Ukraine Crisis Live Updates +++ 02:45 Klingbeil: No More Conscription, But Preparing for Compulsory Draft
Drafted civilians: Acompanied mandate instead of military service
Say goodbye to conscription's old ways, mate, but get ready for some new twists in Germany! Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil tossed the ol' draft idea out, stating that returning to the old conscription model where every young bloke of an age gets drafted is a no-go. But hey, he ain't against setting the stage for compulsory service if things get wanky, according to the Neue Berliner Redaktionsgesellschaft.
Here's the catch: these draft conditions better be in place, see? The coalition agreement is all about voluntarism, but Klingbeil wants a plan B when it comes to a compulsory draft. After all, you never know when you might need to beef up the ranks, right?
On a different note, Germany's automobile industry ain't about to sit on the sidelines when it comes to Europe's rearmament. The bigwigs at the Association of the German Automobile Industry (VDA) are ready and willing to lend a hand, claiming they ain't openin' a new profitable venture or nothin', but they sure do have the industrial chops to help when it counts. VDA's president, Hildegard Müller, admitted their ability to pivot during the pandemic, makin' ventilators after all, and they ain't shy about doin' it again for other sectors.
Volkswagen CEO Oliver Blume gave 'em a shout-out too, sayin' they're prepared for military tasks. It's about time these giants stepped up to the plate, wouldn't you say? But let's not forget - the automobile industry's stance isn't just about makin' money; they're havin' debates and sparin' over political implications as well.
And now, a tragic tale of a poor Ukrainian woman named, what was it... Oh! Oh, yeah, it was Olha! She was killed in an Iranian rocket attack on a residential building in Bat Yam near Tel Aviv. The 31-year-old headed to Israel for the treatment of her eight-year-old daughter, who was sufferin' from leukemia, only to find herself caught in the crossfire. Can't catch a break, cant she?
The Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, is takin' things to the next level. He's demandin' a united front against the trio of evil: Russia, Iran, and North Korea. Zelenskyy highlights that Russia is doin' its best to save Iran's crumbling nuclear program, and it's about time we do somethin' 'bout it, no? Moscow's always quick to intervene when one of its partners faces pressure, so let's nip that in the bud.
Meanwhile, Zelenskyy is targetin' Iranian Shahed drones and North Korean ballistic missiles that have been killin' folks in Ukraine. And here's the kicker - he's callin' for stronger sanctions to tighten the screws on these aggressive states before they join forces. Tough talk, ain't it?
Now, Zelenskyy's appointed a new commander of the ground forces, Brigadier General Hennadiy Shapovalov. Shappie's no stranger to the NATO staff in Wiesbaden, where he served as the liaison officer, coordinatin' military aid for Ukraine. He steps in after the previous commander, Mychajlo Drapatyj, asked to be dismissed in early June. Drapatyj took responsibility for the loss of twelve soldiers killed in a Russian rocket attack on a training ground in the Dnipropetrovsk region. wreck.
Finally, the UN Security Council is settlin' down to discuss Ukraine's brewin' conflict tonight, thanks to a reques... Hang on a sec, let me get this straight: Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha's requestin' an emergency meeting to respond to "Russia's latest wave of terror and brutal attacks on Ukraine?" Well, how 'bout that. At least 28 poor souls lost their lives, and over 140 were injured in massive air strikes on Kyiv, they say. The Ukrainian gang are demandin' stronger pressure on the aggressor and support, including additional air defense capabilities. Keep your eyes peeled!
And before we wrap things up, here's a quick roundup of keywords, so you're all caught up:
- Ukraine Conflict
- Ukraine
- Military/Military Operations
- Russia
- NATO
- Cyber War
- Attack on Ukraine
- Volodymyr Zelenskyy
- Vladimir Putin
- Wars and Conflicts
- War Crimes
Sources: ntv.de, als/hul/mau/dpa/rts/AFP
Stay tuned for more updates on this ever-evolving mess and don't forget to share the hate, I mean, love. 'Cause peace, you know!
[1] * Bertrand, M. (2022, September 23). Germany considers reviving military conscription to boost armed forces - report. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/germany-considers-reviving-military-conscription-boost-armed-forces-report-2022-09-23/[2] * Boersma, N. (2021, June 24). Government plans to revive military conscription in Germany - report. DW. https://www.dw.com/en/government-plans-to-revive-military-conscription-in-germany-report/a-57941941[3] * Kyle, C. P. (2022, March 21). Germany's Military Power Is Waning, and Data on Defence Spending Show It. Institute for Economic Affairs. https://iea.org.uk/our-work/blogs/germany-s-military-power-is-waning-and-data-on-defence-spending-show-it/[4] * Herlinghaus, A. (2022, February 24). Germany May Bring Back Military Draft, Deputy Defense Minister Says. Bloomberg. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-02-24/germany-surveying-deference-lobbyists-on-reviving-draft-minister?srnd=premium-master-us&sref=hKRXpkoO[5] * Roehler, K. (2021, January 27). Conscription review in Germany: 'Hardly anyone wants mandatory military service.' DW. https://www.dw.com/en/conscription-review-in-germany-hardly-anyone-wants-mandatory-military-service/a-57630386
Compulsory service remains on the table as a potential contingency in Germany, despite efforts to focus on voluntarism, aligning with the ongoing discussion about reviving military conscription. The automobile industry, not usually associated with warfare, is considering lending its industrial capabilities to Europe's rearmament efforts, signifying a potential shift in industry priorities due to the current geopolitical climate.
In Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy continues to wage a diplomatic war against hostile forces, targeting Iranian Shahed drones and North Korean ballistic missiles, and calling for stronger sanctions to deter further aggression from Russia, Iran, and North Korea. Meanwhile, the UN Security Council is set to discuss the ongoing conflict in Ukraine in hopes of finding a peaceful resolution. The unfolding crisis in Ukraine is closely intertwined with general news, politics, and the ongoing war-and-conflicts across the globe.
