It is day 347 of the war in Ukraine. Follow the latest news about the war and all its aftermath in this live blog.
Ukraine wants F-16s, but gets a “no” from the US
12:38 | Ukraine has already presented the following wish list for Western arms supplies: F-16. But the West seems far from eager to comply. US President Joe Biden even said a firm “no” when asked if the US would send F-16s.
Arms deliveries can be safely called a hot topic in the war. Ukraine keeps asking for planes, but the West holds back. According to former Ambassador Ron Keller, who was stationed in Ukraine, Russia and Turkey, the West would do well to carefully consider any form of procurement. “We ask ourselves every day whether a weapons supply is needed,” Keller says. “And if it also involves employability. You can’t just ship any gun to another country.’
The import ban on Russian diesel could drive up the price at the pump
11:58 am | Diesel refueling may become more expensive again in the near future. This is due to a European import ban that went into effect this weekend. Much of Europe’s diesel has still been produced in Russia in recent months. However, experts believe the impact of the fine is likely not too negative.
Oil expert Mark Williams of consultancy Woodmac says the price of diesel is sure to rise again. But he doesn’t expect us to return to last year’s extremely high price levels “when the market panicked” any time soon.
Shortly after war broke out in Ukraine, Dutch motorists at one point paid €2,375 for a liter of diesel. After the government’s excise duty cut, that price popped up again a few times due to growing shortages, but now the price here is much lower.
European Union countries have not imported crude oil from Russia since December 5. And now this also applies to Russian petroleum products, such as diesel and kerosene. The purpose of these measures is to ensure that Russia receives less money to pay for the war against Ukraine.
Connoisseur Paul van Selms of the UnitedConsumers consumer collective does not foresee any major consequences. Large stockpiles of diesel have already been built up in recent times. The MSRP of major oil companies has even fallen slightly in the Netherlands in recent days, to 1,890 euros per litre.
Even Eugene Lindell, an expert at Facts Global Energy, does not think that the diesel market in Europe will dry up due to the loss of supply from Russia. “There’s a lot of volume out there, it’s just a matter of taking advantage of the opportunities.”
In The Hague, the government has recently prepared a crisis plan for when there will suddenly be a great shortage. Energy Secretary Rob Jetten sent this plan to the House of Representatives on Friday. He noted, however, that since the import ban went into effect on Dec. 5, oil prices appear to be “little or not at all” affected by the sanctions. Issues such as China’s coronavirus policy and worries about a possible recession are of a much more decisive nature, according to Jetten.
Russia itself sees no reason for now to cut diesel and kerosene production in response to a European import ban, Russian Energy Minister Nikolai Shulginov said on Friday. So far, the Russian oil sector has shown resilience despite Western sanctions imposed last year. This is also because the Russians still have big buyers in countries like China and India.
Scholz: ‘Zelensky will not use weapons on Russian territory’
07:44 | German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told Bild am Sonntag that Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky pledged not to use Western weapons to attack Russian territory.
“There’s a consensus on this right now,” he said in the interview. Ukraine’s western allies have long advocated supplying the country with precision missiles and associated systems, and supplies of tanks, to repel the Russian advance in the east.
A move Russian President Vladimir Putin likens to the difficulties Russia experienced during World War II, much to Scholz’s dismay. “His words are – as they often are – part of a series of absurd historical comparisons that he uses to justify his attack on Ukraine,” he said. “But this war is unforgivable. Together with our allies, we are providing Ukraine with tanks so that it can defend itself. We thought about it carefully. Making decisions with consensus ensures that the situation does not escalate.’
Ukraine repelled Russian attack on Bilohorivka
07:39 | Ukrainian troops have repulsed an attack on the village of Bilohorivka and are therefore maintaining control, according to Luhansk governor Serhiy Haidai. “The situation is still tense, but under control.”
According to Haidai, propaganda about the capture of Bilohorivka and the removal of Ukrainian troops has already been spread in Russia. “But our troops will stay where they are. Nobody took Bilohorivka, it didn’t work out. There are no more enemies.’
‘Isolated Situation’ in Bachmoet
07:28 | According to the British Ministry of Defence, the situation in Bachmoet has become rather isolated and will only get worse in the near future. “Over the past week, the Russians have again taken small steps to encircle the city,” the ministry said in a tweet.
Both the M03 and the H32 – the two main entry routes for the Ukrainian Defense Forces – are almost certainly within range of Russian attacks.
Russian missiles hit houses in Kharkiv
07:20 | Two Russian missiles hit central Kharkov, one of which hit an apartment complex. Reuters claims this based on unconfirmed reports.
“There is currently a fire in one of the apartments and one person was injured,” Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said. Furthermore, the Kharkov governor confirms that two others were also injured.
Zelensky admits “very difficult situations” in eastern Ukraine
07:11 | Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky said today that the situation on the front lines in eastern Ukraine is becoming increasingly difficult as the Russians continue to send personnel.
It’s the Kremlin’s latest attempt to finally claim another battlefield victory after losing battle after battle in recent months. Russian troops tried to fight their way through the town of Bachmut, trying for months to gain control of a key supply route for the Ukrainians. The Russians are also targeting the mining town of Vuhledar, which is located about 75 kilometers southwest of Bachmut in the eastern Donetsk region.
“I often say that the situation is difficult at the front and it will only get worse. And now it’s like that again,” Zelensky said in a video. “The occupier keeps sending troops to break down our defenses.”
First Leopard tank from Canada en route to Ukraine
01:07 | Canada sent the first of four promised Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine on Saturday. Canadian Defense Minister Anita Anand posted a video and photos on Twitter showing a tank loading and departing Halifax Air Force Base on a cargo plane.
“Canada stands with the people of Ukraine and we will continue to provide the Armed Forces of Ukraine with the equipment they need to win,” Anand captioned the photos.
Several countries, including Germany and Poland, have decided to supply powerful Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine to better defend themselves against Russian aggression. As far as is known, those tanks have not arrived in Ukraine yet.
Source: BNR
Sharon Rock is an author and journalist who writes for 24 News Globe. She has a passion for learning about different cultures and understanding the complexities of the world. With a talent for explaining complex global issues in an accessible and engaging way, Sharon has become a respected voice in the field of world news journalism.
