Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has been going on for 342 days. Ukraine’s ambassador to Germany, Oleksiy Makeev, told German media that Kyiv had not yet asked Germany to hand over the fighter jets, but stressed that such weapons were necessary to defend against Russian attacks against targets in Ukrainian cities and infrastructure. Here are the highlights of the last hours.
> The first batch of 60 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles left the port of North Charleston, South Carolina last week, the U.S. Transport Forces Command (TRANSCOM) said. Washington announced the transfer of a total of 109 such vehicles. Since the second week of January, the Ukrainian forces have been training in the use of armored vehicles and combined military operations in Grafenwoehr, Germany.
> The Bundeswehr is looking for about 50 reservists to help train Ukrainian soldiers, according to a request from the Operational Command addressed to the Union of Reservists, writes the portal of the weekly “Spiegel”.
> Ambassador Ukraine in Germany, Oleksiy Makeev said in an interview with the German media that Kyiv has not yet turned to German for the transfer of fighter jets, but stressed that such armament is necessary to defend against Russian attacks aimed at targets in Ukrainian cities and infrastructure.
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> President of the USA Joe Biden he said that United States will not hand over F-16 aircraft to Ukraine. This was the first explicit refusal by Washington to send these planes.
> Ukraine plans to spend $550 million on drones in 2023, Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov said, quoted by Reuters. 16 supply contracts have already been signed with Ukrainian producers, said the head of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry.
> Prime Minister Denmark Mette Frederiksen, who visited Mykolaiv on Monday, stated at a joint conference with President Volodymyr Zelensky that she was “open” to handing over Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine as well.
> Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said on Monday that the Israeli embassy in Kiev would return to full activity in the coming weeks, Reuters reported.
> Prisoners, thousands of whom joined the Wagner Group to fight in Ukraine, they begin to return to Russia. This presents society with the challenge of reintegrating men with a criminal record, ambiguous legal status and poor job prospects, the New York Times writes.
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