ah, ah, german levered battle takes from across western europe will soon be headed for ukraine weapons that are considered key to ukrainian forces, turning their russian invaders into russians in retreat and german chance are off. shoulds said that his decision today came after careful consideration and more time than allies had actually expected to night. that clock it is ticking. will these tanks be enough just in time, or will they be too little? too late? i'm broke off in berlin. this is the day ah, gemini, will always be at the forefront when he comes to supporting ukraine. united states in europe are fully united. i'm in 3rd agreement,

but the u. s. president couch president, i'm grateful of cheers were shots fighting german leopard to tax. and he said, president is a very good partner in today's announcement, bills on the hard work commitment countries around the world. and i believe that our friends and allies are preparing to follow hourly trust me just the general government world war 3 is around the corner, which is also coming up. many russian soldiers have already retreated from eastern ukraine, leaving almost. busy everything behind things forgotten that may help others. remember, because of some incidents, a bush of in the, all these objects could disappear. seahorse, some people could just take them to a upolu, and then the boys we need to gather and hold on to these artifacts. in order to

show them in the future, ah, but to our viewers watching on p b as in the united states into all of you around the world. welcome. we begin the day with german and us tanks that will soon be headed for you. great weapons that keep considers key to pushing back russian forces and ultimately winning this war. and the news today came from both sides of the atlantic. here in berlin, german chancellor sholtes told parliament that he has approved the transfer of german made leopard to basil jakes, germany to ukraine. schultz said that he is also giving the green light for other european countries to do the same. hours later, he was president joe by falling suits saying that america will send em one abrams tanks to ukraine as well. the goal to equip ukrainian forces with the weapons that will make a victory possible earlier rather than later. 11 months. yeah. numerous tanks to leaders with one message take alice does,

this is the correct approach. we're talking about very effective weapon systems and it's right that we never provide these weapon systems alone, but always in close cooperation. corporate soon provided to day to day. i'm announcing that the united states will be sending $31.00 abrams tanks to ukraine, equivalent of one ukrainian battalion. i'm grateful the chancellor shoals for providing german leopard to tax and will lead an effort to organize a european contribution to tank battalions for ukraine. germany has really stepped up. joining me now at the big table is our chief political correspondent, dina ha, so she's be covering the story for sure. i mean, it's good to see you. right. to tell you that public opinion here in germany, it's divided over cindy takes to ukraine. how did chancellor shot, how did he sell that his decision today to parliament in public? well, we've seen an intense debate haven't weigh brent hair and germany over the last

couple of days and weeks. and that is sometimes forgotten when you look at what's international partners are writing in the media. you know, they, they almost represent germany as a united country saying germany doesn't want to deliver tanks. that is not true. the opinion is very much split in half. and there was a narrow majority in favor of sending left 2 tanks to ukraine just before this decision. but also majority of people said they didn't want these tanks to be used to reclaim territory, to launch an offensive or a counter offensive if you will, in, in, in ukraine. and that is something that will have. so it's very much picked up in his speech today. that feeling that the public is divided, he really started his speech by saying, okay, we need to remember who's to blame for those who is to blame, is lottie may peruse and of course, and he is the reason why all this is necessary because we've promised ukraine that we will defend ukraine, we will help it to defend itself rather. and then he just told the story

of how germany has done step by step what it has done now in terms of weapons deliveries. and that no such step was taken without the support from international allies, and that, that is vital for gemini, is there. there has been criticism. this be criticism here in germany. but there's also been criticism across europe and in the united states, that shorts, it is government that they've been dragging their feet with this decision. other allies have so that they've been waiting and waiting to send their takes to you crate is seems if the optics are that germany is the out wire here. the thing is, when you look at how germany it behaves in terms of politics, this is typical behavior, especially when it comes to defense and security issues. germany because of its history because of the terrible atrocities that were committed during the to what was has a history where it says ok,

we need to be really careful in terms of helping a conflict or getting involved into conflict. so that was the key message. we mustn't be dragged into this war at all. we must prevent a situation where we as nato are at war with russia, that cannot happen. so germany is not going to send tanks by itself. and this is something that many people interpreted as so it's being hesitant. i don't think he was hesitant. i think he was working really hard behind the scenes to forge this coalition. and if you say, if you look at the result, what we have now on the table, i believe that ukraine is now getting a lot more than it would have done if germany had said from the 1st moment that those demands were actually voiced. if they had sent their leopards, then you know, that wouldn't have been as much as you transmitting. so that's part of the message that you create will actually be better equipped or will have more heavy weapons. because a little bit more time passed before the decision came. absolutely,

and more countries are on board. i mean it's not just the leopards, it's not just 14 german tanks that are being sent. there is 2 battalions that are going to get on its way consisting of some 40 level 2 tanks each. so this is something that ukraine will have by the end of this 1st quarter. and training will start in the 1st week of february is the 6 week training, so it will be delivered with swift. just as before, we run out of time this fear of this war escalated, it appears to be a fear that is deeply rooted among the social democrats, particularly of the chancellor, but not among the greens and the f t p, who also share power with why is why is it, why does it seem to be the s p d because the city is undergoing massive transformation? the s p d always believed in this principle change through trade. this is something that one of the key figures actually shaped available and his eastern policies.

