Die Lage im Überblick: Wadephul erwartet Sieg - und Putin eine Niederlage Kiews

After nearly four and a half years of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin still expects a Ukrainian defeat in Moscow. However, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul believes that Ukraine is on a clear path to victory during another visit to the country. "Putin must know that, together with their supporters, Ukraine has the longer breath on the way to the real goal: finally peace," Wadephul said in Kiev.

Whether the war will end, is a crucial question for the future of Europe. "And it must end so that the rule of law prevails, not the strength of the strong", the minister said. Following massive Russian airstrikes with many killed Ukrainian civilians - as recently in Krywyj Rih, where 16 people died in a Russian drone strike on a shopping center and around 130 were injured - Ukraine primarily demands more Western assistance in air defense.

Selenskyj needs Patriots - Wadephul will take care of it. Ukrainian officials have long been begging the Allies to deliver additional Patriot anti-missile systems - so far without success. Wadephul said he would try again next week to move allies to deliver Patriots. "The urgency of supporting Ukraine with more air defense systems becomes even clearer here," he said in Kiev.

Possible suppliers include Greece, Italy, Japan, and South Korea. The Bundeswehr has already delivered five systems to Ukraine and sees no possibility of supplying from its own stocks. The Bundeswehr has mobilized everything possible and has reached its reserves, Wadephul said. However, he suggested that Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) review the reserves again.

Wadephul is still in Ukraine, his further program was not published. Putin threatens Kiev with retaliation: "Pandora's box" opened For the first time since massive Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian oil refineries and logistics centers, Kremlin leader Putin said in an interview with Moscow's state TV that Russia would respond sharply.

Ukraine had opened "Pandora's box" with attacks on Russia's economy, Kiev had provoked the "spirit from the bottle" itself. "The countermeasures will not wait long," he said. Ultra-nationalist circles in Russia recently urged Putin to proceed harder against Ukraine. Now he said: "The actions of the Russian army will become even more noticeable and destructive."

Ukraine has provoked this response, Putin claimed, who had started the invasion against the neighboring country almost four and a half years ago. In recent weeks, Russia has increasingly used ballistic missiles against Ukraine - knowing that the country has almost no missile interceptors left to defend itself. These strikes, in which so many civilians have been killed for the first time in a long time, Putin described as fitting and effective.

He said they had helped Russian soldiers on the front line fulfill their tasks. Putin and Medvedev demonstrated in a recent Kremlin party that they are certain of victory in the war. "Russia will recapture more territories. Our brave army confirms this time and again," Medvedev said, who is also the deputy chief of the national security council.

The Ukraine was described by Putin as a disappearing "phantom land" that had already lost 20 percent of its territory. Despite massive losses, the Russian military has not managed to make large territorial gains in Ukraine for many months. The country is moving towards victory despite unprecedented external pressure, Medvedev further stated.

Putin said in an interview with Pawel Sarubin, his personal house and court reporter, that Ukraine had recently made "exotic proposals" for a peace settlement. The Kremlin leader rejected these ideas presented through intermediaries without naming them, in order to prevent what he called a "catastrophic development" for Ukraine.

A dialogue on a peace settlement is only possible on the basis of the situation on the ground, he said.