I’m going to summarize an interview with Greens MEP @ViolavonCramon in English here on how Germany came to be dependent on Russian gas, because it’s politically important and interesting. I hope I have everything right:
Australia will send over a dozen armored personnel carriers and twenty more bushmasters to Ukraine, as part of a $AU100 million boost in military aid to help the war-ravaged nation to “stand up to a bully”, the country’s prime minister Anthony Albanese said during a Kyiv visit. 1
At a press conference with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Albanese said he came to Kyiv as a sign of Australia’s “admiration and respect” for the Ukrainian people’s “brave struggle” against an breach of international law and the UN charter.
2.
Albanese also announced:
- Australia will join the US, UK Canada and Japan in banning Russian gold
- Australia will join an international court case against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine
- Will add more Russian oligarchs and officials to its sanctions list of over 800
3.
Unbelievable scenes at the funeral of anti-corruption activist and soldier Roman Ratushnyi, allegedly executed by the Russians near Izyum. Over a thousand people turned out to mourn him on the Maidan in central Kyiv, as the air-raid sirens wailed and dozens stood sobbing.
At Baykove Cemetery, where Kyiv’s great and good are buried, Roman’s father Taras and his mother Svitlana said goodbye to Roman, who was just 24 when he died.
You had to admire the grief and poise of both of his parents, as they mourned their son before a City. People chanted “thank you to the Ratushnyis” over and over again.
Air-raid sirens sound in Kyiv after the arrival of Scholz, Macron and Draghi. We will now wait to see if Russia will attack the city again, as it did during the UN Secretary-General’s visit.
Local media is now reporting a possible rocket launch from Russian territory.
Military sources said that as late as last night Russians were still holding some positions, and not pulling out entirely. Believe that some will be left to fight to the death.