out standing shopping and dining office, enjoy alice services all. be our guest at frankfurt airport. cd managed by frappe bought. ah, just ah, ah, this is the w news coming to live from berlin up. fierce battle is underway for a town in eastern ukraine. heavy fighting is reported in solid dock as ukrainian forces continue to put up resistance. also on the program, 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 german police remove activists trying to stop the expansion of a giant coal mine. campaigners say the new rush where cold makes a mockery of germany's climate goals. ah hello, i'm terry martin. good to have you with us. ukraine says fierce fighting in the eastern town of solid. r is continuing following conflicting reports about whether the town has been captured. the uptake comes amid a major shake up at the top of russia's military, as russian president vladimir putin appoints a new commander to take charge of his war. 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 fled the fighting. those who didn't are now trapped or term causal thoughts follow. i sleep in the same clothes. i walk around in there, man that we haven't bathed for 4 months. nature war score soon. everything will freeze there. coronel so both the kitchen door and the toilet at the shore, hart 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. so le dar, he says, the town is surrounded, but ukraine's president refutes those claims as russian propaganda only boldly. but 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 of 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 valerie's gras. him off has been appointed as the new commander to head up the offensive in ukraine of direct some of his tasks with turning around russia's 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.

for more of a spring in unrest rach here, he's a senior fellow with the german council on foreign relations. thanks for being with us. first of all, tell us about delivery. get rossimer. who is he? and how might his appointment change the way this war is being pot duo, but we get off to move has been the chief of russia general stop since 2000 and about before that he was commander of russia central district and had basically a class the soldiers career, he's appointment as the main commander of the operation. ukraine is unlikely to change how the voice conducted. actually quite likely to get off the move would do any operation or command. because it was more than 10 years ago when he last time actually commanded troops. so the more likely scenario is that the previous commander general, so i guess we can begin with now the deputy of get our symbol. this still be responsible for most of the operation i command by j. bye. get more at the number.

one of the supreme commander ensure better coordination between direction. but again, i do not see his appointment as any kind of a substantial change. this is put in the 3rd commanding general in ukraine since the invasion began last february. what does this latest re shuffle? tell us about the kremlin se approached the war. well, taking into account how russia dukes had been constantly failing in reaching the originally designated gold. it's not, it's not so surprising that the main commander change quite often because somebody has to be. ready responsible to the right, actually i wouldn't be quite surprised if it turned out the get awesome. are we not entirely happy about this new appointment? let me also call disco disappointment deleted operation and ukraine. it's kind of a hot potato that nobody really wants to have to have in his or her hands still now

get out and given the task. but again, even if his command would be successful at personal change, a single personal change is unable to catch up. for the organizational structure flows of russia rom forces. what about the battle field itself? can you tell us, for example, what's happening in solid door? because we're getting conflicting reports about who's in control there. and what it would mean if russia takes control of the town. first and foremost, i would caution against overestimating the importance of florida. this is a small mining town which had a book relation of approximately 10000 before the war. there are hundreds of sites more industrial down the grain. so solid are is important not because of itself, but because it constitutes basically the left flank of the defense of buck mode, which is much more important ukrainians today or $45.00 today. which is the russian

troops have been trying to take for nearly 6 months. and russians have been trying to, big, buckled by from tele, attacking, sending won't be about another, like constantly saving to get to the city. and now they shifted their their and trying to be solid, are in debt by cutting off, bundled. but even if for that falls, this alone would not be able for the russians to cut the supply line, leaving the buckboard, let alone and circling the city. so here, one more thing. how did i extend to, kimberly gifford will been sort of fighting is still going, going in. but what so story in florida. so the russian claims about taking the entire city are, don't, i mean, don't seem to be for the ground. it fighting, get going on their defense analysts under a rush in budapest, thank you very much. thank you. well, poland is offering to supply ukraine with german made leopard tanks as part of an

international coalition. the announcement follows talks between polish present andrea duda and ukraine's volume is a lensky. on wednesday. the pledge puts pressure on germany, which has so far, refused to deliver advanced tanks to ukraine. boy feel ukraine needs heavier weapons that has been, keeps message to its western allies for months on top of the list, the german built leopard 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 fattening dashes or to be sure we have decided that the moment for poland to decisively support ukraine has comes is thrown in force k. now stumpy, a company of la tanks will be handed over as part of a coalition low bother her. grandma would love on our call. 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 war, who only the transfer of weapons will end this war leadership. otherwise the war will go on and on. luxury, the novel ukrainian cities will be destroyed ish and ukrainian people killed or what, but we will definitely keep going to the end of the but it's just that the cost will be very high. ali thing long, poland and other nato allies are leaning ever harder on the german chancellor to

