Updated on 12/03/2022 at 8:13 am
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy celebrated the returnees from Russian captivity.
- He announced: “We will not leave a single Ukrainian in Russian prisons.”
- At the same time, he again threatened those responsible for the war in Moscow with a special court.
- Below is an overview of what happened overnight and an outlook for the day.
In a brief ceremony, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy celebrated the return of some of his soldiers from Russian captivity. “It was a special day in a special week,” he said in his daily video address on Friday night. At the same time, he announced that he would bring back more soldiers from Russian prison camps. “We will not leave a single Ukrainian in Russian prisons, camps and “isolations” (detention centers). We think of everyone.”
Zelenskyy presented medals to several former prisoners of war in Kyiv in the afternoon. In recent days, Russia and Ukraine have exchanged prisoners of war several times. According to Zelenskyy, a total of 1,331 Ukrainian soldiers have been released from Russian captivity in this way since the beginning of the war in February. Meanwhile, Kyiv continues to seek a special court to try Russian war crimes.
“As long as the fighting continues, as long as our heroes are dying in the trenches and as long as a single prisoner is in enemy hands – this war is not over for me and certainly not for any of you,” he said. said, according to the Presidential Chancellery during the Conference Ceremony. Saturday marks the 283rd day of Russia’s war of aggression against its neighboring country.
Ukraine War: Special Court Efforts Continue
Efforts by the Ukrainian leadership to establish a special court to prosecute Russian war crimes with Western backing continue, Zelensky said. Work continues to gain a “critical mass” of supporters to form this court. According to Kiev’s ideas, it should be based on the model of the Nuremberg court. While the Nazis were held accountable at Nuremberg, according to Kyiv, Russia’s political and military leadership for the war of aggression against Ukraine will be held accountable at this special tribunal.
“London, Paris, Berlin, Warsaw and other capitals – we are strengthening our position everywhere and gathering support from our partners,” Zelenskyy said late on Friday. “I’m sure there will be a court, there will be justice.”
EU, G7 and Australia want to cap Russian oil prices
The seven major democratic economic powers (G7) and Australia want to implement a price cap on Russian oil in consultation with the European Union. The announcement was made by the G7 and Australia on Saturday night. The states want to force Russia to sell oil below the market price to buyers in other states.
The agreement reached on Friday provides for an initial price ceiling of US$ 60 per barrel. If possible, the price should apply from Monday. In addition to Germany, the G7 also includes the US, Canada, France, Great Britain, Italy and Japan. Germany currently chairs the group. Representatives of the EU government had already reached a corresponding agreement on Friday.
So far, the EU is training 1,100 Ukrainian soldiers
Two and a half weeks after the start of an EU training mission for the Ukrainian army, 1,100 soldiers are being trained so far. The announcement was made by EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Friday when he visited a training camp in Brzeg, Poland.
This mission shows Europe’s willingness to support Ukraine in the war against Russia which has now lasted more than nine months. EU foreign ministers decided on the mission on 14 November. The next day was the official start. A total of up to 15,000 troops will be trained in 20 member countries, including Germany.
Ukraine receives first Hawk anti-aircraft missiles from Spain
Ukraine has received a first shipment of Hawk anti-aircraft systems from Spain. The announcement was made by Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov on Friday after a meeting with his Spanish counterpart Margarita Robles in Odessa.
More Hawk anti-aircraft missiles from Spanish stockpiles are expected to follow. Ukrainian soldiers are already being trained in Spain. The medium-range anti-aircraft system, originally from the USA, was put into service in the early 1960s and has been modernized repeatedly. The Hawk has now been phased out in most NATO countries.
Vortex around Russian opposition broadcasters
In Latvia, the independent Russian television channel Dozhd was targeted by authorities for its coverage of the war in Ukraine. The National Council for Electronic Mass Media (NEPLP) fined the TV channel €10,000 for showing a map showing the Crimean peninsula annexed to Ukraine as part of Russia. Russian armed forces were referred to as “our army”, NEPLP said on Twitter.
The media regulator also started proceedings against Dozhd for broadcasting appeals in support of the Russian army. Chief editor Tikhon Dzyadko insisted that the opposition channel did not provide any help to the Russian army. He apologized on Twitter for the “misinterpreted” call from the moderator, who the network says was fired. Latvia granted Dozhd a broadcasting license in June after the TV channel stopped broadcasting in Russia in early March due to a harsh crackdown by Russian authorities.
Latvia demands “more responsibility in Europe” from Germany
According to Latvia, Germany should show more leadership and responsibility in Europe. So said the Secretary of State of the Ministry of Defense in Riga, Janis Garisons, in an interview with the editorial network Germany (Saturday). “If we look to the future, we think that Germany should take on more responsibility in Europe,” said Garisons. “Someone has to lead in Europe and pool the defense capabilities of each country. After all, Germany is a great economic, military and political power and sits at the center of Europe. (pak/dpa)
Updated on 12/02/2022 at 5:44 pm
In Russia, the list of issues that fall victim to state regulation has grown longer and longer. To avoid problems, many Russian publishing houses no longer publish critically focused books.