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What you need to know
- Russia attacks Odesa, Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia regions of Ukraine, one day before fourth anniversary of invasion
- Hungary blocks new EU sanctions package on Russia over pipeline
- Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy tells BBC Putin has ‘already started’ World War III
Here’s the latest regarding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Monday, February 23:
Germany’s Merz: Russia under Putin witnessing ‘utter barbarity’
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and Vladimir Putin, one day before the fourth anniversary of the assault.
“This country, under this leadership, is currently at the lowest point of utter barbarity, and no one should have any doubt about what kind of regime and barbarity Russia is dealing with in these years,” Merz said in the German capital, Berlin.
Merz said that the Ukrainian military made “astonishing territorial gains” against Russia in February. The chancellor said “the Russian economy is creakng under the weight of sanctions and of warfare — more than we may surmise from our media coverage here.”
A Ukrainian soldier’s story: years of war and fading hope
Former DW correspondent Kostiantyn Honcharov joined the Ukrainian army in 2022.
He describes the grim front-line situation after four years of fighting.
Hungary to block EU sanctions package over Druzhba pipeline, drawing backlash
Hungary wants to block a 20th EU sanctions package on Russia due to a damaged pipeline. EU sanctions packages have to be approved by all 27 countries in the bloc.
The Druzhba pipeline transports oil from Russia through Ukraine and onward to EU countries such as Hungary and Slovakia.
The pipeline was damaged by a Russian attack in January. Hungary and Slovakia have both accused Ukraine of delaying repairs on the pipeline due to political reasons.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has also suggested his country would block a €90 billion ($106 billion) EU loan to Ukraine over the pipeline.
EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas said there is “not going to be progress regarding” the sanctions package today, but added “we will definitely make this push.”
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said he was “astonished by the Hungarian positions. We will discuss this with our Hungarian colleagues.”
“I am also confident that, at the end of the day, we will be successful,” Wadephul said.
Poland Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said the decision by Hungary is “shocking.”
Estonia’s Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said “there is no reason” to stop the package as shutting down the pipeline was Russia’s fault.
Zelenskyy: Putin has ‘already started’ World War III
In an interview with the BBC, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he believes Russian leader Vladimir Putin has “already started” World War III.
“The question is: how much territory can he seize, and how to stop him?” Zelenskyy said. He believes Ukraine is preventing Putin from turning the conflict into “a broader, full-scale World War II. Today we are the outpost stopping Putin.”
Zelenskyy was asked by the BBC how feels about land in eastern and southern Ukraine being handed over to Russia in exchange for a ceasefire. Zelenskyy said this would “probably satisfy” Putin for a while.
“He needs a pause… but once he recovers, our European partners say it could take three to five years. In my opinion, he could recover in no more than a couple of years. Where would he go next? We do not know, but that he would want to continue is a fact,” Zelenskyy said, referring to the invasion of Ukraine.
Russia hits Odesa, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia
Russia launched missile and drone attacks across Ukraine overnight, impacting the Odesa, Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia regions.
Oleg Kiper, the governor of the southwestern Odesa region, said two people were killed and three wounded after industrial, energy and civil infrastructure was targeted by Russian drones.
A Russian drone attack also killed one man and injured another in the eastern city of Zaporizhzhia, according to Ivan Fedorov, the head of the Zaporizhzhia region. Russia occupies much of the southeastern Zaporizhzhia region.
Ihor Terekhov, the mayor of the eastern city of Kharkiv, said the Kholodnohirskyi District was targeted by missiles. However there haven’t been any reports of casualties after the Kharkiv attack.
The assault comes one day before the fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion, which began on February 24, 2022.
Welcome to our coverage
Welcome to DW’s blog coverage of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
We bring you the latest after Russia launched fresh attacks on several Ukrainian regions overnight, including the areas of Odesa, Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia.
The attacks come one day before the fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion of its neighbor, which began on February 24, 2022.
Stay tuned throughout the day for the latest developments, multimedia coverage and DW exclusive content regarding the war.
- Russia attacks Odesa, Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia regions of Ukraine, one day before fourth anniversary of invasion
- Hungary blocks new EU sanctions package on Russia over pipeline
- Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy tells BBC Putin has ‘already started’ World War III
Here’s the latest regarding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Monday, February 23:
Here’s the latest regarding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Monday, February 23:
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and Vladimir Putin, one day before the fourth anniversary of the assault.
“This country, under this leadership, is currently at the lowest point of utter barbarity, and no one should have any doubt about what kind of regime and barbarity Russia is dealing with in these years,” Merz said in the German capital, Berlin.
Merz said that the Ukrainian military made “astonishing territorial gains” against Russia in February. The chancellor said “the Russian economy is creakng under the weight of sanctions and of warfare — more than we may surmise from our media coverage here.”
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and Vladimir Putin, one day before the fourth anniversary of the assault.
“This country, under this leadership, is currently at the lowest point of utter barbarity, and no one should have any doubt about what kind of regime and barbarity Russia is dealing with in these years,” Merz said in the German capital, Berlin.
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Merz said that the Ukrainian military made “astonishing territorial gains” against Russia in February. The chancellor said “the Russian economy is creakng under the weight of sanctions and of warfare — more than we may surmise from our media coverage here.”
Former DW correspondent Kostiantyn Honcharov joined the Ukrainian army in 2022.
He describes the grim front-line situation after four years of fighting.
Former DW correspondent Kostiantyn Honcharov joined the Ukrainian army in 2022.
He describes the grim front-line situation after four years of fighting.