it seems like when he was a well known figure abroad as well, and this is something that the s p d has long stuck with the s p d was also in the government with anglo michael anglo america was also a firm believer that security can only happen in europe, if it's with russia. now this week, the s b d presented, it's new draft of a foreign and security policy approach. and for the very 1st time, there's the sentence in that we need security against russia. it says we need to be safe. we need to protect ourselves against us, and this is such a massive step. it cannot be underestimated. you know, how's it is always going to be here at the table. thank you. russia has already issued a warning about today's decision. looks good now to our russia analyst konstantin, eager to join me tonight from vilnius constantine. it's good to see you. the language coming from the grammar is it seems to be tailored for german ears. talk

to me about what has been said so far. when did the brent are the the credit and spokesman dmitri disco for prudence, alter ego. no, said that german tanks will burn just all the previous things did. and also he said a bit earlier that this step, i mean german decision to supply tanks, a crime will not improve russian german relations. but i do think that there is, i'd say, a bit less ah, the robust rhetoric from the official criminal sleep. so for some russian propagandists are going as far as to say, we should strike berlin. but what propaganda is saying is and not relevant to policy making. this is for domestic consumption. ah, what i think requirement is worried about is reports that more and more armor will pour into gray. not only tanks,

but also our repairs vehicles and 80 seats from france. and we are talking probably about hundreds of units. uh huh. hundreds of a oh, the sama, different types of alma. and i think this is what gives the kremlin. and i'd say a bit of a pause. i imagined there's going to be a much more fierce rhetoric coming from the credit. it seems to be playing on shelters, concerns that the russian invasion of ukraine could escalate into award that would become a war between russia and nato, which of course, germany would then be a part of a do you think we're going to hear rhetoric that direct in is it bluster, i think so far we've seen yes, quite a lot of bluster and i think that if put in really fakes that he can

a scare ah, shots into thinking that it's going to be, oh my god, the war with nato. i think that this moment is past the, the chances decision is really historic is colleagues before me said, and they indicate a shift, which i think the gremlins still didn't take on. both of them has to say that russian diplomacy and put ins, analytical, a sort of support, which is not very strong. i mean, he's in based movie crime, showed us that he really massively miscalculated if he missed calculated about the crying. why, why do we have to suppose that his analysis or his diplomats and as his intelligence and i was off germany or the u. k, or whichever, the country is as correct. so i think that russia is not prepared for this western shift. they are still trying to use the old cliches that probably we used

to live in the year ago, but i'm afraid they expiry date is a very close of not already passed. w's, russia, analyst constantine, ignorance, constantine is always fascinating to get your insights. thank you. thank you, but today's decisions, as you heard, could be a game changer. the emphasis of course is on the word could. earlier i spoke with mark can see and about that. he is a retired colonel with the u. s. marine corps. he was now with the center for strategic and international studies in washington, dc. unfortunately, i think the answer there is no. the 1st problem is that they are not going arrive soon or in large numbers. countries are talking about, you know, 15 tanks here, 12 tanks there. just to keep in mind that ukrainians have 800 tanks in their own forces. now, so couple of dozen of modern you, nato tanks are not going to make an immediate effect on the battlefield. it's also

true that there's no silver bullet. we all hope that there's one weapon, some technology that's going to turn the tide that's going to bring victory. that's not going to happen. victory will come from the cumulative effect of the munitions and weapons that are being sent to ukraine, the training that the ukrainians are getting and the determination of ukrainians to resist. well, let me just get your opinion on the timing of all of this. you know, there is criticism of germany for dragging its feet on this decision. if, if this decision had come earlier, would the ukrainians be in a better position to use these tanks? maybe they would have several 100 at their disposal. then would that be a realistic game changer? is it, i mean, is the timing here and going to make the difference? the problem, the timing is that nato in the united states have not wanted to overwhelm the ukrainians with a lot of new equipment. so they've been sending equipment all along and sort of a measured pace at which they think the cleanings can absorb it. remember,

