ah ah ah ah ah, this is d w. news lie from by lane. russia appoints a new commander to lead its war in ukraine. this latest, a shakeup at the top comes of conflicting claims over the fate of the east and town of solid are also on the program to poland, offers to supply ukraine with german made leopard tanks,

but only as part of an international coalition. the move puts pressure on western allies to send more heavy weapons and it's tumble and alternative. nato welcomes all comers. despite turkey's reluctance to admit new members to the military alliance. ah, i'm fil gail. welcome to the program. russian president vladimir putin has appointed a new commander to take charge of his war in ukraine. for nearly grassy moth replaces a general who'd only been appointed in october garrison off has been the chief of russia's general staff, the country's top military commander, since 2012. the crumbling says his job will be to coordinate the russian invasion more effectively. russia is struggling to brigade ground to following a series of pictures by ukrainian forces. the key battle is for the town of solid

dot in the east said by russian mercenary group. 2 have been captured, a claim disputed, not just by ukraine, but also by the kremlin ukrainian soldiers firing at russian positions. internet's province fighting is concentrated around sola, dar, a mining town near the strategic city of back, moot. these satellite images show the scale of the destruction since august of last year. conditions in back mood are dire. there is no heating or electricity. most residents flag the fighting. those who didn't are now trapped or torn causal dollars follow. i sleep in the same clothes. i walk around in there, man, that we haven't been for for months. nature war score soon. everything will freeze

your coronel so both the kitchen and the toilet tissue, or hard data. there are a lot of people here. grandfather's grandmother's. no one goes anywhere. but there is in the leader of the russian mercenary wagner, group claims it has captured sola. dar yevgeny per goshen released this picture of himself allegedly in a salt mine near sola. dar, he says, the town is surrounded, but ukraine's president refutes those claims as russian propaganda. only bullying for the law usually will present and are already presenting this to their society in order to support mobilization to give hope to those who are for the aggression. but the fighting continues. donuts is holding optimal. if solid are falls, it would no doubt boost russian morale. it could also help president putin to appease his critics who say his war effort is fumbling. on wednesday, the kremlin announced another shake up among the military leadership general valeri

garris. the mom has been appointed as the new commander to head up the offensive in ukraine of direct some of his task with turning around rushes fortunes in a war that has been badly legging in recent months. and yet vladimir putin has shown no sign of relenting in his quest to come out ahead against keith will undress rad. she is a defense analyst with a german council on foreign relations. i asked him about validity, good to move, and how his appointment might change the war the way this war is fought either, but i didn't get us to move as me just chief of general stuff and the long trusted ally of letting me. so he's appointment to head devora, ukraine, or the special military operation as russians call it may be interpreted as monday or strengthening the criminal data control over to operations. an interesting element is the earlier commander general. so we can not go away. he became the

deputy of get us in order to get it to other generals. so now we're going to have some kind of a 3 headed common structure over the russian boy, ukraine. so it remains to be seen to what extent get asked him of get directly involved into actually commenting the troops. and other important element in his appointment is to get our c movies now intended to serve as a fully integrated commander of order. russia 40 in ukraine, including the notorious mercenaries of the wagner group, headed by your vin goshen, and also the fighters of the catch on board or guns and can do so. and under of a, of interpreting get us some of the appointment is that it's kind of a disciplinary measure against a diesel and also against precaution. we have acted so far with quantity that other autonomy on the front line. that's very interesting and we will come, come back to that. this is however, president putin, for commanding general in the 11 months. so, so of this war that what does this,

this re shuffle, tell us about what is likely to be going on at the top in the kremlin most brutally . there is, on the one hand, there is an increasing power struggle between various actors who are involved in or around avoiding ukraine. that's one thing. and the 2nd thing commanding position were devoid ukraine is kind of a hot potato because russia has so far failed to achieve any of its ordered you know, objectives. so i'm not entirely sure that anybody who gets this comment position would be entirely happy about it. and then let's talk then at now about the ukranian town of salida, which those russian mercenaries from the wagner group claimed to have captured. and then were contradicted, not just by ukraine, but also by the kremlin. and as you, as you say, that does seem to be some disciplining of them by the kremlin. so let's, let's 1st of all start with the town hasn't been captured or not as far as it can be reconstructed from open sources. so far,