Hungary wants to block a 20th EU sanctions package on Russia due to a damaged pipeline. EU sanctions packages have to be approved by all 27 countries in the bloc.
The Druzhba pipeline transports oil from Russia through Ukraine and onward to EU countries such as Hungary and Slovakia.
The pipeline was damaged by a Russian attack in January. Hungary and Slovakia have both accused Ukraine of delaying repairs on the pipeline due to political reasons.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has also suggested his country would block a €90 billion ($106 billion) EU loan to Ukraine over the pipeline.
EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas said there is “not going to be progress regarding” the sanctions package today, but added “we will definitely make this push.”
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said he was “astonished by the Hungarian positions. We will discuss this with our Hungarian colleagues.”
“I am also confident that, at the end of the day, we will be successful,” Wadephul said.
Poland Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said the decision by Hungary is “shocking.”
Estonia’s Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said “there is no reason” to stop the package as shutting down the pipeline was Russia’s fault.
Hungary wants to block a 20th EU sanctions package on Russia due to a damaged pipeline. EU sanctions packages have to be approved by all 27 countries in the bloc.
The Druzhba pipeline transports oil from Russia through Ukraine and onward to EU countries such as Hungary and Slovakia.
The pipeline was damaged by a Russian attack in January. Hungary and Slovakia have both accused Ukraine of delaying repairs on the pipeline due to political reasons.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has also suggested his country would block a €90 billion ($106 billion) EU loan to Ukraine over the pipeline.
EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas said there is “not going to be progress regarding” the sanctions package today, but added “we will definitely make this push.”
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said he was “astonished by the Hungarian positions. We will discuss this with our Hungarian colleagues.”
“I am also confident that, at the end of the day, we will be successful,” Wadephul said.
Poland Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said the decision by Hungary is “shocking.”
Estonia’s Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said “there is no reason” to stop the package as shutting down the pipeline was Russia’s fault.
In an interview with the BBC, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he believes Russian leader Vladimir Putin has “already started” World War III.
“The question is: how much territory can he seize, and how to stop him?” Zelenskyy said. He believes Ukraine is preventing Putin from turning the conflict into “a broader, full-scale World War II. Today we are the outpost stopping Putin.”
Zelenskyy was asked by the BBC how feels about land in eastern and southern Ukraine being handed over to Russia in exchange for a ceasefire. Zelenskyy said this would “probably satisfy” Putin for a while.
“He needs a pause… but once he recovers, our European partners say it could take three to five years. In my opinion, he could recover in no more than a couple of years. Where would he go next? We do not know, but that he would want to continue is a fact,” Zelenskyy said, referring to the invasion of Ukraine.
In an interview with the BBC, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he believes Russian leader Vladimir Putin has “already started” World War III.
“The question is: how much territory can he seize, and how to stop him?” Zelenskyy said. He believes Ukraine is preventing Putin from turning the conflict into “a broader, full-scale World War II. Today we are the outpost stopping Putin.”
Zelenskyy was asked by the BBC how feels about land in eastern and southern Ukraine being handed over to Russia in exchange for a ceasefire. Zelenskyy said this would “probably satisfy” Putin for a while.
“He needs a pause… but once he recovers, our European partners say it could take three to five years. In my opinion, he could recover in no more than a couple of years. Where would he go next? We do not know, but that he would want to continue is a fact,” Zelenskyy said, referring to the invasion of Ukraine.
Russia launched missile and drone attacks across Ukraine overnight, impacting the Odesa, Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia regions.
Oleg Kiper, the governor of the southwestern Odesa region, said two people were killed and three wounded after industrial, energy and civil infrastructure was targeted by Russian drones.
A Russian drone attack also killed one man and injured another in the eastern city of Zaporizhzhia, according to Ivan Fedorov, the head of the Zaporizhzhia region. Russia occupies much of the southeastern Zaporizhzhia region.
Ihor Terekhov, the mayor of the eastern city of Kharkiv, said the Kholodnohirskyi District was targeted by missiles. However there haven’t been any reports of casualties after the Kharkiv attack.
The assault comes one day before the fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion, which began on February 24, 2022.
Russia launched missile and drone attacks across Ukraine overnight, impacting the Odesa, Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia regions.
Oleg Kiper, the governor of the southwestern Odesa region, said two people were killed and three wounded after industrial, energy and civil infrastructure was targeted by Russian drones.
A Russian drone attack also killed one man and injured another in the eastern city of Zaporizhzhia, according to Ivan Fedorov, the head of the Zaporizhzhia region. Russia occupies much of the southeastern Zaporizhzhia region.
Ihor Terekhov, the mayor of the eastern city of Kharkiv, said the Kholodnohirskyi District was targeted by missiles. However there haven’t been any reports of casualties after the Kharkiv attack.
The assault comes one day before the fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion, which began on February 24, 2022.
Welcome to DW’s blog coverage of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
We bring you the latest after Russia launched fresh attacks on several Ukrainian regions overnight, including the areas of Odesa, Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia.
The attacks come one day before the fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion of its neighbor, which began on February 24, 2022.
Stay tuned throughout the day for the latest developments, multimedia coverage and DW exclusive content regarding the war.
Welcome to DW’s blog coverage of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
We bring you the latest after Russia launched fresh attacks on several Ukrainian regions overnight, including the areas of Odesa, Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia.
The attacks come one day before the fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion of its neighbor, which began on February 24, 2022.
Stay tuned throughout the day for the latest developments, multimedia coverage and DW exclusive content regarding the war.
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
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