WEBVTT 00:00:00.017 --> 00:00:04.137 What happens when talks of peace turn into mere propaganda? When the West turns 00:00:04.137 --> 00:00:07.077 a blind eye and leaves Ukraine with nothing but empty promises? 00:00:07.617 --> 00:00:11.337 In this episode of In Crisis Mode, you'll hear voices from Ukraine. 00:00:11.577 --> 00:00:17.717 A journalist, a diplomat, former Ukrainian ambassador Andriy Melnyk, a soldier and a medic. 00:00:18.217 --> 00:00:21.277 It's about weapons, disappointment and the struggle to keep going. 00:00:21.437 --> 00:00:27.477 For many people, the daily statements from the Trump administration are just 00:00:27.477 --> 00:00:29.317 meme in Twitter or Facebook. 00:00:30.217 --> 00:00:35.837 But for us, it's life, it's our lives and the lives of Ukrainians. 00:00:35.920 --> 00:00:49.520 Music. 00:00:40.217 --> 00:00:45.217 In Crisis Mode, the podcast from Conflict Zones with Jan Jessen. 00:00:48.437 --> 00:00:53.897 Hello and welcome to a new episode. I'm Jan Jessen, a war and crisis reporter 00:00:53.897 --> 00:00:57.817 for the Funko Media Group. Du findestest meine Informationen in den Hamburger 00:00:57.817 --> 00:01:00.417 Abendblatt und den Berliner Morgenpost. 00:01:00.697 --> 00:01:03.457 Ein paar Wochen vorhin, ich war in der Ukraine in der Ukraine, 00:01:03.757 --> 00:01:05.857 observing die Situation in der Front. 00:01:06.057 --> 00:01:11.137 Ich sah die Soldaten und Städte, sprach mit Soldaten über ihre Erwartungen für 00:01:11.137 --> 00:01:15.737 dieses Jahr, und, ja, es ist klar, dass Peace ist noch ein distantes Traum. 00:01:15.957 --> 00:01:18.097 Die Krieg weiterentwickelt. 00:01:18.617 --> 00:01:22.517 Wir sind jetzt in der vierte Jahre dieser Krieg, und, obwohl die Aufmerksamkeit 00:01:22.517 --> 00:01:28.037 von den US-Diplomaten, It shows no signs of ending. It's not a frozen conflict. 00:01:28.437 --> 00:01:33.917 Russian forces continue their attacks, in fact, more intensely than half a year ago. 00:01:34.317 --> 00:01:39.417 Major offensives are expected this spring. This war is alive, and it kills. 00:01:39.677 --> 00:01:42.497 It takes the lives of countless soldiers at the front. 00:01:42.917 --> 00:01:47.377 That's always the most heartbreaking part of my visits. Watching the graveyards 00:01:47.377 --> 00:01:52.417 grow, filled with flags marking the fallen of Ukraine and the military units 00:01:52.417 --> 00:01:57.717 they served in. Diese Graveyards keep expanding, aber die Zivilisten sind auch. 00:01:58.117 --> 00:02:01.597 In April alone, zwei major Russian attacks occurred. 00:02:01.917 --> 00:02:06.777 Eine in Krevyry, Präsident Zelensky's hometown, wo 18 Zivilisten waren, 00:02:07.117 --> 00:02:12.777 und eine in Sumy, eine Stadt neben dem Russland, wo 37 Menschen in mid-April died. 00:02:12.777 --> 00:02:17.017 During Easter, Russia announced a unilateral 30-hour ceasefire. 00:02:17.277 --> 00:02:21.217 Aber die Schelling never stopped. Some areas quieted down briefly, 00:02:21.217 --> 00:02:27.837 aber noch nicht nur gegen die Militär-Target, sondern auch gegen die Zivilisten. 00:02:28.357 --> 00:02:33.617 In response, Präsident Zelenskyy proposed ein 30-Jähriger für die Zivilisten, 00:02:33.977 --> 00:02:37.497 eine gestür, die unanswered ist, von Russland und den USA. 00:02:38.217 --> 00:02:44.117 Und so, die Krieg ist auf. Die Ukraine in der Ukraine sind, understandlich, war-weary. 00:02:44.377 --> 00:02:46.577 Everyone I speak to is tired. 