to make a difference, by choosing smartness solutions over stained, said in our ways global ideas, the environmental series, it included $3000.00 on d, w, and online. ah ah, this is d w. news coming to live from berlin. the fierce battle was underway for a town in eastern ukraine. heavy fighting is reported in solid r, as ukrainian forces continued to put up resistance. also in the program, poland offers to supply ukraine with german, made the leopard tanks, but only as part of it. international coalition. the move puts pressure on western

allies to send more heavy weapons and german police remove activists tried to stop the expansion of a giant cold mind. campaigners say the new rush for 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 update come submit, 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 sula. 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 carto, thores follow, i sleep in the same clothes. i walk around in the mail that we haven't been for for months each or war score soon. everything will freeze your coronel so both the kitchen door and the toilet tissue or hard data. there are a lot of people here. grandfather's grandmother's. no one goes anywhere near 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 building for the law usually will present and are already presenting this to their society in order to support mobilization. wanted to give hope to those who are for the aggression. but the fighting continues, antonette is holding up at him. if so let our 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 mob has been appointed as the new commander to head up the offensive in ukraine of direct some of his tasks with turning round 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.

andrea rodge is a senior fellow with the german council on foreign relations. he told me more about russian general by lyric or asked him off and what his appointment means did it get off. the move has been the chief of russia. the general stopped since 2000 and about before that he was commander of russia central military district. and had basically a classic soldier carrier, he's appointment as the main commander of the operation. ukraine is unlikely to change how the voice conducted. it's actually quite likely to get off the move would do any operational 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 can begin with now the deputy of get our symbol. this to be responsible for most of the operation command by j by 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 see what was 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 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 of 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 population 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 frontally attacking, sending one 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 god fools, this alone would not be able for the russians to cut the supply line, leaving the buckboard, let alone and soaking the city. so here, one more thing. how did you extend to kimberly coursework? it's all been sort of fighting is still going going in. but what so story in front of dot. so the russian claims about taking the entire city aren't, don't, i mean, don't seem to be for the ground it fighting, get going on their defense analyst under a rush in budapest, thank you very much. thank you. well poland is offering just play ukraine with german made leopard tanks as part of an international coalition. the notes that polos talks between polish president andries judah and ukraine's

laudermill zelinski on wednesday. the pledge puts pressure on germany, which has so far, refused to deliver the advance tax to ukraine itself. 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 fat incarcerated to easter. we have decided that the moment for poland to decisively support ukraine has comes through the course k. now stumpy, a company of la tags will be handed over as part of a coalition. low bottom rama would have 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 of the 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 further gains in easton, ukraine cave says berlin's foot dragging is costing lives on the la who only the transfer of weapons will end this war who didn't die. otherwise the war will go on and on. luxury knob will ukrainian cities will be destroyed ish and ukrainian. people killed elizabeth, but we will definitely keep going to the end of the but it's just that the costs will be very high. oliphant, loud poland, and other nato allies, a leaning ever harder on the german chancellor to change his tune. while the discussion about leopard battled haines continues an agreement has been reached to

supply ukraine with german made martyr, infantry, white fighting vehicles. these light tanks are deployed outside of you. it is part of nato's very high readiness joint task force. german defense minister christina lamplight has been visiting the nato unit today. she's facing increasing pressure to agree to the livery of the larger leopard tanks to key of berlin says it would only consider such a move in cooperation with its nato allies. so germany's defense minister christine law, blessed paid a visit to german soldiers in eastern germany today dw is chief political correspondent. nina, how's it is there? i asked her if the minister indicated whether germany would allow poland to deliver leopard tanks to ukraine. was 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 at 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 gibbons 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 tanks 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 the vehicles to ukraine and at the decision to send these armored vehicles is something where the german government, christina, lumpish, the defense minister said deliberated for a long time but she 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 within 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 olaf shorts. his counterpart where this debate is not something that he wants to have for a very long time. no, thank you very much. he political correspond, nina hussar, bell. godlike kuza better is a member of the german parliament with the center. right. christian democrats is a military expert and suits on the foreign affairs committee. he told us how

leopard battle tank could impact the course of the war. hello air. 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 a 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 the last 11 months. but this reluctant was not paid for by putin. he just exploited the german reluctance

and gained 20 percent of the ukrainian territory, and it was germany, which hampered to coordinate with 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

