Russia-Ukraine live: Germany says goodbye to Ukraine-bound tanks
Hungarian foreign minister calls on Stockholm to change course if it wants to clinch Turkish support for its NATO bid.
- Germany’s defence minister shows off the tanks Berlin is preparing to send to Kyiv, while recognising “bitter loss” for the under-equipped Bundeswehr.
- Ukraine’s energy minister says the country has sufficient gas reserves to see it through the winter despite Russian attacks.
- Germany’s defence minister shows off the tanks Berlin is preparing to send to Kyiv, while recognising “bitter loss” for the under-equipped Bundeswehr.
- Ukraine’s energy minister says the country has sufficient gas reserves to see it through the winter despite Russian attacks.
- A move by the United States to supply Ukraine with longer-range rockets as part of a new package of military aid will escalate the war, the Kremlin says.
- Russian forces are advancing in Ukraine’s eastern province of Donetsk as they fire on Vuhledar and other towns, according to Kyiv.
The live blog is now closed, thank you for joining us. Here are the updates for Wednesday, February 1:
Ukraine lawmaker calls on US to target China, India energy purchases
A senior Ukrainian lawmaker has called for the United States to impose secondary sanctions on China and India if they keep buying Russian energy, urging total solidarity against Moscow’s invasion.
On a visit to Washington, Oleksandr Merezhko, who heads the foreign affairs committee in Ukraine’s parliament, also called for greater ties with Taiwan, the self-governing democracy claimed by Beijing.
Merezhko said he has faced criticism at home that a tougher stance on oil purchases could push China to step up support to Russia, with Beijing for now stopping short of military assistance to Moscow.
“I’ve been trying to explain that this is not the problem. China is not afraid of Ukraine; China is afraid of American sanctions,” he told reporters of the State Department Correspondents’ Association.
“Which means the United States can and should deter China from helping Russia and preferably introduce secondary sanctions to stop China from financing the Russian economy and the Russian military machine by buying Russian oil and gas,” he said.
German minister says goodbye to Ukraine-bound tanks
Germany’s defence minister has shown off the tanks Berlin is preparing to send to Kyiv but recognised a “bitter loss” for the under-equipped German military.
The arms delivery announced last week is necessary so the “Ukrainians win the war”, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said on a visit to army barracks in Augustdorf.
But for the roughly 550 soldiers in the battalion stationed in the northwestern German town, the loss of 14 of their Leopard 2 tanks would be deeply felt, Pistorius said.
“Their hearts bleed at the idea that these tanks have to be given up, but they understand that is the way it is,” he said. “Ukraine needs all the support we can give it.”
Pistorius said he had “two hearts” in his chest that take into account the needs of both the German and Ukrainian armies.
Germany, which long dithered over its decision to send tanks to Ukraine, now aims to deliver them in “late March, early April” as part of an alliance of countries willing to supply “between 120 and 140” units, according to officials in Kyiv.
Energy agency does not see major disruptions from Russian oil price cap
International Energy Agency chief Fatih Birol says he does not expect major supply problems or disruptions from a European Commission proposal to set price caps on Russian oil products.
“There might be some transition difficulties, but we know that the second half of this year, a significant amount of new refinery capacity will come on line and we will see a lot of rerouting of the product around the world, and as a result, I don’t expect a major disruption,” Birol told reporters in Ottawa.
Fierce fighting unabated in eastern Ukraine, deputy minister says
Russian troops are trying to gain ground near the strategic town of Lyman as fierce fighting continues in eastern Ukraine, Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Malyar says.
Malyar, writing on the Telegram messaging app, said that despite heavy losses, the Russians are also pressing ahead with an offensive near the towns of Bakhmut and Avdiivka.
Sweden says religion not part of NATO deal with Turkey
Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom says his country is implementing an initial deal agreed with Turkey on its NATO membership but that compromises on freedom of expression are not part of the pact.
