Russia-Ukraine updates: Moscow is ‘exporting terror’ – Zelenskyy
All the updates from January 18, as they happened.
This blog is now closed, thanks for joining us. These were the updates on the Russia-Ukraine war on Wednesday, January 18.
This blog is now closed, thanks for joining us. These were the updates on the Russia-Ukraine war on Wednesday, January 18.
- In a speech at Davos, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia was “exporting terror” following an attack on an apartment complex in Dnipro last Saturday.
- A helicopter carrying several Ukrainian officials has crashed near a nursery outside the capital, Kyiv.
- Ukrainian interior minister Denys Monastyrskyy, two other top officials, a child, and 10 others were among those who died in the disaster.
- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres says there is no chance of meaningful negotiations between Ukraine and Russia at the moment.
Berlin won’t allow German tank exports unless US sends its own: Report
Germany will not allow allies to ship German-made tanks to Ukraine to help its defence against Russia or send its own systems unless the United States agrees to send its own tanks, the Wall Street Journal has reported, citing senior German officials.
Biden promises to honour Ukraine minister killed in helicopter crash
US President Joe Biden has expressed condolences to the families of those killed in a helicopter crash in Ukraine and said Washington would honour the interior minister who was on board with a continued commitment to preserving Ukraine’s democracy.
He praised Denys Monastyrskyy’s efforts to fight Russian aggression and push for reforms to strengthen Ukraine’s democracy.
“We will continue to honor that legacy through efforts to strengthen Ukraine’s institutions, and in our unfailing partnership with the people of Ukraine to keep the flame of freedom bright,” Biden said in a statement.
UN’s Guterres: No scope for meaningful talks between Kyiv and Moscow
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said there is no scope for meaningful negotiations between Ukraine and Russia at the moment, adding this does not mean it will not happen in the future.
“At the present moment. .. if one looks at the positions of Ukraine and the Russian Federation, they are totally opposed. So, negotiations at the present moment does not seem possible,” he told Al Jazeera in an interview on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos.
“I’m convinced both sides believe that time is working in their favour,” the UN chief said, adding that the UN is concentrating on humanitarian activities in Ukraine for this reason.
“But also we are trying to be useful to the Ukrainian people as well as to the world at large”, through initiatives such as the grain deal and exchange of prisoners, he said.
NATO allies to give Ukraine ‘heavier weapons’: Stoltenberg
Ukraine’s Western backers will promise heavier and more modern weaponry to Kyiv at a key meeting in Germany, according to NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg, as pressure grows on Berlin to send tanks.
“The main message [is] there will be more support and more advanced support, heavier weapons and more modern weapons, because this is a fight for our values,” Stoltenberg said.
Zelenskyy writes letter to invite Xi for ‘dialogue’
Zelenskyy has written a letter inviting Chinese leader Xi Jinping for talks. The letter was handed over in Davos, Switzerland to the Chinese delegation, according to Ukraine’s first lady Olena Zelenska, who was in the Swiss town to attend the World Economic Forum.
“It was a gesture and invitation to dialogue and I hope very much that there will be a response to this invitation,” she told reporters on Wednesday.
Zelenskyy has repeatedly sought to make contact with Xi since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 in the hope Beijing will use its influence over Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
Crucial to give Ukraine modern weapons: Polish president
Polish President Andrzej Duda has said he is afraid Russia is preparing for a new offensive in Ukraine within months, adding that it is crucial to provide additional support to Kyiv with modern tanks and missiles.
“They [Russia] are still very strong and we are afraid they are preparing for a new offensive in a few months, so it’s crucial to send additional support to Ukraine – specifically modern tanks and modern missiles,” Duda said at the World Economic Forum.
Western arms should come faster than Russian attacks: Zelenskyy
Zelenskyy began his keynote address at Davos with a minute of silence for the helicopter crash which left 14 people and honoured the 45 people who died in an apartment complex in Dnipro last week.
He told attendees that Western supplies of tanks and air defence units should come more quickly than Russia could carry out attacks.
In his speech, which he delivered via video link, he added that Russia was exporting terror.
Russia not invited to Munich Security Conference in February
Russian government officials were not invited to this year’s Munich Security Conference.
“We do not want to offer a stage for those who have stamped over international law,” Christoph Heusgen, who chairs the annual event, told the Reuters news agency.
The conference, known as “Davos for defence”, will take place on February 17-19, days before the anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Organisers have not yet published a schedule for the event.
Last year Zelenskyy, US Vice President Kamala Harris and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg were among the dignitaries attending the event.
Ukraine needs a ‘significant increase’ of arms: NATO chief
Ukraine needs a “significant increase”, and such support is the only way to a negotiated peaceful solution, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said.
“This is a pivotal moment in the war and the need for a significant increase in support for Ukraine,” Stoltenberg told the Reuters news agency in an interview on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos.