there are still some ukraine units defending in the cities, so the battle is going on. however, i would warn against overestimating the importance of solid solid are very small and mining tone, the depopulation of some 10000 before the war. and the beds for solid are, is important only because it's part of a battle for a much more important step when and but what, which is approximately 20 kilometers solve the reason by russians shifted their emphasis on solid are it that they have been trying to big buckboard almost 400 for a year. they had told them of soldiers in fuel out front of our tax again, but most and because the city of buckled had been for defined by ukraine or the 478 years. ok, now by trying to capture thread are russians are attempting to log you and circle around and cut off buckboard. this is what makes the better for about important thing here to add. but he is famous not only of the wagner group,

but also because he's the owner of some kind of growing factories. so it's quite possible the precaution is trying to manipulate the public perception of the better for solar adar and make it look much more important than it actually is. and as you say, he's not been rained in by the kremlin. so this is there some sort of power struggle going on between the kremlin and this, this autonomous group of mercenaries. isn't that much bigger between the crumbling and the wagner group, but more between the minister of defense and develop regular militaries are often kind of jealous about private military companies. and so this is not something specific for russia. however, the wagner group has a long, long lasting, quite strange relationship with the russian minister of the fans. now that get us appointed, it looks like the dominion of the just trying to exercise much closer control over the wagner group than it did before. fast, i think thank you so much for outlining that. so clearly defense analyst andras'

raj in budapest, thank you. will. poland is offering to supply ukraine with german made leopard tanks as part of an international coalition announcement follows talks between polish president andre duda. do ukraine's vladimir zalinski on wednesday. the pledge puts pressure on germany, which is so far, refused to deliver the advanced tanks to ukraine. for feel, ukraine needs heavier weapons that has been, keeps message to its western allies for months on top of the list, the german built levered to battle tank. so far, western nations have been reluctant, fearing further escalation with a new killer armed russia. but that might be all about to change over fucking darcia to be sure we have decided that the moment for poland to decisively support ukraine has come to thrown in force. good, now, stumpy,

a company of la tags will be handed over as part of a coalition low barber ram our would've on your car. you'd see the offer from poland. president on j. duda is a welcome one for keith. but there's a catch without germany's approval. other nations cannot supply leopard tanks to ukraine. poland coal for an international coalition to deliver the weapons piles additional pressure on german chancellor, olaf schultz. so far he's been reluctant to commit but as russia claims it's making fair the gains in easton ukraine. keith says berlin's foot dragging is costing lives on the walk for only the transfer of weapons will end this war leadership. otherwise the war will go on and on. luxury, you know, we'll ukrainian cities will be destroyed, hash and ukrainian. people killed elizabeth, but we will definitely keep going to the end of the but it's just that the cost

will be very high. oliphant love, poland, and other nato allies are leaning ever harder on the german chancellor to change his tune. although robin wagner is a green member of the german parliament and sits on its foreign affairs committee. welcome to dw in mister wagner. i, what do you think? should germany allow poland to send these that leopard 2 tanks to ukraine? yes, i think we definitely should join the main better tanks to ukraine last week in german policy on signing the heavy weapons with the united announcement of the american president and the german chancellor to provide a fighting that he cuz and i think now is the time to deliver the meta tags as well . so what do you think is holding back the chancellor from agreeing this? well, in the last month we are to position that he's trying to prevent an escalation retrospective

. when we look at the last month, we see that this strategy does not work with russia. we did not deliver the necessary weapons or ukraine. actually, i was in july with many people in the government and society, parliament, everybody. we definitely need the defense be needs, tillery, and we need infantry fighting me as a man better times, but the position was always no, we don't want that, but we're see with, with us not delivering the weapons, but we saw russia escalating the wall. we saw the massive tear off on the civic population in the cities with, with ad tags, but also in the occupied territories. the only way to stop this terror in the occupied territories is to enable ukraine to liberate them in order to liberate them. ukraine need main better tanks and the infantry fight. ok,

so your party is part of this coalition government. what pressure you putting on the chancellor to change his mind? well, in the last month we had lots of voices from the agree to deliver these necessary weapons to provide you with it. we had promotions in parliament and actually very with a very broad majority, even from the main opposition party to debate playing with the engineering economically and the necessary military. right. and it will not be and will not be stopped by the german read about what we have the voices from the chancellor to and the american president to support ukraine. it's struggle for serenity as long as it's needed. we had the vice chancellor from degrees who said that the necessities of the crane are defined on the better. and i think that needs