all of these new pieces of equipment require training for the operators and particularly for the maintain or some of these maintenance course. for example, the em one maintenance course is 44 weeks long. wow. so sending a flood of new equipment to ukraine might overwhelm them. and the thing in the i say it's particularly worries about is waste that, that some of these, of the systems would not be maintained, they would be left up in operable. and that would undermine the bipartisan consensus for sending support. you create, explain to someone who maybe doesn't have any experience with, with, you know, heavy weapons with tanks. how did what do tanks do, and how are they going to be used in this war with russia? well 1st, keep in mind that tanks been used from the very beginning. the russians entered the war with something like 1200 tanks. it was ukrainian at $800.00. this has been part

of the war along what tanks add are 3 things. they have mobility, they have protection and they have fire power that makes them particularly effective on the offensive because they can move that fire power around and as the ukrainians are thinking about counter offensives. having tanks combined as well as other armored vehicles, raises the possibility of more effective attack, breaking through maybe the russian defenses. and let's talk about this for a moment. the, the russian military. i mean, we have heard of been report after report it report that the, the ability of the military is not what the criminal would like it to be. is this going? are we moving more and more towards a type of war of attrition or, or are we seeing the, the law of diminishing returns, setting in for the russian military? well, the russians, the performance of the russian military has been disappointing to the kremlin from

the very beginning. i think they thought that the military, we do a lot better than it has done. on the other hand, they've hung in there, they're still fighting. they've been reinforced with this partial mobilization, so they represent a very formidable force. they've also been digging in for several months. so that's going to make the ukrainian task much more difficult. are they cravings, though, are gaining in a military capability as more and more equipment arrives from nato as their troops get trained up? so they'll be ready for this offensive that everyone expects in the late winter, early spring from both sides, both ukrainians and the russians. is it realistic as some have been predicting that to think that this war could be over by the end of this year with ukraine winning? well, that's certainly possible and we've been in a war of attrition for many months as both sides of the. again, it looks a lot like world war one with 21st century weapons. certainly the hope is that with

time ukrainians will become increasingly military power more powerful and will be able to push the russians out bit by bit. i don't think that there's an expectation that they will come all at once, but maybe one chunk at a time. mark hanson with the center for strategic and international studies in washington. we appreciate your time and your valuable insights tonight. thank you. thanks for having me on the show. when he was president biden in german, chancellor sholtes delivered their decisions on battle tanks for ukraine. first, germany, then, the united states, a carefully choreographed show of unity after days that have been anything, but we decided to call on benjamin schmidt to scare us. what just happened here? he senior fellow at the university of pennsylvania climates in for energy policy is a former advisor at the us state department, benjamin. it's good to see you again. you and i, we spoke many times when you as president vide wanted former german chance or uncle

america, to stop the nord stream to natural gas pipeline project miracle. she wouldn't budge . biden eventually ended his opposition because he wanted to protect german u. s. ties today, biden again did a 180 this time on sending tanks to ukraine. sholtes was standing firm. if there aren't any us tanks, there will be no german tanks. it, do we just see policy being repeated? well, hello brand. hello frances, great to see you. happy new year. i think that that is an absolute certainty that we have seen a repeat of policy dynamics that we've seen basically, and started the by the ministration. let's step back to mid 2021. when you ass bipartisan, congressional sanctions that were congressionally mandated mandatory sanctions were waived by the, by the administration. and there was an agreement from the merkel chancery that if

russia weaponized energy, then the merkle government would seek sanctions at the u level to stop projects like north thing to in the old rush to account. well, russia was intentionally limiting gas supplies in exacerbating and energy crisis in 2021 leading up to its early 2022 invasion of ukraine. and in spite of that overt weapon is ation of energy. and germany didn't do anything and the bite ministration nevertheless, stood by and waved sanctions. that would have helped police to some degree, the national security situation in europe with european energy sturdy must malign influence going forward and get forward after the war had begun. that the chancellor had come out along with ministries in, in the german government and pointed out that rushes claims that they had technical issues with siemens turbines that they needed from canada. that would have to have

candidate a lift sanction to bring these turbines over to, to help the north stream. one pipeline operates were false. these were a false pretense in order to try to get export controls regime sanctions regime lifted in the west. in spite of this early and still put pressure on canada, and the biden administration after canada lifted this waiver against its own sanctions, policy said that this would help europe energy cert. it didn't again, more of a priority to create this unity, the separate track of unity with berlin, specifically, not europe as a whole. and i remember most, if not almost every country in europe was opposed to north 32, especially along nato's eastern blank. yeah, most of the trans atlantic community when it out that these were false claims on the turbine front. and we're again seeing this with the. yeah, and there was the claim or now we hear it even more that former chancellor, i'm going america may have been just too positive on russia. we're hearing that now with chancellor sholtes have lots of criticism that sholtes was dragging use feet.

