War Updates: Ukraine Conflict Edition тур 18:01 Klingbeil digs heels in on Ukraine policy: Putin ain't Gorbachev
Anti-Adjustment stance by Klinghaikle: Putin not a carbon copy of Gorbachev
The SPD party leader, Lars Klingbeil, is sticking to his guns in the face of internal debates over a new peace policy. He has declared, "For the record, there's gonna be no shift in our Ukraine policy with me." He allegedly made this statement during his re-election speech at the party conference in Berlin.
While Klingbeil admits that war and peace issues need to be fiercely debated, he makes it clear that Ukraine is more than just protecting its freedom—it's about safeguarding Germany's security, too. He remarks, "Being a peace party in 2025 ain't like it was in the 80s. Vladimir Putin ain't Mikhail Gorbachev."
Foreign Office spurns Russian slam-bam
The German government has expressed bewilderment at the recall of the German ambassador in Moscow. They refuse to endorse the unfounded accusations made by the Russian Foreign Ministry. An anonymous source from the Foreign Office told Reuters, "We dissent with the groundless claims of the Russian Foreign Ministry. This point was also reemphasized by the German ambassador during his meeting at the Russian Foreign Ministry today."
Merkel Meh-rz hints at debate on frozen assets
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz appears open to a dialogue on the utilization of frozen Russian state assets but cautions about potential hurdles. He notes, "Let's hash out this discussion openly. But there are two bitter pills to swallow. First, would such a move be legally sound? And second, how would the capital markets, which thrive on reliability, react?"
Details:
- Money frozen: EU, more than €200 billion
- At stake: Funds meant for Ukraine's reconstruction
- Goal: To bring Putin to the negotiating table through intensified sanctions
Steel Weil sharpshoots Putin on war aggression
Stephan Weil, former Lower Saxony Minister President, kicked off the SPD federal party conference with a sharp rebuke of Russian President Vladimir Putin and his war of aggression against Ukraine. Weil bluntly slammed Putin's territorial claims as a form of "ethnic imperialism" that the SPD vehemently opposes from the bottom of its heart.
Space for missing Ukrainian kids
An expert on war and human rights, Nathaniel Raymond, has branded the abduction of Ukrainian children by North Korea to Russia a "war crime." Raymond, affiliated with Yale University, guesses that this mass kidnapping could be the largest since World War II with around 35,000 children gone from the occupied territories and Russia. Only 1,366 children are reported to have returned home.
Ukraine intel: Kim dispatched 11,000 elite soldiers to Putin
Ukraine alleges that North Korea has deployed up to 11,000 elite soldiers to support Russia in its war against Ukraine. This corresponds to more than 20% of the total 50,000 soldiers from the personal reserve of North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un. It's speculated that Kim might send even more troops, but this could deplete North Korea's strategic reserves and jeopardize regime stability.
Bombs on Samar: Five deceased, 23 injured
A Russian rocket attack on the city of Samar, part of the Dnipropetrovsk region in central Ukraine, has left at least five lives and 23 individuals injured. This is the second Russian rocket attack targeting the industrial city in the past three days.
Russian airport briefly shuts down due to drone attacks
Volgograd Airport was temporarily closed for air traffic today due to drone attacks. The area over the Don River in Kalachevsky district of the Volgograd region also experienced travel restrictions due to debris removal. It's said that no casualties occurred, and mine-clearing vehicles are on the job.
Defense Minister Boris Pistorius firmly rejects union demands for an immediate transition to military conscription. He emphasizes the focus on voluntarism and an appealing service to attract talented young soldiers.
EU reluctant to approve further sanctions package against Russia
Slovakia has put the brakes on the EU's plan to adopt the 18th sanctions package against Russia. Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico has demanded guarantees from the EU Commission about securing gas supply beyond 2027 before he can grant approval.
This has led other EU heads of state and government to reconsider their support for the negotiated sanctions package. Approval requires a unanimous vote from all European countries, so next steps are uncertain.
Trivia tidbit: The EU has already decided on 17 sanctions packages against Russia since the beginning of the war in Ukraine.
- In light of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, various employment policies within the German government are being closely scrutinized, particularly in regards to the country's stance towards Russia.
- Amidst debates on a potential new peace policy, Germany's SPD party leader, Lars Klingbeil, has asserted the importance of maintaining a consistent employment policy towards Ukraine, emphasizing its significance not only for Ukraine's freedom but also for Germany's security.
