The United States and the European Union are embarking on new, tougher sanctions against Russia, and the Donbass war has begun. “

In a video conference, Western leaders and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida agreed that “Russia should not win this war in Ukraine.” Said German Chancellor Olaf Scholes (SPD), who attended the summit.

According to Scholes, Putin did not anticipate this strong unity between the West and sanctions would be a “disaster for Russia”. Western nations are ready to continue to support Ukraine financially and militarily, but are reluctant to take part in the war. Germany will continue to supply anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles to Kiev, but the military presence is not infinite. That is why the German Department of Defense is being asked what is possible. Older stock of former Soviet satellites in Eastern Europe is preferred because the Ukrainian military can use them immediately without further training.

UN President Guterres today called for a temporary ceasefire ahead of Easter. Orthodox Easter takes place next Sunday, a week after Catholic Easter. Guterres wants a 4-day humanitarian break from Thursday to Sunday. The tranquility of the fighting makes it possible to evacuate civilians and send humanitarian aid to severely affected areas. Guterres also hopes that the breakup will resume diplomatic talks. The UN says more than 12 million people in Ukraine are already in need of humanitarian assistance. It could rise to about 16 million, about 40 percent of Ukraine’s remaining population, according to the UN.