While Putin creates facts, Berlin gets lost in the plans for the arms deliveries: “Preparations are now in full swing so that this can work. But that doesn’t happen overnight,” government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit announced today.

The statement is surprising in view of the increasingly precarious military situation in Ukraine. If it is known that something like this “does not happen overnight”, shouldn’t we have started earlier? Only now are the preparations in full swing? As a reminder: the delivery has been promised for weeks in some cases (here are all the details).

While Berlin is vague on aid, Ukraine knows exactly what it needs (and consumes):

These figures come from, among others, the deputy head of the Ukrainian military intelligence service Vadym Skibitsky. In addition to 150 artillery systems, according to Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov, Ukraine has received: 50 small-caliber artillery systems, dozens of Soviet-type rocket launchers, hundreds of mortars, hundreds of Soviet-type tanks, about 250 Western armored vehicles, thousands of portable anti-aircraft and anti-tank systems, grenade launchers and hundreds of drones.

Despite this mass of equipment, Ukraine is still hopelessly inferior to Russia in terms of material. Western governments must realize that they will need a great deal more Western help to survive.

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Berlin’s allies take the threats seriously, Germans less so. Why? Some were the victims, others the perpetrators. An analysis.

2. Tsarist conquests: Is this where Putin is revealing his plans for the Baltics?

In a speech, Vladimir Putin alluded to the conquest of Estonia’s Narva in the 18th century. He also wants to “bring back” Russian soil.

3. Germany and the bomb: When even Greens are calling for new nuclear missiles

In the face of Putin’s war of aggression, the debate about Europe’s nuclear armament is gaining new impetus. Surprising alliances emerge. An analysis.

4. Surprising information gap: US intelligence services know more about Putin’s troops than about the Ukrainian army

Kyiv is apparently keeping a low profile on the course of the war towards the Americans, writes the New York Times. That could cause problems.

5. Whistle-blowers predict referendum in Donbass: Occupied regions are supposed to become Russian territory by September

Media reports speak of plans to annex the eastern Ukrainian areas soon. Corresponding key positions are already being filled by Russians.