Poland delivered the first Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine. The announcement was made today by Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak at a meeting of the National Security Council. Meanwhile, the West imposed new sanctions on Russia on the anniversary of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.
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Polish President Andrzej Duda said at the start of the session that Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki could not be present. “He traveled to Kiev to deliver the first Leopard tanks delivered to Ukraine.” Earlier, the PAP news agency reported that Morawiecki would announce today in Kiev that Poland has delivered the first Leopard tanks to Ukraine.
New sanctions against Russia announced
Earlier, the United States announced new sanctions against Russia. Washington is targeting banks and the defense industry. Sanctions that have already been decided should be harder to get around in the future. Great Britain also announced new measures for the anniversary.
The US sanctions target “200 individuals and entities, including Russian and third-country actors in Europe, Asia and the Middle East, who support Russia’s war effort,” the White House said.
The British measures are similar, it is an internationally coordinated package, according to the Itamaraty in London. Export restrictions affect, among other things, aircraft parts, radios and electronic components that could be used by the Russian defense industry to manufacture drones, for example. So far, no sanctions have been announced by the EU – a corresponding package was already expected the day before.
Zelenskyy: “Year of our victory”
On the first anniversary of the Russian war of aggression, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy honored the resistance of his compatriots and again expressed confidence in victory. “It was a year of pain, sadness, faith and togetherness,” said Zelenskyy. “We know that 2023 will be the year of our victory,” Zelenskyy wrote on Twitter. In the east of the country, however, the situation is “painful”.
China with twelve point plan
China has previously called for a ceasefire in the Ukraine war. A long-awaited 12-point document released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing also calls for an immediate resumption of talks between Russia and Ukraine. However, China’s efforts to become more involved in a peaceful solution with such proposals are met with skepticism, as the Chinese leadership has not even condemned the Russian war of aggression to date.
A Year of War in Ukraine: What Stops Putin?
War has raged across Europe for a year. On February 24, 2022, Russia launched an attack on Ukraine. So far, it has failed in its aim of bringing the neighboring country to its knees, both militarily and politically. Will Ukraine’s fate be decided on the battlefield or in peace talks? Which path leads to peace? And what is the role of the EU and other international actors?
Discuss with debate.ORF.at!