Turkey, having signed a memorandum at a NATO summit last year to clear the way for Sweden and Finland to join, has been angered by a series of protests in Sweden against Turkey and its president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Right-wing Danish-Swedish politician Rasmus Paludan set a Quran on fire in one protest, and Erdogan has now held out the prospect that Turkey could allow Finland to join, but not Sweden.
Billstrom told the TT news agency that “religion is not part of the agreement” that was signed with Turkey.
UK defence minister: Sending jets to Ukraine not right approach ‘for now’
Britain has not made a “solid decision” not to send its fighter jets to Ukraine but does not think it is the right approach at the moment, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace says.
“I’ve been involved with this for a pretty long time, and I’ve learned two things: Never rule anything in and never rule anything out,” he told reporters when asked why Britain would not send Ukraine jets.
“This is not a solid decision,” he added. “For now, I don’t think that’s the right approach. … What’s going to move on this conflict this year is going to be the ability for Ukrainians to deploy Western armour against Russia.”
Russia approves Veon’s sale of Vimpelcom to management, say sources
A Russian government commission has approved the sale of telecoms company Vimpelcom to senior managers by its Dutch owner Veon, the Russian economic news outlet RBC reported, citing two unnamed sources.
Veon said in November that it would sell Vimpelcom to a team led by CEO Alexander Torbakhov for 130 billion roubles ($2.2bn), joining a long list of Western companies that have sold up in Russia since it invaded Ukraine almost a year ago.
The disposal is notable in that Veon, unlike many Western investors, is receiving money for its asset – one that accounts for about half of Veon’s revenue.
The Kommersant newspaper had said that the Russian Finance Ministry, Economy Ministry and central bank all opposed the deal because of objections by holders of Veon eurobonds and had sent it back for revisions.
Ukraine’s Svitolina against Russians, Belarusians at 2024 Olympics
Ukrainian tennis player Elina Svitolina has voiced strong opposition to the possible participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes at next year’s Olympics in Paris.
Athletes from the two countries are banned from most major sports events in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but while continuing sanctions against the two nations, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is considering allowing their athletes back as neutrals at events including the 2024 Games.
The plan has been met with wide-ranging opposition. Ukraine is considering a Games boycott in such a scenario, and Tokyo 2020 bronze medallist Svitolina agreed that the athletes’ ban must continue.
“We must stick to banning Russian and Belarusian athletes, sending a strong message worldwide, that we are united in the sanctions imposed against Russia and Belarus and that there are consequences for the heinous acts of their governments,” she said on Instagram.
German minister highlights need for quick replacement of Leopard tanks
Germany needs to quickly order new Leopard tanks to replace those going to Ukraine, defence minister Boris Pistorius has said, adding he did not care where the money came from.
“For me, the crucial fact is that we have to order new tanks, not in a year but swiftly so that production can begin,” he told reporters on a visit to a tank battalion in the western town of Augustdorf that was chosen to supply 14 of its Leopard 2 tanks to Kyiv.
“Where the money will come from? Let me casually put it like this: Frankly, I don’t care. It is essential that we can provide them [the tanks] quickly,” Pistorius added.
US targets global sanctions evasion network supporting Russia
The United States has imposed sanctions on 22 individuals and entities in multiple countries that Washington accused of being tied to a global sanctions evasion network supporting Russia’s military-industrial complex.
The move, which comes as Washington looks to increase pressure on Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine, is part of US efforts to target sanctions evasion around the world and limit Russia’s access to revenue it needs for the war, the US Department of the Treasury said in a statement.
The action targeted a sanctions evasion network that the Treasury said is led by Russia and Cyprus-based arms dealer Igor Zimenkov, who – along with his son, Jonatan – were hit with the new measures.
The network has engaged in projects connected to Russian defence capabilities, including supplying high-technology devices after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Treasury said. Washington also accused certain members of the network of supporting state-owned Russian defence entities under sanctions.
