International Red Cross team was unable to reach Mariupol and will try again tomorrow

German International Minister Annalena Baerbock advised CNN that the accountability for ending the conflict in Ukraine lays firmly on the ft of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“It’s in Putin’s arms. He’s the one who began the conflict with none motive. It’s now his accountability to finish the conflict,” Baerbock advised CNN’s Chief Worldwide Anchor Christiane Amanpour in an unique interview. 

“The brutal actuality is that Putin himself has chosen … to struggle a conflict towards civilians and to struggle a conflict towards the European peace order,” she stated. 

Germany has accepted the supply of 56 kind Pbv 501 fight tanks to Ukraine, in response to a German protection ministry spokesperson Friday. Germany’s elevated protection spending has marked a historic shift within the nation’s overseas coverage. 

Baerbock stated that Germany is providing elevated navy help to the Ukrainian authorities as “we’re in state of affairs the place NATO is standing there in solidarity with Ukraine and alternatively, there may be Russia which has made clear that there isn’t any crimson traces for themselves.”

“We needed to change our course in Germany by 180 levels as a result of Ukraine wanted our navy help; we tried every thing to keep away from this conflict, but it surely was Putin’s resolution to do the alternative and that’s why now we’re additionally delivering weapons to Ukraine,” she stated.

The overseas minister stated that sanctions have been efficient in leaving Putin “completely remoted,” however stated that there are nonetheless robust vitality hyperlinks between Russia and Europe that wanted severing. “The query we’re elevating about fossil fuels, oil, and vitality, Europe is linked with Russia. Due to this fact we’re working each day to section out our fossil gas dependency on Russia,” she advised CNN. 

When requested by Amanpour as to what Putin is saying in diplomatic talks, Baerbock said that the Russian president had “entered into this conflict with a false narrative, with lies. … This unsuitable narrative he has been telling to the world is clearly additionally one thing he believes himself.”

“When my chancellor, when others just like the president of France are chatting with Putin, clearly they’re telling him that he began this conflict with lies, that he broke with worldwide legislation… however he’s clearly not listening to my chancellor, and to different worldwide companions,” she stated.

“The few folks which might be left behind him or round him who can truly communicate to him don’t dare to inform him the reality in regards to the actuality in Ukraine, that his troops will not be being as profitable as they clearly thought previously,” she added.