we've seen it on social media today. we've just one image. we want to show our viewers today. if we can pull that up as an i phone, that is supposed to look like it belongs to vladimir putin and on that we see text messages coming from german chancellor sholtes reading. basically, i'm sorry, i tried, i mean, the idea here, of course, that's an exaggeration. but the idea is that the social democrats, especially this chancellor, cannot see russia for what russia is or for what it's allies see russia. as do you see, do you see this, this difference in perception? do you see that based on what we've seen, the last couple of days persisting will brent obviously that means is an exaggeration, but it really speaks to a broader concern about that. i think a lot of security experts in the west have seen 1st of all this, this notion that if the worst off tomorrow, for some reason, there was

a preemptive seat fired, that russia wanted to stop lighting in order to restock itself. so it can take another run it ukraine in the future. there are, there are certainly a lot of corners of the, the german energy establishment, the german business elite and the german policy circles. that would welcome a return to business. as usual with the kremlin, i can guarantee you that those calls would come almost immediately. and so that's an incredibly concerning situation, because certainly we've seen that the prudent regime specifically not the concept of russia is a, is a country in general. but the point where she specifically cannot, you know, cannot be returned to as a partner in any sense of the word. it is a national security threat current, simple to western democracies in particular, europe. and so there's, there's this lamentation in berlin that may be the foreign policy and national security center of gravity in europe. it's, it's shifting east with it. there is like warsaw and village calling. it is. let's

face it, it is, there is a perception. and to that, that the, you, as president in this, by changing his mind, he did it because he wanted to present to russia. you know, this, this picture of unity among the west is he, is that at such great, such a great risk right now that the u. s. president, have to had to do what he had to do today. i mean, is that what we're seeing happening? well look, i think it's great that we're sending the abrams tanks. i think it's going to take a while. is your previous guess, pointed out for them to have specifically those systems to be trained up and have impact on the battlefield. i think we all should be all should also should be going right ahead. with sending attack comes in, sending in working with nato's. he's been playing partners on transferring nato a mix that are, that are in those countries to help fighter jet capacity in ukraine. but what we're really seeing is, you know, the unity, the other, the discussion of unity. again,

that's a washington berlin unit that's being, being cordoned off. right. we had unity from a lot of other countries on nato's eastern flank, the united kingdom. you had poland in the baltic states, et cetera, all saying that they would transfers the lay of hard to tanks. if only berlin would give the okay. and again, this wasn't even a question of whether berlin itself would bring these tanks over there and allow them to their own textbook. ukraine would even allow the re export control of those tanks from the other countries. there will be about 360, let me ask you, after what has happened in the last couple of days behind closed doors? how would, what, what do you think is the condition of us german relations tonight? i think it's great. i frankly, i think that the, the condition of u. s. government relations is prioritized by this administration. possibly. i, you know, above any other relationship in europe. i think that time and time again, whether it's in the energy security space, whether it's in the national security space, et cetera. this has been a, you know,

almost a policy monitor of this minute be watching for line of course. ok. i had to be a significant change after the trumpet ministration, but i think again, there are a lot of other areas of europe, most of europe that are trying to help you play more vociferously and that needs to be considered as well. management is always good talking with you. wish you had more time pressure your time to night. thank you. thanks so much, brent. ah, and finally the so called doomsday clock with russians invasion of ukraine to the spectre of nuclear weapon use. a group of scientists says that earth is crypt it's closest ever to nuclear arm. again, they've moved the famous tubes de clock up to just 90 seconds before midnight. that means that to them, the perceived threat is now more severe than it was last year. with the scientists fighting unprecedented danger posed by the russian invasion of ukraine, atomic scientists. but it is almost on the conversation, continues online, your financial twitter. you can follow me on twitter at britain golf

t v. we'll see you tomorrow. with a conflict zone refresh banner g little says support in russia since the start of the war in ukraine, but he's the support to be sent to escalate into something more active from that could be or shortcut. you've political adviser to bela lucian, opposition. meta for atlanta that he kind of caught up. she claims to be the

national leader of bella luce. but holding the gentleman is her claim and conflict with d. w. what do birth control pills have to do with house? with me, this is where the nazis experimented with receptive message subjecting women to unimaginable cruelty under the guise of science. know me. the last survivors tell their story is tiana to me, made in auschwitz the untold story of block 10 in 45 minutes on d, w. ah. in india, a land of contrasts of ambitions of inequality. 75

years ago, mahatma gandhi peacefully led the country to independence. what has remained of his vision? where does the world so called the largest democracy stand? where is india headed in? this is the moment to unleash on violet bias. gandhi's legacy starts january 28th on d. w. bellows has supported russia since the start of the war in ukraine. it's provided weapons, military bases, and logistical support. but is that support set to escalate into something more active in the literature cited? there is a consensus that we don't support this war. that bill of our mission not participate . regression can also fails.