a quote of those quotes of the teams are inside the marder 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 request from ukraine or from poland regarding heavy weapons like marta or leopard thinks 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 hamper others, they ask for coordination. there is no coordination. if you don't stop with it as, as the owner of these weapons. so we have missed and we have also a little bit. well, i 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 where defeated or looked to the war of, from kuwait against kuwait, from iraq. this was also military sold. so we need to bring ukraine in a position for negotiations. that means you crane must regain its territory and seller entity. 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. utterly 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. take a look at some other stories making headlines around the world today. us present, jo biden's legal team has found more classified documents in a 2nd location linked to the president. earlier this week, news broke, the secret reports had been found in an office biden used after his time as vice president in november. but in his saying he's cooperating with the justice department inquiry into the issue in which i hope massive storms continued to batter. northern california causing widespread flooding and claiming 18 lives, tens of thousands have been driven from their homes in the torrential rains and powerful winds. this started in late december. further downpours 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 comp 28 climate talks. sultan ultimate of java is chief executive of the abu dhabi national oil company. his appointment has triggered fierce criticism from climate activists. the cop 28 meeting is said to take place in dubai. at the end of this year, europe's largest known deposit of rare earth elements has been found near the swedish mining city of corona mining company, k. l. a. bees said the newly discovered pear. yeah, your deposit contains more than a 1000000 tons of the minerals. they are essential for many technologies considered vital to the green transition. euro currently relies heavily on chinese imports of rare earths police in western germany are continuing to forcibly evict climate activists from a village at the center of a battle over coal mining. protesters moved in to stop energy giant r

w. we from demolishing the homes to make way for operations. the government insists the cold is essential to maintain energy supplies. activists dispute this, they say germany's climate goals should come 1st. ah, one by one police from these. the activists occupying jude said that. authorities say several 100 left the village voluntarily. most others resisting peacefully as officers moved in to dislodge them. from tree has is suspended platforms and the roof tops of abandoned homes. that gold 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 coal 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 villages 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, dos commercials on protests from bullitt. all i do think the protest mead symbols but looks at art where nobody lives anymore. kind of the wrong symbol of my knowledge of switches and boy with the war in ukraine and the energy crisis. coal has seen a revival in germany. still experts, diet that the coal underneath little heart is really needed. our studies and also

other studies show that it is not necessary to mind the coal, especially beyond and below the village of little heart and not our best failure. because we do have enough coal in other areas of gods by law and the other mining regions that it's necessary to, to meet the energy transition and also the climate goals. ah, but in the end it's energy company r w e, who legally owns the village, and they want to stick to their plans. they expect profits with several 1000000000 euros from the additional coal. the police operation to clear the activists has proved complex and highly divisive. as germany grapples with its energy transition, d, w correspondingly on the front, how much time is in little out enjoying just though we are they are many protesters left there. well terry,

it's very hard to estimate just how many protesters are left here just because of the, you know, the situation is quite disperse and dynamic. but a couple of those was to let you, you can see behind me they are in tree houses and hanging on to those tree houses. and there are also still some protesters left in the houses and the barns off looks . an odd and activists have told us about a tonneau system underneath a village where also there is still a number of protesters down there, which will slow down the process of heavy machine machinery that, that the police can bring in, in order not to put those protesters in the tunnels in danger. how much resistance have the protesters been putting up thoroughly and he has there been any violence? well, there has been there half the has been sat, you know, have been some bottles, summer of brock, some fireworks thrown at police. some protesters did resist em,

the police operations and that, but we do have to state that that's their minority. and that's something a police spokesperson has also confirmed on the part of the police or violence of from the police towards protests. as activists have also told me that there have been instances of, of that of, of violent handling of protesters. but all in all, we have to see that it has been quite a quiet and, and peaceful eviction. and, and i think it's also partly due to the fact that there's immense amount of police here. and we're moving in with heavy machinery and going much quicker than was expected. and so morale among the activists is a bit lower also because of the weather, the winds and the rain have made it really difficult, especially in the tree houses in the structures. high up and birds are people, people, the activists here that are still here, want to stay here as, as long as possible and draw attention to the climate crisis to the open,

open mine air, hit right next door and, and want to sort of, you know, broadcast the message that that call and needs to stay underneath this village. so they are quite determined. climate activists have been clashing with fossil fuel companies all over europe for decades. why has this village lute sort of become such a flash point? was? it's become kind of a symbol of a country that is trying to move away from the burning of fossil fuels, but finds itself in the middle of an energy crisis and, and in this conflict around units. and i do have the german government on the one hand and r w e, who say the coal underneath lit, so that is necessary to secure energy supply in the country. and then on the other hand, you have and, and they are back by a court rulings and studies, but then on the other, how do you have the activists who are also backed by studies and scientists who say no, this call is not needed and germany would break its international climate commitment

if it were to dig out the coal and burnett. and so those, you know, it has become sort of a symbol off of that struggle. and, and that is why there is so much attention on this little village. often it's about learning. thank you very much. shar reporter, lia knew from the hammerstein there in lots of up british guitar. legend jeff beck has died at the age of 78. his family says he passed away peacefully of 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 had been paying tribute to his legacy with sir rod steward saying he was on another planet becker and a reputation as an innovator with tracks like becks bolero, which has been described as one of the great rock instrumental

ah, you're watching dw news from berlin coming up next, it's focus on europe, including a report on the use of micro chips for cattle farming in corsica. you of course you get all the latest news information any time you want on our website. that's a d w dot com. i'm terry martin from me and all of us here. thanks for walking. me with a with

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you beat issues and share ideas. you know or this. i know we are not afraid to happen delicate topic because population is growing. as young people clearly have the solution, the future belongs with the 77 percent. every weekend on d w ah, hello and welcome to focus on europe. thanks for joining me here today. as we entered the new year, rushes war against ukraine continues.