21.08.2022
Ukraine war in the live ticker
+++ 03:07 Kretschmer insists on fracking in Germany +++
Saxony’s Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer is calling for German fracking gas to be promoted as a substitute for Russian natural gas. “I’ve always been critical of dependency on other countries. That’s why Germany now has to weigh everything that we have in our country in terms of resources,” the CDU politician told the “Tagesspiegel”. “For the gas power plant, it doesn’t matter whether we use LNG gas from the USA, pipeline gas from Russia or fracking gas from Germany. Only the price differs enormously.” He rejects an opening of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. The offer by Russian President Vladimir Putin to use them to transport gas to Germany is “a poisoned offer”.
+++ 02:03 Ukraine expects increased attacks +++
The Ukrainian government expects increased Russian attacks ahead of the August 24 celebrations of Ukraine’s Independence Day. “We must all be aware that this week Russia could try to do something particularly ugly, something particularly evil,” said President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in his evening video address. Ukrainians should not allow Moscow to spread despondency and fear around the 31st anniversary of independence from Soviet rule. August 24th also marks the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine 6 months ago.
+++ 01:12 climate economist proposes direct payments because of gas prices +++
The director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and climate economist, Ottmar Edenhofer, criticizes the planned reduction in VAT on gas as not effective. This is “the wrong way, because it lowers the price of gas and thus counteracts the urgently needed saving of gas,” says Edenhofer of the Funke media group. “Direct payments make much more sense.” Above all, people with low incomes should now be relieved of high gas prices, says the climate economist. The lower middle class will feel significant strains.
+++ 00:20 Selenskyj appeals to Ukrainians after six months of war +++
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on his compatriots to unite in view of the almost half-year fight against the Russian invasion. “We have to fight for Ukraine’s victory, there is still a lot to do, we have to stand up and endure a lot, unfortunately also a lot of pain,” said Zelenskyj in a video message distributed on Saturday evening.
+++ 23:30 Turkey sees no Russian violations of sanctions +++
Despite a warning from the United States, Turkey sees no violation of Western sanctions aimed at Russia in the Ukraine war. According to the Turkish Ministry of Finance, Turkey has extensive economic and political ties with Russia and Ukraine. The government in Ankara will not allow the sanctions to be violated. US Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo had previously said Russia was trying to circumvent Western sanctions over Turkey.
+++ 10:16 p.m. Energy price forecast: many millions of Britons may have to freeze in winter +++
Millions of Britons may face a frigid winter. A new forecast assumes that electricity and gas prices will triple in the coming year. According to the consulting firm Auxilione, the state price cap for electricity and gas for an average household will be raised to around 7,000 euros by April. The cap for the annual energy bill is currently around 2350 euros and is already considerably higher than last autumn. How much the energy bill may rise from October is to be announced in the coming week. Millions of households will probably only be able to heat to a limited extent in winter because they cannot afford the high costs. The health service provider NHS Confederations has warned of health risks for large parts of the population and called on the government to act.
+++ 21:36 Russia: Ukrainian artillery hits nuclear power plant +++
According to the occupying authorities, the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, which was occupied by Russian troops, was again subjected to artillery fire by Ukrainian forces. According to a statement from the Russian military administration in the city of Enerhodar, where Europe’s largest nuclear power plant is located, no critical objects were hit. The NATO ammunition was fired from the opposite bank of the Dnipro River and hit the site of the nuclear power plant – in the immediate vicinity of an administrative building. Four bullets were registered.
Earlier developments surrounding the Ukraine war read here.