Selenskyj: Fighting for Bakhmut continues – the nightly update without photos According to the UN, North Korean hackers are looting hundreds of millions for nuclear weapons

Ukraine defends Bakhmut as Russians try to surround the city

Ukrainian troops in the eastern city of Bakhmut continue to resist ongoing Russian attacks. “We are against them,” President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his daily video address on Monday evening. Earlier, at a meeting of the Stavka, the Supreme Command of Ukraine, the occupiers’ attempts to encircle the city and breach Ukrainian defense lines were discussed. “And I am grateful to every soldier who uses his determination for the resistance.”

Zelenskyj also reported on new occupations on the fronts in Ukraine. “In some regions, especially in the border and frontline areas, we are hiring managers with military experience,” Zelenskyy said. These are people “who can most effectively defend themselves against current threats”. In general, military experience from the course of the war so far should be combined with leadership work in local and central administration.

In addition, the formation of new brigades of the National Guard, the police and the border guard is progressing. “The beginning is strong,” said Zelenskyj. “And it will continue.” Given the intensified Russian attacks, the Ukrainian army is forced to move troops to the front that were actually intended for later offensive actions.

Selenskyj is clearly considering a trip to Brussels

The Ukrainian president is apparently considering a trip to Brussels. Several European Parliament officials confirmed to the German news agency on Monday that “an extraordinary plenary session is likely to take place in the presence of the Ukrainian president” on Thursday. On the same day, the heads of state and government of the EU countries will meet in Brussels for a summit. As mentioned, Zelenskyj would be present as a guest. A spokesman for EU Council President Charles Michel said in the evening that he had been invited to personally attend a summit.

Initially, there was no confirmation from Kiev that Zelenskyy would travel to Brussels. For security reasons, there should only be one shortly before that.

The current developments in the live ticker:

Norway wants to support Ukraine with billions in the long term

Ukraine can count on long-term financial help from Norway. The government of the Scandinavian country wants to support the country attacked by Russia with 15 billion Norwegian kroner (about 1.36 billion euros) per year for the next five years, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre announced in Oslo on Monday. In total, that is 75 billion kroner (6.8 billion euros). On the one hand, they want to show Ukrainians that they have long-term support, Støre said. On the other hand, Russia should know that free democratic countries are helping Ukraine in its struggle.

Zelenskyy thanked Oslo for the financial support. “This is a very, very important contribution to our victory that we are preparing for,” he said in his video address on Monday night. “A shared victory for all who really value freedom and life.”

Ukraine plans to ask for missiles and planes at the security conference

Ukraine plans to ask for fighter jets and long-range missiles at next week’s Munich Security Conference. This is a “priority” for Kiev, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said, according to a statement from his office Monday night. Airplanes in particular are still an open question to be resolved. He recalled that last year President Zelenskyy asked the participants of the security conference to supply weapons to Ukraine.

Like last year, US Vice President Kamala Harris wants to join the conference again. The White House announced Monday evening (local time) in Washington that Harris would travel to Munich next week. There she will give a speech.

The Munich Security Conference will take place from 17 to 19 February at the Hotel Bayerischer Hof. It is the first security conference since the beginning of Russia’s offensive war against Ukraine.

Foreign CDU politician accuses Scholz of failing leadership in the tank issue

German CDU foreign policy expert Roderich Kiesewetter attributes the lack of delivery commitments for an international tank alliance to failures on the part of the federal government. “The problem with the Leopard Alliance is that Germany did not make any agreements with the alliance partners and therefore had no leading or coordinating role beforehand,” said Kiesewetter of Düsseldorf’s “Rheinische Post” and the Bonne “General-Anzeiger” (Tuesday). . It is “mysterious” why Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) has committed to the delivery of relatively modern Leopard 2A6 main battle tanks “without internal consultation and without feedback from the Bundeswehr”.

The German government announced on 25 January that it would deliver 14 Leopard 2A6 tanks, after Poland had already applied for delivery licenses for older Leopard 2A4s. With this, both states are taking a first step that, together with partners, should lead to the formation of two Ukrainian Leopard battalions. While there are already announcements from other countries for the older Leopard model 2A4, the supply situation for the newer 2A6 type was initially thin. Although Portugal made a commitment over the weekend, it did not initially reveal specific details.

That becomes important today

The bloody battle between Russian and Ukrainian troops for the city of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine continued on Tuesday. Russian troops have almost completely surrounded the city. (sda/dpa)