how did he finish with millions of children over the world? he had to go to school. mm hm. we ask why? because education makes the world more just make up your own mind. d. w. made for mines nearly a year after protein launched his attack on ukraine, nato says rush as much feared. spring offensive is already underway. both sides are suffering painful losses and running through vast stocks of ammunition as they wage . a fierce battle for small gains in the east of the country. in strategically important by mote, for example, months of unrelenting assault by the private mercenary group 5. now have taken

a bloody toll on both sides and destroyed the city. protein needs wagner to succeed . but the groups later you get a play gushing and says the battle is far from over. where does that leave the other side as ammunition stocks, dwindle and casualties rise, we are asking proteins latest offensive. how is nato responding with hello and welcome to to the point. it is a pleasure to greet our guests. laura font daniels is head of the research division, the america's at the german think tag w s w p. and it's a great pleasure to welcome my colleague vladimir, as he puff he, is originally from st. petersburg and works on d w's freshen desk and were very pleased to have with us natal. yeah, go menu. she is

a free lance conflict reported from ukraine who heads the independent broadcaster, her majesty tv, and founded the public interest journalism lab. she joins us frontier by skype. vladimir, with the 1st anniversary of the russian invasion looming, vladimir putin would like to have some successes to show will. in fact, russian forces gratify that wish he's desperately need to deliver some kind of victory to the russian public next week. because he will be talking to russian permanent next week with an all speech to the mission over unexpecting a kind of russian offensive in eastern greenberg, those signs of trying to start such of it offensive in arisen 3 weeks and 3 days. but there is no major success. success on this. can you say a little bit more about that because the battle, particularly for viola dar on the eastern front in don yeske, is seen as an opening move in this much dreaded spring offensive by russia. there

are varying reports about the scale of russian losses and also about russia's her capacity to keep sending new forces. what do you know about that? india, though no, not much more or everything from open sources is much of the best and public north russian losses was indeed huge. there are numbers circulating of 10001000 troops 1000 on the 2 days of the air filter their pictures from, from drones or of dozens of russian thinks destroyed by ukrainian fire. so it was a beardley managed to rush and try to start offensively. murray, rifle cooper, natalia can ukraine's forces stand up to a russian army with what appears to be a steady supply of new recruits, albeit, largely untrained once. so you mentioned before would know the

operation to buy the russians to overtake started in march last year. so it's lost in almost 11 months, and there was no major success. of course, it's close, but even using the wagner group is notorious, but probably considered to be one of the most capable in december ski l there is no major success. and also if you speak about this russian military, you know, week 2 is sometimes especially within this last months this one will be expected. very tough winter. yes. the rock casualty summer ukrainian soldiers. yes, i hear and i know about many, so it's really cool and tragic. but at the same time, russian sometimes report about over taking the village, which technically has 33 residents, you know, so, you know, mentioning a number of the towns, yes. same pool. and there are people there they left, the towns are destroyed, but really they are really mine the towns nobody would ever heard. so this,

this really shows that it's for russia even like taking a small town at this stage isn't really an easy way. so ukrainians of course, are prepared for larger, larger friends in the dorm bus. and from the russian border. park region was probably, but still there are no like real concerns about, were taking any, you know, a territory which was which was invaded by russia. you know, a year ago, laura mean have ukraine's western allies, including the u. s. defense secretary are raising a lot of concerned about whether they can supply enough ammunition in future. apparently there's even been talk about here artillery units of ukraine needing to ration i. so i think that is where the nature defense ministers have been discussing. now is how to solve that? no. jessica problem i think is the general secretary of nato set. and that will be

key because we can not only count on the level of, of vision on the ukrainian side, and then the determiners of ukrainian soldiers. but they will also needs additional military support and ammunition, that's obvious. italian. some u. s. military experts are saying that it is unrealistic to try to hold back mote. you mentioned that very long and very bloody battle that has been going on. in fact, it is the bloodiest of all the battles so far in this war. so some u. s. military experts are saying, perhaps ukraine needs to concentrate on its own counter offensive and stop seeking to defend. are you seeing any signs that ukrainian leaders are taking that advice and preparing to give up on the city? so from what we understand, of course, we can, and we do not know that much about you know,

