Germany will support Ukraine for as long as necessary, Chancellor Scholz reiterated. “We will show solidarity for as long – at least that’s my wish – as is necessary so that Ukraine can defend itself against the terrible and brutal attack on its own country,” he said on ZDF in the evening. However, the demand by the CDU and CSU to supply Ukraine with 200 armored personnel carriers of the “Fuchs” type did not find a majority in the Bundestag overnight. Meanwhile, fighting in eastern Ukraine continues.

Heavy shelling in Kharkiv region

Several people were again injured or killed in the shelling of locations in the war zone of eastern Ukraine. In the Kharkiv region, the authorities said three people were killed and five wounded by Russian attacks on Thursday. “The enemy is sneaky, targeting residential areas and civilian infrastructure,” said regional commander Oleh Synyehubov. According to the authorities, two people died and eight were injured in the towns of Kramatorsk and Avdiivka in the Donetsk region.

The Russian attacks only hit civilian targets, said the region’s governor, Pavlo Kyrylenko. The pro-Russian separatists in the Donetsk region spoke of one dead and eleven wounded by Ukrainian shelling. Battlefield reports cannot be independently verified. At the meeting with the Duma faction leaders, Putin said that all the goals of the “military operation” would be achieved – “without a doubt”.

Kyiv sharply disagrees with Putin

Kremlin chief Putin again accused the West of wanting to fight “to the last Ukrainian.” “This is a tragedy for the Ukrainian people.” The Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podoliak sharply rejected this. Putin’s mantra of “war to the last Ukrainian” is further proof of the “genocide” planned by Russia against the Ukrainians, Podoljak wrote on Twitter. Putin uses “primitive propaganda”.

Selenskyj asks for more weapons

Ukrainian President Selenskyj demanded further arms deliveries from the West in the war against Russia. “The greater the defense assistance to Ukraine now, the sooner the war will end with our victory and the fewer the losses of all countries in the world,” he said in a video message. The partners have accurate information about Ukraine’s needs. “This applies to both air defense and modern artillery.”

No 200 “Fuchs” tanks for Ukraine

The demand by the CDU and CSU to supply Ukraine with 200 armored personnel carriers of the “Fuchs” type in the short term did not find a majority in the Bundestag. During the night, Parliament voted against a corresponding motion for a resolution by the Union faction. Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht had already warned in the run-up to the vote that the Bundeswehr would be “looted”. “We support Ukraine with everything that is possible and responsible. But we have to ensure Germany’s ability to defend itself,” she said.

The Bundestag had previously decided on measures to accelerate procurement in order to quickly improve the Bundeswehr’s equipment. The law passed on Thursday evening will initially make it possible to award orders more quickly for three and a half years. In this way, various orders can be placed together and joint projects with other EU countries can be implemented more easily.

Johnson pledges British support

After his announced resignation as British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson assured President Zelenskyy of the United Kingdom’s unwavering support. A government spokeswoman said Johnson had assured in the phone call that Great Britain would provide important “defensive aid” for as long as necessary. Zelenskyy thanked Johnson for his “uncompromising support” since Russia’s war of aggression began in February.

G20 hostess Marsudi calls for peace

Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi called for the end of the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine at the start of the G20 foreign ministers’ consultations on the island of Bali. “It is our responsibility to end the war as quickly as possible. And to build bridges and not walls,” said the politician. Shortly before, she had cautiously greeted the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on his arrival at the luxury hotel Mulia in the seaside resort of Nusa Dua.

That’s going to be important today

You can read all further developments in our live ticker on the Ukraine war.