany’s head of state from 2012 to 2017. A former Lutheran pastor, he first came to prominence as an anti-communist activist in former East Germany.
The current incumbent is Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
How significant would Taurus cruise missiles be for Ukraine?To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
mf/msh (dpa, AFP)
https://p.dw.com/p/4aw8Z
Comments