the details of the military operations. the whole battle is a very complex process of taking tub decisions by the ukraine army. sometimes they might lose that which might lose the smaller town, but i know that the result was the courses decision to leave when it's necessary. we have examples of it would have been yes, gonna lose the chance with a major towns which were actually lost in the course of this war. and that happened the last time, more or less in may and june of last year. so that might be possible, but it's always been explained by the planned retreat. if it's, if it's necessary, the point of bar codes, what we understand it's pretty strategic so forth. if to a close to open this place, you know, there might be the attack because the for the city, because what we really understand, you know, it's not about the just negotiation of the wheel. it's really very practical and tactical. the for the russians are the less the shelling ukrainian mainland,

the great town, so the ukrainians ought to keep the russians as far as possible. the head of the russian mercenary group, wagner has compared the battle for bach. moved to a meat grinder and clearly thinks that his forces are better prepared to withstand the grinding than their ukrainian opponents or even regular russian troops. yet wagner forces to have taken massive casualties. a battle field and a netscape corpses. as far as the i can see, they are soldiers from the wagner group, a paramilitary organization. many of the fighters are murderers and criminals recruited from russian prisons and sent to war by again the plea, goshen, founder of wagner. and putin confident he promised the convicts freedom if they survived 6 months at the front, apparently with moscow's blessing. b. o m. no good. he of the soldiers have years

of experience fighting. it is probably the most experienced army in the world at the moment. and they perform their duties independently, room up to $50000.00. wagner mercenaries are set to be fighting in ukraine. they are considered extremely ruthless and operate and secret. the group is particularly active around the front bind city of back most their pre gulshan had allegedly recently achieved decisive combat successes and publicly praised his private army for it. however, he claims that he has no political ambitions but pusan does not seem to trust him. the russian military command is now set to be taking the lead in frontline, fighting, relying on its own soldiers. is a power struggle looming in the kremlin? with that question, straight away to you, that emir what do you think ish short answer?

no, there is no power struggle in kremlin or no burrow struggle in criminal yet. but there is growing signs among the rationalists that some parts of the russian that it's, are not happy with the russian ministry of defense in the russian army. and even you, because i'm trying to use the warrens ukraine and so when the very same way as a lead in europe, which uses the orange. it's now 9 to 92000 because for letting me put in, it was a trembling. that was a start of his biggest, but it be good. political, courier, it was a start of his beach for russian president the warranty. and then to name again. but it wasn't positions himself as a very effective, very brutal, very deceased, if needed the leader in the very same base wouldn't, wouldn't use the warranted now 2524 years ago. think ocean, and he gushing, not only control, was the wagner mercenary, gro pit he also has claimed responsibility for the famous internet research agency, the troll a factory. that in fact,

meddled in the us elections in 2016. how powerful does that make him? who, what is interesting about him, he claimed the orange of, of pro fabric anson for his book and claimed do orange of, of wagner group. recently, he came from the shed of the russian politics because eric, his own whole business was in a shed, or he was never admitting that he is an owner of throat from reconsider his book. and the wagner group in the recent beaks and months, he opened lou stent and in the public in saith, yes, it's me yet, it's me. and he is pushing more and more in the russian public is getting more inter with his with his and came self is a kind of public figure in the russian politics. laura, as we heard in the report progression says he has no political ambitions. he's often known as puddings cook, because in fact, that is exactly what he once was or what are western security services hang

about it all, do they see him as a real rival to put in the question and is really whether they would matter or not . if his a real rival or not, it would only matter, i guess if they are, there would be a completely different policy coming along with a new leadership and russia right in new position on ukraine. a change in the cause of the war on the russian side. and i don't think anyone can expect that from him. so therefore, i think it's very reasonable to think about how to support ukraine rather than trying to read at the different lines within the, in fighting on the russian or site and in the russian powerhouse or elite. now the, the u. s. is put our wagner on the terrorism list. it considers frigo gene, a war criminal distinct that makes any difference where it, it will eventually or one day there will be trials. i'm sure and,

and of course the u. s. has a significant arms is sort of vested interest in having him go to court or also because of the manipulations in the u. s. election. so that's another sort of key interest on the you are side both for humans with sound of recognition because in the russian barrel boy in the russian balls struggle. american sanctions is for russian federal to force or one like pre gordon is the sign of recognition shoes. proud to be sanction spoken out of if you proud to do this all this pro, occasions toward earth because of the new russian ideology. reboot or they were, it takes us to bear much the united states. natalia, as i mentioned at yes, please. yeah, i in fact wanted to, to join to a discussion about it because what's interesting, but it's not a power struggle between teaching and pre gordon. but between different groups in the russian military. so progression was famous for criticizing the russian army