change his tune. while the discussion about the leopard battle tanks continues the supply of marder, infantry fighting vehicles has been agreed. the german army is already using these light tanks as part of nato's very high readiness joint task force. german defense minister christina lambert has been visiting the nato unit to day and she faces increasing pressure to agree to the delivery of the larger leopard tags to ukraine . roland says it would only consider such a delivery in cooperation with its nato allies. so germany's french minister is visiting a barracks in eastern germany and d w as chief political correspondent, nina hossa is there it has. christina lambert said whether germany will allow poland to deliver these lepper tanks to ukraine. or

she didn't say yes, but she also didn't say no. this is something that, of course, everybody here asked her several times, but ultimately defense minister christina lum place said that poland hasn't officially asked yet whether it can sent those tanks to ukraine. they are of course, german made. so the german government would have to give its permission for other countries to supply those tanks to ukraine. and the polish president has been a welcomed in ukraine with big tears when he announced the opponent would do this. now he hasn't officially asked the german government yet said christina, lamplight. but of course there is a big discussion here in germany, and pressure is being increased from international allies for germany to givens consent. and also the pressure is mounting within the government coalition because christina lamplight, fellow minister, in the cabinet, in the core, a government coalitional that havoc said that he doesn't see why gemini,

should stand in the way of partners. and when they want to deliver those tangs to ukraine, he said, this doesn't mean that germany has to send these tanks themselves. well, what about germany of delivering heavy weapons directly to ukraine? it's already provided substantial equipment, but it hasn't quite gotten over to the point of delivering heavy leopard to tags. could berlin end up sending those battle tanks itself? now the german government says that qualitatively speaking the decision to send a marta armored vehicles was already a step hop. this was of course, an announcement that was made early this year after franz announced that it would send on vehicles to ukraine and the decision to send these armored vehicles is something where the german government, christina lampa, the defense minister said deliberated for a long time, was he says that is just the german approach. they monitor the situation very closely and should it change on the ground and they are willing to make different

decisions. but of course, terry, you can't answer this question without the question of whether or not germany will give its consent to other countries sending the leopard 2 tanks to ukraine. once this question has been answered and pressure is mounting. there's a lot of discussion going on with the government coalition. then of course, that other question can also be answered. but germany, the german government is very clear. it doesn't want to go it alone. it doesn't want to be drawn within war. not seen a being seen as a wool party, so this is something that will not change. but am, i'm sure there are a lot of high level political meetings next year also with next week. we're also with the french president emmanuel, my call, or left choices counterpart, where this debate is not something that he wants to have for a very long time. new. thank you very much. he political correspondent, nina hunter and i'm joined now by globally keesa vetter. he is

a member of the german parliament with sunrise christian democrat. he has special expertise in defense policy and suits on the foreign affairs committee. welcome to the program. mister keys about you voiced clear support for pullin surfer to deliberate german made battle thanks to ukraine. what impact you think these tanks would have on the course of the war? hello or well, this would be really a change not only in the mindset, but also could create it could turn around the war. because it is of war, not only against ukraine, it's a russian war of attrition and atrocities against the western world against the free who based order. and ukraine is only the 1st cornerstone in the russian strategy. so to deliver this weapons would create and turn around and it would give the ukrainian forces after a smart training, also the chance to regain its own territory. now, many germans are worried about

a possible escalation of this war. do you share that concern in regards to arms deliveries to ukraine? it is not an escalation because germany was very reluctant to last 11 months. but this reluctant was not paid for by puttin. he just exploited the german reluctance and gained 20 per cent of the ukrainian territory, and it was germany, which hampered the coordinator at the approach of poland, of spain and other countries. so it is now a part of standardization. you of stabilizing ukraine. it is not escalating because russia has the escalation dominance, and we need to break this. and a breakthrough would be the delivery of western equip weapons because the old soviet models are running out of spare parts and ammunition. can you think that germany is pulling its weight in defending europe?

no, i don't think so. i see the germany has wasted the last 11 months to prepare the enough number of spare parts to be a be ready to start the training of the of those quotes of the teams or inside the martyr or inside the leopards. so what we should start now is to procure the necessary ammunition to procure and produce the necessary spare parts, also for the howitzers and the ammunition. so we have wasted a lot of months and we have not answered a requests from ukraine or from poland regarding heavy weapons like marta or leopard tanks. so and then on the other side, the german leadership, the german a govern government is asking for leadership. well, there is no leadership. if you're hamp others, they ask for coordination. there is no coordination. if you don't start with it as,

as the owner of these weapons. so we have missed and we have also a little bit well, put the german appearance on the pressure. we have destroyed the german role model . we are reluctant and we have not understood that the new europe will be more eastern, more deterrent, more trans atlantic. germany is behind. we are 10 and a half months into this war. now the world is looking at europe and wondering how is this going to end? how do you see this war ending? well, i don't see many examples where a war has ended with negotiations. look at the end of the 2nd world war where hitler was, and germany was, or defeated or looked to the war of from quit against kuwait from iraq. this was also military solve. so we need to bring ukraine in a position for negotiations. that means you graham must regain its territory and