2 main things as well. we had a foreign minister, was in khaki just right now and announce the continuous support. i think our voice is a very clear on that. thank you so much for joining us. robin wagner. agreed. member of the gym and parliament's foreign affairs committee. thank you. thank you . while the discussion about the leopard battle tanks is still going on the supply of modern military fighting vehicles has already been agreed of east hang sir, already used by the german army as part of the nato. very high readiness joint task force, german defense minster, christine lumber, actors visiting those nato units as she faces the increasing pressure to agree to the delivery of a larger main battle tank to ukraine. general government insist that it would only consider such a delivery incorporation with its allies or the defense minister is

at barracks, in east germany. and the are chief political correspondent need a has or is there welcomed either? has a christine lumber, extra said whether germany will allow poland to deliver these or leopards to ukraine? no, she hasn't yet, or we're expecting her very shortly behind. does add these barracks here in the eastern germany in saxony, where you will be demonstrated how the mazda armored vehicles work. and she is also expected to give a statement later on where will also get the opportunity to ask her again, just why germany is so reluctant to give that permission to other countries to deliver the leopard tanks to ukraine. and so far she hasn't said anything. and you also have to keep in mind that ultimately a lot of the decision making when it comes to defense lies with in the chancellor re as well. so we'll have towards has to give his consent. and, but of course, all episode is under pressure from allies to act. there are a lot of important meetings and in the next couple of days and pressure is mounting

. for example, he will be meeting his friends counterpart, the french president manuel my call next week for a ministerial meeting between the cabinet members of both countries. and there it is highly unlikely that germany can sustain such a meetings or to high level political meeting about actually having said that, it will give us okay to other countries delivering the leopard tags to ukraine. and then the next step along this road, if germany is to give it permission to other countries, to use german built, i have your weapons in this way. people will ask, well, why isn't germany providing these directly to you crate? is that likely to happen? well of course that question will only be answered once. the 1st question has been answered. so this is something i think once this threshold has been passed, once germany has given its okay for other countries to use this german made armored

via the, the german made tank in this battle scene in ukraine. then of course, it can say if other countries are supplying the lepers directly, then we can as well. this is something that the german government has dressed for months now that they won't go it alone, that they'll only do it together with others. no reason there is, of course, that germany doesn't want to be seen as pushing forward too much with heavy weaponry on the ground fighting russian soldiers. that is one of the main reasons that people are speculating why the chancellor is standing on the brakes here. but if other countries and it is looking more and more likely, are willing to supply these leopard tanks to ukraine, then it is very hard to imagine that germany won't give its consent to this. facts meter chief political correspondent, nina hot. let's take a look at small stores making headlines around the world. u. s. defense secretary

lloyd austin has said he does not believe china is about to invade taiwan. he was speaking of talks between senior us and japanese officials and japan's foreign minister. how yochi yoshi massa says china represents an unprecedented strategic challenge. tokyo plans to double its defense spending over the next 4 years. she spoke with him and massive storms continued to bath in northern calif, causing widespread flooding, and claiming 18 lives. tens of thousands have been driven from their homes in the torrential rains and powerful winds that started in late december. for the down ports are expected on thursday and friday. the head of one of the world's largest oil companies has been named president of this year's cop 28 climate talks. sultan augment our job is chief executive of the abu dhabi national oil company is appointment is triggered fears, criticism from climate activists. a cop $28.00 meeting is due to take place in to buy at the end of this year. or russians invasion of ukraine almost

a year ago has acted as a catalyst for former neutral countries, sweden and finland to seek nato membership. 28th of the military alliance is 30 members, have ratified the 2 countries accessions leaving turkey and hungary as whole house official seemed confident that hungry will eventually agree. leaving turkey's president reggie type early on as the chief obstacle, but not everyone in istanbul is hostile to this latest expansion. and some have a particularly inclusive approach. this i'm assuming local restaurant is an institution in istanbul, nato so traditional turkey stations and it's been doing so since 1952, the me a turkey joined. the nato military alliance for methodist church is the boss here. and he is proud that he's restaurant so popular with

locals and foreigners and like, everyone is welcome to join nato. he said, you're going to, yes. my customers come from all around the world. from japan on to china, finland sweden from germany. the u. s. her sort of not every one can join the nato ally, and this is going on. but in my nato, not the no one gets turned away, i guess get evidence dropped. the gallery, that tacky is famous for its hospitality at the highest political level. however, the world is currently experiencing quite the opposite when it comes to enlarging the nato military alliance. the turkish government has been presenting itself for months as a gatekeeper who doesn't let anyone in russia's war against ukraine has raised major security concerns in europe. that is why countries like

sweden and finland, which have long been opposed to nato membership, now want to join. but all nato members have to agree to this. and this is exactly how turkish president, reggie ty, it out on is putting on the brakes. he accuses sweden and finland of been to lenient with groups that uncross considers terrorists including the cottage militant p, k k, which is also on the list of terrorist organizations. the cook, ludden forgot the countries where p k. k. members can run riot in the streets, was held, hold rallies under police protection, and extort significant sums of money that should not become nato members ultra wide . the saw this would not benefit nato at all. it rather, it undermines its values. edwin blames kurdish militants for attacks and turkey, such as the bombing in istanbul, november he says,