and telling like give me the hours and we'll show you that it should be different. that exactly happened in december. but on the wagner joined in the separation of the book, but from what we can say that they're absolutely successful, you know, after the month. so now he's kind of hasn't managed to prove what he was supposed. and the wagner, of course, these 2 types of their people, the former convicts who died and must, and their lead escaping. and of course, the mercenary also has a different we have a different written ability because they're not regular troops because we just usual prisoners of war. there, merson, they're pretty well trained because they fought in syria for the molly elsewhere. but also they proven to be not that good, it doesn't mean the cranium some of die. and again, i should say, we should remind about that that the price, the desk of the price is high for the crane, but still he did manage. so that is quite an interesting period. vladimir the grey

zone, which is a social media platform that is associated in fact with wagner, has castigated russian commanders in the regular army for the losses invalid and also in the region, and called them to be held accountable for their, their public trials. what kind of an influence does that and do the attacks by russian military bloggers on the regular russian forces? what kind of influence does that have on the russian public as a whole? it's not the 1st time that the gentle grades on which belongs to pre collision at taking the russian military command. pre goes in itself, took to the cameras in the morning. i've sort of a john grease on again, on the one of the us military brook, excuse you, in which video she screeches, i think russian army in russian general comment or the birth leadership in the ukraine. it's has huge follower soup in the us of their so called military braga,

which goes dozens and hundreds of thousands of followers. there are people which are embedded with the russian troops on the russian side than the eastern ukraine. and they are quite influential. thoughtful for wanton for 2nd, it's quite important source of knowing about the disconnect mode, the russian part of russian military comments in the ukraine. 2 questions. first of all, could that spark at the military blogger is the grease out? could that spark a higher level of public dissatisfaction with put in and are you seeing a brutalization and perhaps are so a radicalization of public opinion in general? and then there's not a brutalization of public opinion in general. and as of this, the consolidation of the public opinion, the russian, because iran is like patriots, non patriots left. the country are labeled as traitors bait because in itself, because and told the bishop should destroy theaters,

1st of all because of the irrational would stopping us to fight the ukraine. so these nor a declaration in russia, but the very much of consolidation aren't meant in the 1st christian, the route. what was the 1st question i had asked you whether you think it could spark broader dissatisfaction with putting himself non rude will not spark that brother. dissertations would put him because the public opinion, russert doesn't play any watch roles in the political process because the political, it's also considered a bit of a book. but the real been not public protest and public boston gaskin ever put him because her. um, her current portfolio to kroganow. laura, what do you think that the in fighting in the kremlin and the re shuffle of ukraine's military command would mean for the duration of the conflict and are so for putting this future is so i think both sides now are really and dependent on chewing military gains and winds. and everyone is

sort of focused on the spring because we're expecting offensive on the russian side . and also i think there's a great hopes and expectations into you asked that you ukrainians will be able to gain territory and, and will be able to if eventually it gets the negotiations be in a different bargaining position than before. ah, because they're so much support on the military side and human terran, 8 and so on, coming from the west that the ukrainians need to show that their effective and, and, and a successful. i'm so imagining, put in, not making any gains, obviously leads to reduce his power position. i think it would be the same even in an authoritarian regime as it is in democracy for zelinski. i think it counts on both sides and you've withdrew in italy,

delivered thumping to the russian public. verizon. let sir dig deeper on that question with regard to a weapons. as russia and ukraine battle for every metre of land. nato's head has said that the conflict has become a race of logistics. no sooner did a trans atlantic coalition, a sent to kias longstanding plea for battle tanks than key of presented its next request. will ammunition and materiel arrive in time. and what more does ukraine need? tanks, missiles and jets. ukraine needs more weapons to defend itself against russian attacks, and it needs them as soon as possible. the front lines are lacking essentials and everybody's not asking for more ammunition. insufficient ammunition supplies, long delivery times of weapons, and training of ukrainian soldiers. while russians new offensive has long since gotten under weight, nato states are coming under increasing pressure. so yes,