Ukraine says ‘lives will be saved’ by air-defence radar supplied by France
Ukraine’s defence minister has said that Ukrainian lives will be saved by a sophisticated air-defence radar that France is supplying to Kyiv.
Speaking through an interpreter at a handover ceremony for the radar with his French counterpart, Oleksii Reznikov described the French-made GM200 as a “very effective” improvement for Ukraine’s network of about 300 different types of air-defence radars.
Thales, the manufacturer, says the radar detects and tracks rockets, artillery and mortar shells, missiles, aircraft, drones and other threats.
“Because of your support, Ukrainian lives will be saved,” Reznikov said at the ceremony in Limours, where Thales makes the equipment.
“This radar will be the cherry on the cake,” he added.
Putin says shelling of Crimea, Russian regions must be stopped
Russian President Vladimir Putin has told a government meeting that shelling of Russian regions from Ukraine must not be permitted, according to reports by state media outlets.
“The priority task is to eliminate the very possibility of shelling, but this is the business of the military department,” Putin was quoted as saying by the TASS news agency.
The meeting was due to address the restoration of residential infrastructure in the Crimean Peninsula, which Moscow seized from Ukraine in early 2014, and the border regions of Belgorod, Bryansk and Kursk.
Hungarian official says Sweden should ‘act differently’ to join NATO
Sweden’s government should “act differently” if it wants to clinch Turkish support for its bid to join NATO, Hungary’s foreign minister has said, adding that a recent Quran-burning protest outside the Turkish embassy in Stockholm was “unacceptable”.
Peter Szijjarto made the remark at a news conference following talks with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu in Hungary’s capital Budapest. Both diplomats addressed a January 21 anti-Turkish protest in Sweden that increased tensions between Ankara and Stockholm.
“As a Christian and as a Catholic, I must say that burning of a holy book of another religion is an unacceptable act,” Szijjarto said. He also criticised a statement by Sweden’s prime minister that while the burning of the Quran was inappropriate and “deeply disrespectful”, it fell under Swedish freedom of speech protections.
“Stating that the burning of a sacred book is part of freedom of speech is just plain stupidity,” Szijjarto said, adding that “perhaps they [Sweden] should act differently than that” if they want to secure Ankara’s backing.
Ukraine’s gas stocks to see it through winter: Energy minister
Ukraine’s energy minister says the country has sufficient gas reserves to see it through the winter despite a months-long Russian campaign of drone and missile strikes on its critical infrastructure.
“These are sufficient volumes to get through and complete this very difficult heating season for our country,” German Galushchenko said in a statement.
About 11 billion cubic metres of gas was in storage as of Wednesday, and Ukraine also has 1.2 million tonnes of coal for its power plants, Galushchenko said.
Who controls what?
Here are three maps that we update daily to chart the latest war developments:
Ukraine says $1bn embezzlement case uncovered at oil firms
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) says it has uncovered embezzlement worth more than $1bn at two oil companies which until November were partly owned by billionaire Ihor Kolomoiskiy.
The SBU said in a Telegram post that the former management team of one of the firms, Ukrtatnafta, were issued with suspicion notices in the case.
Biden may visit central Europe in February: Polish president
Polish President Andrzej Duda says his US counterpart Joe Biden will likely visit Central Europe in February as the war in Ukraine nears the one-year mark.
“The president will most likely be coming to our part of Europe in February,” Duda said during a news conference in Riga, Estonia.
“Our part of Europe means Central Europe … this is an area stretching from Romania to Estonia. It is very difficult for us to answer where the president will be coming in detail, we do not have such information,” he added.
Latvia rules out sending athletes to Olympics if Russians permitted to compete
Latvia will not send its athletes to an Olympic Games that includes Russian and Belarusian nationals while the war in Ukraine continues, a spokesperson for the country’s Olympic committee has said.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) said last week it is open to including Russian and Belarusian athletes as neutrals at the 2024 Paris Games and has opened a door to them competing in qualifiers.
