The Russian invasion. The outside world's response

Defense Minister Pål Jonson. SVT 

 

Russian invasionSwedish reactions  

Jonson: Disaster for us if Russia wins the war  

 

The goal of the Swedish arms deliveries to Ukraine is to help the country regain its freedom and territorial integrity. Defense Minister Pål Jonson said that when he was a guest on SVT's Agenda on Sunday. 

 

- It would be a disaster for us if Russia were to win the conflict, Jonson said.  

 

He also says that he believes that the war could be prolonged and that it is therefore important to have a long-term strategy from Sweden and other countries in the West that stand on Ukraine's side. At the same time, he says he hopes that sooner or later the war will end at the negotiating table. 

 

- But there must be peace on Ukraine's terms. Otherwise, we have rewarded Russia, Jonson said. 

 

Annalena Baerbock. TT. 

 

The Russian invasion. The outside world's response 

Germany: We do not intend to stand in the way of Polish supplies 

 

Germany will not "stand in the way" of Poland if they want to send the German-made Leopard 2 tank to Ukraine. This is what the German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock says according to AP.  

 

Deliveries require Germany to give its approval and Chancellor Olaf Scholz has recently been pressured by several allied countries. Germany has not explicitly given the green light, but Poland has said it is still considering sending the tanks. 

 

Mateusz Morawiecki/German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. AP 

 

The Russian invasion. The outside world's response  

Polish anger at Germany: "Unacceptable attitude"  

 

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki is coming out with his strongest outing yet against Germany about the country's reluctance to send tanks to Ukraine, AFP reports. 

 

- Germany's attitude is unacceptable. It has been almost a year since the war began. Innocent people die every day, he told the PAP news agency.  

 

The Russians are destroying Ukrainian cities, attacking civilian targets and murdering women and children, Morawiecki emphasizes. 

 

On Friday, 50 countries met in Germany and agreed to send arms and equipment worth billions to Ukraine - but the German government is still wavering on whether to allow the German-made Leopard 2 tank to be sent.  

 

Vitaly Klytchko and Boris Johnson. AP  

 

Russian invasionUkraine's response  

Johnson invited to Kyiv by Zelenskyj - received medal  

 

Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is visiting the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, at the invitation of President Zelensky, The Guardian reports.  

 

During a walk in the war-torn suburb of Borodjanka, he comments on the ongoing European conflict over arms support to the country. 

 

- It is time to double the effort and give Ukraine all the tools they need to finish the work, he says. 

 

With his unwavering support, Johnson has cultivated an exceptionally good relationship with the Ukrainian leadership and people during the war. When he was in power, an opinion poll was conducted that showed that no other European leader had more confidence among the Ukrainian people.  

 

During the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Wednesday, Johnson received a medal and was named an honorary citizen of Kyiv by Mayor Vitaly Klytchko.  

French President Yael Braun-Pivet, Scholz, Macron and German President Barbel Bas. Christophe Ena / AP  

 

The Russian invasion. The outside world's response  

Large Franco-German meeting in the shadow of the armistice  

 

On Sunday, the entire German government will visit Paris, and 300 lawmakers from both countries will meet at the historic Sorbonne University in the French capital. It is happening to celebrate 60 years since the old hereditary enemies concluded the historic Élysée Treaty, which laid the foundation for today's relationship, AP writes.  

 

The day will be marked by several ceremonies and talks about cooperation, security, energy and other burning issues for Europe, in a situation where in many quarters there is a heightened tone regarding the arms support to Ukraine.  

 

The countries have chosen different strategies to deal with the war in Ukraine and its outcome, but leaders Emmanuel Macron and Olaf Scholz are touchingly in agreement about the importance of continued support for the country.  

 

- Putin's imperialism will not win, says Scholz, and Macron adds that "our unfailing support for Ukraine will continue in all areas".  

 

Ukrainian soldier fires artillery. Libkos / AP  

The Russian InvasionThe Battles  

Analysis: Maximum danger mode - brutal spring awaits  

 

In the shadow of the threat of a major Russian spring offensive, Ukraine's army faces a race against time to master the new equipment flowing in from Western countries, Tim Lister, Fred Pleitgen and Matthias Somm write in an analysis for CNN.  

 

The army is training for what is expected to be a brutal spring. The list of their material needs seems to grow endlessly, according to the writers, who at the same time highlight a quote from President Zelensky's adviser Mychajlo Podoljak: 

 

- Our guys don't leave the field even if they don't get new weapons. They will just be killed more often and more regularly. 

Europe must fight. It is an insight that has slowly developed - and in the maximum dangerous situation that now prevails, with widespread war fatigue and the threat of a new Russian major offensive, it is more important than ever. Check out Simon Tisdall for The Guardian. 

 

"Every time a preschool, school or hospital is bombed, every time heinous war crimes, rape and torture are uncovered, every time a family weeps over the grave of a loved one [...] Europe's obligation to resist this brutality is reinforced."