we have a chance. yes, we have a problem. but the problems order to be sold and we are addressing that problem and we have struck the juice to sold with both in the short term muscle, longer term, or to us mobilized defense industry. in other words, nato states must continue to provide arms to ensure ukraine continues to be supplied with weapons. in addition, started back is no longer ruling out. the delivery of fighter jets to ukraine. nato is joining forces. is it enough to put putin on the defensive world? let me put that question straight away to you. natalia, is it enough? it is not enough and it's always a bit too late. and the price of that is the life, both of the civilians and of the military. but to bring this discussion to the point, you know, it's really not, it's of course about the weapon. but for me,

coming from the ground of a journalist who was reporting human rights, i should really say now following the cold for the weapon delivery, i can clearly explain that, you know, neither her son and her son, the region couldn't be liberated without this weapon. no hierarchy region, which is a huge part and the life is returning back to the stones. you know, we were there, we know about, you know, people and months attacked, repressed, killed, tortured, so, and now after some months as the life is, it's not perfect, but it's getting to be normal. so it's doable. also what i also observed myself, you know, i was from, it was very interesting to admit that when we saw the result of the attacks from the high mirth, particularly artillery, you don't, it's very precise. and when you go to the liberated towns where ukrainian,

who's more sophisticated weapons reflect that much less people heard compared to the old fashioned, old fashion, ammunition, the russian, a fighting we've so really the delivery of the weapon was sophisticated weapon 1st makes the life of many many people know we speak about the south and hundreds of thousands people say for the though the russians go, the more they approached, the less they can attack into the ukrainian tones, which is also saving life. so it's not just this competition, you know, it's because even if it's lusting for some months of any type of weapon, really practically said another town. so does a platoon. another group of people. so natalia in a word, what is the single thing that ukraine most needs? now, the munich security conference is getting underway. there will surely be a lot of behind the scenes discussion there. what would be the single most important factor here in this i can just refer to the ukraine in leadership because

they know better what i know it's worth these, this tanks for the future counter offense, which is leads to be possible. and as well steel, air defense and jet is it remains a critical thank you, laura. the battle to tank coalition that german chancellor, olaf schultz worked so hard to hammer out, actually now appears not to be ready to deliver the promised number of battle tanks any time soon. ironically, berlin is actually out in front in this case, which is unusual. our report concluded that nato is joining forces, but how well is it doing so, and where do you think nato goes next? where it needs to deliver? would it promised? and then we can tell her, well, things preceded, it needs to get to quick solutions. now that's obvious and,

and where it's going next. i don't know. i think, commented on that aircraft, the nato secretary general didn't excluded. and they're fighter pilots being trained in the u. k. i think that gives you some kind of an indication. vladimir nato's commander, alara's. secretary general as we heard in the report is doing his best to sound optimistic. but he also said recently he doesn't see putting ending this war anytime soon. me neither nichols, ross is all in. in this world. there's nothing to lose for putting those norie back for him for the russian power loop. so the new 260 some, holly middle grew invested melinda regency. the very do to negotiate on many channels working in the actual, in the current version. there's no rubric for us so so which we will not go to compromise on solving on their groman and in the future. i'm afraid. before we close, let me very briefly pick up on comments that we have received from our youtube

viewers following our last program on ukraine. many of them were highly, highly skeptical of the prospect that negotiating with putin would either be feasible or could end the war. how do you see it very briefly, natalia? are they right? or we have no, any sign of russia ready to negotiate? even it's neither from the rhetoric nor from the actions. laura, i agree. although there's a discussion in germany and many intellectual, it's asking for negotiations. i don't see it being the right time. now. flattery. i'm afraid. no. what's your sense of how long the protein can hold out with this war? i'm afraid, craig, i'm afraid. thank you very much to all of you for being with us for this program. and thanks to all of our viewers do. if you're watching us on youtube,

do send us your comments, please. we'd like very much to hear from you a with

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drawn? the propaganda war for ukraine? russia's warning crane one years since the invasion began. take a look back and into the future. in the new building. slowly in february on d w. ah, ah, this is d w. news, and these are our top stories. ukraine's president has made an urgent plea to accelerate arms deliveries, followed him. is the lensky was speaking to the munich security conference. so lensky says, west and weapons are crucial to defeat what he called the russian goliath. adding that there is no alternative to speech in combating moscow. the war is dominating the.