“If we need to make a decision now, of course, we will not go to such a competition,” the spokesperson for Latvia’s Olympic committee told the Reuters news agency.
“But the Paris Games is a year and a half away. We will see what happens in Ukraine – we hope the Ukrainian people will win this war, and we will be in a new situation.”
Kremlin says longer-range US rockets will escalate war
The Kremlin says the US will escalate the war in Ukraine, albeit not change its course, if it supplies Ukraine with longer-range rockets as part of a new package of military aid reportedly being readied.
“Yes, this is a direct way to escalate tensions, to increase the level of escalation, we can see that,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
“It requires us to make additional efforts, but, once again, it will not change the course of events. The special military operation will continue,” he added, using the Kremlin’s phrase for its offensive in Ukraine.
Ukrainian security officials raid homes of billionaire businessman, ex-minister
Ukrainian security officials have raided the home of billionaire businessman Ihor Kolomoiskiy in what several media outlets said was an investigation into possible financial crimes.
David Arakhamia, head of the Servant of the People party’s parliamentary faction, said there were also searches at Ukraine’s Tax Office and that the management team of the Customs Service would be dismissed.
“The country will change during the war. If someone is not ready for change, then the state itself will come and help them change,” he said in a Telegram post.
The Ukrainska Pravda news website said Wednesday’s search related to an investigation into the alleged embezzlement of oil products and evasion of customs duties, and that it was carried out by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine.
It came as former Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said his home was also searched by security officials as part of an investigation into a purchase of Airbus helicopters, Ukrainska Pravda reported.
An Airbus helicopter crashed on the outskirts of Kyiv on January 18, killing 14 people, including Interior Minister Denys Monastyrskyi and other top ministry officials.
Belarus says Iskander ballistic missile systems now in service
Belarus says it has taken Russian Iskander ballistic missile systems into service after its operators had received training in Russia.
The missiles are capable of hitting targets at a range of up to 500km (310 miles), the Belarusian defence ministry said.
“Having completed the theoretical course, the artillerymen carried out practical training at the Belarusian firing ranges,” it added.
Turkey supports Finland’s NATO bid, but not Sweden’s: Erdogan
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said Ankara looks positively on Finland’s application for NATO membership but does not support Sweden’s bid.
“Sweden should not bother to try at this point. We will not say ‘yes’ to their NATO application as long as they allow burning of the Quran,” Erdogan said in a speech to his AK Party deputies in parliament.
Last week, Turkey suspended NATO talks with Sweden and Finland over protests in Stockholm that included the burning of a Quran.
Kremlin welcomes ‘bounty’ offer for destroying Western tanks in Ukraine
The Kremlin has welcomed a Russian company’s offer of “bounty payments” for soldiers who destroy Western-made tanks on the battlefield in Ukraine, saying it would spur Moscow’s forces to victory.
The Russian company Fores this week offered 5 million roubles ($72,000) in cash to the first soldiers who destroy or capture US-made Abrams or German Leopard 2 tanks in Ukraine.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russian troops would “burn” any Western tanks that were delivered to Ukraine, adding the bounties were extra encouragement for Russian soldiers.
Talks under way on long-range missiles, attack aircraft for Ukraine: Official
Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak says Ukraine is “in talks” with its allies for the supply of “longer-range missiles and attack aircraft” to help repel Russian forces.
“Each war stage requires certain weapons. The concentration of RF’s [the Russian Federation’s] reserves in the occupied territories requires specifics from Ukraine and its partners,” Podolyak said in a post on Twitter.
“So: 1. There is already a tank coalition (logistics, training, supply). 2. There are already talks on longer-range missiles & attack aircraft supply,” he added.
A guard told me, ‘We will shoot you’: Life in a Donetsk prison
Natalya Zelenina, a Ukrainian social worker, was imprisoned by Russia-backed separatists in grim, gruelling conditions for five years.
But on October 17, she was among 108 women freed from captivity in a prisoner exchange.
Read her story here.