“If we want a negotiated peaceful solution tomorrow, we need to provide more weapons today.”
Defence leaders from approximately 50 countries and NATO will hold talks at Germany’s Ramstein Air Base on Friday, where the focus will be on German’s Leopard 2 battle tanks.
Kyiv hopes new Western weapons will give it new military momentum this year.
‘Another very sad day today’: Ukraine’s first lady
At the World Economic Forum of global leaders in Davos, Ukraine’s first lady, Olena Zelenskaa, said with teary eyes, “another very sad day today – new losses” as she reacted to the news of a fatal plane crash.
The helicopter crash on Wednesday morning comes just days after a missile attack on an apartment building in Dnipro that killed 45 people, including six children.
After opening the session, the forum held 15 seconds of silence to honour the Ukrainian officials killed in the incident.
The deputy head of the Ukrainian presidential office Kyrylo Tymoshenko shared a similar message and said, “Haven’t had time to recover from one tragedy, there is already another one.”
‘Two possibilities’ for cause of crash, says Ukrainian official
The Ukrainian member of parliament, Oleskiy Goncharenko, told Al Jazeera’s James Bay at Davos that the helicopter crash on the outskirts of Kyiv which left the interior minister dead was an “awful tragedy”.
“I knew the interior minister personally, and he was a decent man. It was very painful, and also, losing our children again is so painful. So this is a tragedy,” he said.
Goncharenko said that while an investigation has begun into the cause of the incident, there are two possibilities: “The first is an accident, and the second is a terrorist attack by Russia – an act of sabotage.”
“It will not affect us on the battlefield, but definitely we will now need a new minister, and I hope this will be again a strong man or woman,” he said.
Everything you need to know about Ukraine’s interior minister
A fatal helicopter crash near a children’s nursery in Brovary has killed 14 people, including Ukraine’s Interior Minister, Denys Monastyrskyy.
Monastyrskyy’s deputy, Yevhen Yenin, and Interior Ministry State Secretary Yurii Lubkovych were also killed in Wednesday’s crash.
The interior minister, who was appointed to the position in 2021 by Zelenskyy, was integral to Ukraine’s security during Russia’s invasion.
Here’s everything you need to know about Monastyrskyy.
Helicopter crash death toll revised as rescue work continues
In the hours since a helicopter crash in Ukraine, officials and emergency services have announced a death toll ranging from 14 to 18 people killed, including children.
The emergency services’ latest toll is 14 killed, including at least one child.
While Al Jazeera has been unable to verify the overall scale of loss and damage independently, it appears undoubtedly that Ukraine’s interior minister is among the dead.
A special tribunal on Russia needs full support: EU official
Any special tribunal to judge Russia’s invasion of Ukraine must have enough international backing to credibly prosecute Russia’s political and military leaders, the European Union’s top justice official said.
“As regards accountability for the crime of aggression in particular, currently, Russian leaders cannot be held accountable … before any international jurisdiction,” said European Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders.
The Hague-based International Criminal Court has the powers to prosecute war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide, but Reynders said it could not hand out punishments to Russian officials.
“A possible tribunal set up to prosecute the crime of aggression would need … to have a sufficiently international character to relinquish immunities in a legitimate way and to act on behalf of the international community,” he said.
Canada to send 200 armoured personnel carriers to Ukraine
Canada will send 200 Senator armoured personnel carriers to Ukraine, Defence Minister Anita Anand has announced during a visit to Kyiv.
Anand met with Ukrainian officials, including Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov. They discussed how Canada could continue helping Kyiv and updated him on Operation UNIFER, Canada’s training mission for Ukrainian soldiers.
“During today’s productive visit to Kyiv, I met with Ukrainian officials, including my friend and colleague Minister Reznikov to learn about Ukraine’s most pressing security needs and to reaffirm Canada’s steadfast support,” Arnand said. “Today’s donation of 200 armoured vehicles demonstrates our continued commitment to the security of the Ukrainian people.”
The two defence ministers will meet again on Friday at Ramstein, a US airbase in Germany, where Kyiv’s allies will discuss further military assistance.
Since the war began, Canada has committed more than $5bn in financial, military and humanitarian to Ukraine.
Russian victory is ‘inevitable’, Putin says
Putin says a Russian victory in Ukraine is “inevitable”.
Speaking to workers at a factory in St Petersburg that makes air defence systems, the president said overall military equipment output was rising even as demand for it was growing because of the operation in Ukraine.
“In terms of achieving the end result and the victory that is inevitable, there are several things. … It is the unity and cohesion of the Russian and multinational Russian people, the courage and heroism of our fighters … and, of course, the work of the military-industrial complex and factories like yours and people like you,” Putin said.
“Victory is assured. I have no doubt about it.”
Who controls what?
Here are four maps we update daily, charting the latest war developments.
‘Undeniable tragedy’, says Ukrainian official
Head of the Ukrainian presidential office, Mikhail Podolyak, said “all versions” of the helicopter crash will be investigated.