serenity, and then we could negotiate. they could negotiate with russia regarding reparations regarding security guarantees, and regarding the atrocities and war crimes. so the way out is to stabilize ukraine to bring them the weapons they need to defend and to regain their own territory. bodily keys better, a member of germany's parliament sitting on the foreign relations committee. thank you very much for your insights. thank you so much. terry. thank you, sketch up on a couple of other stories making headlines around the world today. the head of one of the world's largest oil companies has been named president of this year's cop 28 climate talks salton of man. i'll jabber is chief executive the of the abu dhabi national oil company. his appointment is triggered fierce criticism from climate activists. the cop 28 meeting is said to take place in dubai. at the end of this

year and massive storms continue to batter, northern california, causing widespread flooding and claiming 18 lives. tens of thousands have been driven from their homes in the torrential range and powerful winds that started in late december. further downpours are expected on thursday, and friday police in western germany are continuing to forcibly evict climate activists from a village at the center of a battle over coal money. protesters move in to moved in to stop energy giant r w e from demolishing the homes to make way for operations. the government insists the coal is essential to maintain energy supplies. activists dispute this, they say germany's climate goals should come 1st. 0, one by one police from these, the activists occupying, you'd say that authorities say several 100 left the village voluntarily.

most others resisting peacefully as officers moved in to dislodge them from tree houses, suspended platforms and the roof tops of abandoned homes. their goal to stop energy giant r w e from excavating late night, the dirtiest form of coal. from deep beneath the village. the limestone mirrors by burning the cold from under the village. germany is breaking the paris climate agreement. and at a time when the climate crisis is escalating, we have to make sure that emissions are drastically reduced and that's why coal mining has to stop here. now that's often the german government has struck a deal with the energy company to phase out co by 2030. the demolition of this village is part of a compromise. excavate here now spare others in the future. but host oh does. i'm also tired of screens that a large part of the village is actually irma for demolition will not need

a bonus. one or 2 qualities were hundreds of people still live your will not lose their homes in law which oh das commercials on protests from baldwin. oh, i do think the protest mead symbols but looks as odd where nobody lives anymore kind of the wrong symbol and my novice to fry chosen boy with the war in ukraine and the energy crisis. coal has seen a revival in germany. still, experts, diet that the coal underneath literate is really needed. i studies and also other studies show that it's not necessary to mind the call, especially beyond and below are the village of literature and not a vest failure. because we do have enough coal in other areas or off guard by law and the other mining regions, sir, that is necessary. add to to meet the energy transition and also the climate goals. ah, but in the end it's energy company r

w e legally owns the village and they want to stick to that fans. they expect profits worth several 1000000000 euros from the additional co. the police operation to clear the activists as proved, complex and highly divisive. as germany grapples with its energy transition rushes, invasion of ukraine, 10 and a half months ago, prompted the formerly neutral countries of sweden and finland to seek nato membership. all but 2 of the alliances 30 members have since ratified the nordic countries, accession plans, but turkey and hungary are still holding out. official seem confident that budapest will eventually agree, leaving turkeys, president, wretch of type r. one is the chief obstacle, but not every one is stumble as hostile to the planned expansion. indeed, some have a real appetite for inclusion. this unassuming

local restaurant is an institution in east amboy. nato serves traditional turkish dishes and it's been doing so since 1950. 2 begonia turkey joined the nato military alliance of outdoor support. methodist church is the boss here, and he is proud that he's restaurant so popular with locals and foreigners alike. every one is welcome to join his nato. he says, the grocer. gotcha. yes. my customers come from all around the world. from japan on to china, finland to sweden from germany, the u. s. her sort of not every one can join the nato ally, and this is not on, but in my nato, not the no one gets turned away. i just need every this up like the gallery. this 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 gate keeper, 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 unquote considers terrorists including the cottage militant p, k. kate, which is also on the list of terrorist organizations. because 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 up why 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 and the lender. 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 concern seriously and to do more against kurdish extremists in their countries. but experts think that ad one's continued obstruction also has domestic political reasons before elections wants to her image as a it's actually go sions that the boxes

and supports all the constituents. there will be no right to nature largely until elections. the next presidential election in turkey is set to be held by june 2023. so there is still a lot of time for many unforseen things to happen. but restaurant owner, maybe it is, truth knows one thing for sure. in his nato, the door will always remain open to everyone. british guitar legend jeff beck has died at the age of 78. his family says he passed away peacefully at home after contracting bacterial meningitis, jeff beck rose to prominence as a member of the yard birds in the 1960s. in 2009,

he was inducted into the rock and roll hall of fame for a 2nd time. fellow artists have been paying tribute to his legacy with rod stewart saying he was on another planet. beck earned a reputation as an innovator with prox, like becks bolero, which has been described as one of the great rock instrumental. you're watching dw news from berlin up next. jared read will be here with news asia ah, ah.

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