sweden and finland a harbouring people with links to terrorist groups and has demanded extradition to turkey. finland and sweden have promised to take the turkish concerns seriously and to do more against kurdish extremists in their countries. but experts think that ad one's continued obstruction also has to mystic political reasons before elections wants to nurture in which as a national negotiations that advances churches cause and supports all the much the constituents. and there will be no right to nature marching on to elections. the next presidential election in turkey is said to be held by june 2023 will be we're still a lot of time for many uncertain things to happen. but restaurant owner,

maybe us to knows one thing for sure. in his nato, the door will always remain open to everyone. let's look at this with paul 11 who's director of the institute for turkish studies at stock home university. welcome to d. w. tops. we could start with a quick summary of the turkish demand that sweden has already met well, sweden, turkey, and finland signed an agreement in june of last year. term the trilateral memorandum and it's specified a number of items. there are 12 from action points if you will, and the concern of sweden and finland fight against terrorism in particular the b k k, but also other organizations the concern arms

embargoes or arms export to turkey. and they also have to do with extradition requests from turkey and demand for deportation. voluntary suspects in sweden and finland. ok, so there's there's, there's been some movement from the date that the swedes in the fence. so i'm one of the main sticking points as concerns sweden. well, i mean, my sense is that the behind the scene, there's some high rhetoric chance rhetoric in the public. but behind the scenes, the negotiations appear to have been going rather well. last year, sweden issued a statement last year sort of the itemizing of the steps that it has taken. and we have pretty much and i'm focusing on wheaton because i think for the churches perspective, they don't have many concerns about them. and really it is. the problems that are

with sweetie and sweden has been taking action on most of the points in this try lateral memorandum, but there are a few issues that turkey is not satisfied with. first of all, they have to do with generally just making sure that the what's happening is not just legal changes in sweden, but that there are also actions on the ground such as the police going after a terrorist financing and so on. and then it has to do with a number of people, but turkey want to see. ready extradited, now the actual memorandum does not specify any number of people that need to be extradited or any specific individuals. it only says that we send them would, will carefully look at the turkish demands for extradition. and that is ongoing. it is a sticking point though, because the swedish supreme court decides on exploration issues and aid has consistently said no to extra dining tara stuff, sex. a quick word about domestic politics with hinted at in the report.

how much you think took his objections to do with president ones of reelection campaign? well, i would, i would defer to sit on the, against a judgement. he knows turkish about politics much better than i do, but i think it is a combination of things, things that matter. domestic politics certainly does matter. it is 4 and foremost, front and foremost, and in the mind of ag wanted seeking re election. he's not, not really looking so good in the polls and this may. ready be an issue, but there are other issues that are much more important, i think, politically, for him. so i think this has to do with domestic politics. it may also have to do with things that turkey wants from other nato allies, such as weaponry, advanced weaponry from the united states. and then i think that one should not dismiss the concerns that many turks feel when they see p k. k. flags being waived freely and for them so on. and there has been

a long standing concern from turkey that other european allies are not being tough enough on especially to be k k, but also members of the movement that turkey but not know a few other countries see as a terrorist group. thank you so much for that spring comprehensive pull 11 die from the institute for turkey studies and stock. i'm university as it's you're up to date more world news at the top of the hour next on d. w. focus on europe, looking at how anxiety about the war and ukraine is affecting everyday life in latvia. i'm good ah ah

ah ah ah ah, with paying for time do with time. this is the principal of italy's time banks. whether it's for playing cards, manual labor,

or to tar lessons. here everything has the same value. a person's time. focus on europe. the next oh d w. conflict zone with sarah kelly. my guest this week on conflict zone is a renowned foreign policy expert who has spent most of her career analyzing vladimir putin, russia. fiona hill joined me from washington, where she has advised for us presidents and co author to book on. where does she think the war is heading? was this plan all along or had decades in power changed hands? conflict zone. in 60 minutes ago on d, w with, into the today, this me flying to

a foreign planet. in the 16th century, it meant being a captain and setting sale to discover a route, a race linked to military interests, a race linked to political and military, christie, but also linked to my financial adventure full of hardships, dangers and death. but jillions journey around the world starts in january 19th on a mm. hello and welcome to focus on europe. thanks for joining me here today. as we entered the new year, russia's war against ukraine.