Biden says stop, give up. And he uses your forces, your equipment and your people to prepare you for your spring offensive,” says Hammelburg. According to Europe reporter Geert Jan Hahn, the situation surrounding Bachmoet is viewed with mixed feelings in Ukraine.
“Of course they also experienced situations in other big cities like Severodonetsk where the Ukrainian army withdrew in time. But we also know that in Azovstal and Mariupol they fought to the last breath. And now Bachmoet seems to be heading in that direction».
Reconstruction
Hahn is in Irpin, where he talks to city councilors to gain insight into Ukraine’s reconstruction. ‘A year of war has now passed, but the big question now is how to proceed. There is a lot of destruction, there is a lot of emergency aid, but when will it turn into more structural aid? And is that structural reconstruction useful even if a subsequent missile attack destroys what has been rebuilt? Hammelburg calls this consideration “a very difficult balance”.
Janet Yellen
Illustrative is US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen’s visit to Ukraine, where she brought a support package totaling $1.2 billion for reconstruction and government support. Hammelburg: ‘It’s interesting that Yellen makes a quick visit there. Most of the problems arise in aid and have more to do with finances than foreign affairs or defense.
Want to know more about what’s happening in Ukraine? Listen to the Perestroika cabinet
Especially when issues such as aid support are discussed, Hammelburg says it makes more sense for a finance minister than a foreign minister to deal with it.
Bothersome
Hahn calls the reconstruction issue “very difficult.” “But there are also many Dutch projects here north of Kiev, near Irpin near Boetsja and even more of those destroyed villages. It may seem strange, but here they are no longer afraid of the Russians». In this respect, Hahn sees the projects as a testing ground.
Follow developments in Ukraine here on our live blog