On Twitter, Podolyak said: “Undeniable tragedy. The helicopter crash killed Interior Minister Denys Monastyrskyy, MIA [ministry] leadership, children. Denys & his colleagues played a big role in ensuring Ukraine’s defence. Investigation began. All versions will be checked. Sincere condolences to the families of the victims.”
Undeniable tragedy. The helicopter crash killed Interior Minister Denys Monastyrskyi, MIA leadership, children. Denys & his colleagues played a big role in ensuring 🇺🇦 defense. Investigation began. All versions will be checked. Sincere condolences to the families of the victims
— Михайло Подоляк (@Podolyak_M) January 18, 2023
Crash evidence of ‘immense toll’ Ukraine is paying: German chancellor
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz says the helicopter crash in Ukraine that left at least 16 people dead, including the interior minister, showed the “immense toll” Ukraine is paying in the war against Russia.
“Our thoughts on this sad day are with the families of the victims and the injured, and with Zelenskyy, who lost his interior minister today,” said Scholz on Twitter.
Der Hubschrauberabsturz in #Brovary zeigt erneut den immensen Tribut, den die #Ukraine in diesem Krieg zahlt. Unsere Gedanken sind an diesem traurigen Tag bei den Angehörigen der Opfer und den Verletzten sowie bei @ZelenskyyUa, der heute seinen Innenminister verloren hat.
— Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz (@Bundeskanzler) January 18, 2023
Lithauania is confident that battle tanks will be sent to Kyiv
Lithuania’s foreign minister says he is confident main battle tanks will be delivered to Ukraine after talks with partners at the World Economic Forum.
The foreign minister added that the West still needs to do more to ensure Kyiv will win the war.
Gabrielius Landsbergis told the Reuters news agency in an interview that after the UK announced it would send Challenger tanks, there was less argument for others not to.
Lavrov hails Russia-China relations
Lavrov hails joint military drills between Moscow and Beijing as strengthening the two countries’ new strategic partnership.
The foreign minister accused the West of trying to anger China on issues such as the status of Tibet and Taiwan, adding that China was too powerful for the US to stand against, so Washington had to “mobilise” the West to support its anti-Beijing agenda.
Russia and China signed a “no limits” partnership last February, days before Moscow sent its armed forces into Ukraine.
Their economic links have strengthened in the face of Western sanctions against Moscow.
A ‘terrible tragedy’ in Brovary, says Kyiv’s mayor
Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko has said on Telegram that the helicopter crash in Brovary, near Kyiv, was a “terrible tragedy.”
“Every day, Ukraine pays with the lives of its citizens because of Russia’s barbaric aggression. We live in conditions of war. Today’s tragedy is another terrible event of this war,” he wrote.
“None of the Ukrainians will feel safe on their land until the last Russian … leaves it. Klitschko added that there can be no “concessions and ‘peaceful compromises with Russia.”
Lavrov tried to put war in Russian-Western context: AJ correspondent
Addressing reporters earlier, Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov said the US had assembled a coalition of European countries to solve “the Russian question” using Ukraine as a proxy, in the same way Adolf Hitler had sought a “final solution” to eradicate Europe’s Jews.
“Just as Hitler wanted a ‘final solution’ to the Jewish question, now, if you read Western politicians … they clearly say Russia must suffer a strategic defeat,” he said.
Al Jazeera’s Ali Hashem, reporting from Moscow, said Lavrov’s news conference was an attempt to contextualise the war into the “Russian-Western confrontation”.
In his press conference, Hashem explained, Lavrov also compared the US and the West with Napoleon and Hitler.
“Then he [Lavrov] went into some details with respect to negotiations with Ukraine, saying Russia is open to negotiations, however, it needs some solid points to stand on,” Hashem added.
“He also went on to address the issue of sanctions and said that Russia was working on creating and enhancing some new supply chain to avoid Western interruptions.”
Lavrov: Moscow will be forced to act if Finland joins NATO
Lavrov says Moscow will be forced to take unspecified measures on its border if Finland joins the NATO military alliance.
Finland and Sweden have applied to join the bloc and are currently in advanced negotiations over their accession.
Lavrov said Finland and Russia had long had friendly relations, but that changed and Russia would therefore have to take “appropriate measures on our borders”, if Finland – with which it shares a 1,300-km (807-mile) border – did become a NATO member.
As rescue work continues, Ukraine’s emergency services say 16 killed in helicopter crash
According to Ukraine’s emergency services, the death toll from the fatal helicopter crash near Kyiv now stands at 16.
An update published on a government website said: “As a result of the emergency situation, 16 people, including three children, died as of 12:30pm.
“30 people were injured (including 12 children), who were hospitalised (information is being clarified).”
Over the past few hours, Ukrainian officials have announced different death tolls. Al Jazeera was unable to independently confirm the figures.