00:02:47.017 --> 00:02:51.837 A cloud of resignation hangs over die Land. Die Situation at the Front ist dire. 00:02:52.457 --> 00:02:55.237 Russische Forces-Avanz-Daily-Capturierterritory. 00:02:55.934 --> 00:02:59.834 Ukrainian troops try to hold on, but the exhaustion is deep. 00:03:00.214 --> 00:03:05.634 People desperately want the war to end. But the big question is, how will it end? 00:03:06.074 --> 00:03:09.714 And what do people really think about the so-called peace initiatives, 00:03:10.054 --> 00:03:12.034 such as those proposed by the US? 00:03:12.634 --> 00:03:18.574 I talked to several people about this, including journalist Artem Lysak, who lives in Kiev. 00:03:18.574 --> 00:03:24.394 Er hat sich die 2014 Maiden-Protests gesehen, die Annexation von Crimea und 00:03:24.394 --> 00:03:29.334 die 2014-Ware und die 2022-Full-Scale-Invasion. 00:03:29.374 --> 00:03:31.654 Er represents eine ganze Generation. 00:03:31.914 --> 00:03:38.294 Sometimes I open my Facebook friends page und I can count how many of them are 00:03:38.294 --> 00:03:41.594 no longer alive, because of the war, of course. 00:03:41.774 --> 00:03:45.654 Artem, whom I met a few months ago, now works with us as a Fixer, 00:03:45.914 --> 00:03:49.794 someone who knows the area inside out. Er hilft, plan unsere reporting-trips, 00:03:50.134 --> 00:03:53.534 erhältst du Zugang, und erhältst als unsere Translator. 00:03:53.574 --> 00:03:56.974 Er hat auch gearbeitet für major international media, wie Sky News, 00:03:57.114 --> 00:04:00.494 und hat über ein Jahr unter der Karte auf den Russland-Occupied Crimea, 00:04:00.554 --> 00:04:03.074 bis er wurde briefly arrested und verabschiedelt. 00:04:03.194 --> 00:04:05.714 Er ist ein brave und starkes Engageer Mensch. 00:04:05.934 --> 00:04:09.314 Wenn Artem sagt, dass sie mit Russland sind eine farce sind, 00:04:09.534 --> 00:04:11.914 ist nicht cynicism, es experience. 00:04:12.194 --> 00:04:16.794 Er ist zwischen US und Russland, ich denke, es ist einfach eine farce. 00:04:16.794 --> 00:04:23.254 You know, all the Russian propaganda cliché now are going from White House. 00:04:23.974 --> 00:04:29.614 I mean, it turns out negotiation just means listening to Russia and repeating its talking points. 00:04:29.814 --> 00:04:34.714 Another key voice in this episode is Andrei Melnik, the former Ukrainian ambassador to Germany. 00:04:34.954 --> 00:04:38.194 You might remember him as someone known for speaking undiplomatically, 00:04:38.554 --> 00:04:43.094 especially when criticizing Germany's hesitancy to deliver weapons to Ukraine. 00:04:43.094 --> 00:04:46.534 His tweets and statements were blunt and stirred controversy, 00:04:46.794 --> 00:04:49.254 but they also highlighted real policy failures. 00:04:49.994 --> 00:04:54.854 Currently ambassador to Brazil, Melnick will soon move to the United Nations in New York. 00:04:55.534 --> 00:05:06.994 He shares Artem's views. Putin follows a perfide strategy, maximum demands presented 00:05:06.994 --> 00:05:10.294 as compromise while secretly intensifying warfare. 00:05:13.094 --> 00:05:20.194 Zu verkaufen. Und heimlich, Kriegshandlungen intensivieren immer neue Drohkulissen aufbauen. 00:05:20.194 --> 00:05:24.914 Putin, he says, uses a calculated and devious negotiation strategy, 00:05:25.154 --> 00:05:28.754 making impossible demands while secretly escalating the war. 00:05:29.034 --> 00:05:33.614 Russia insists on keeping annexed regions, even those it hasn't fully captured, 00:05:33.914 --> 00:05:39.294 like Zaporizhia, Kherson, Luhansk, Donetsk, and of course Crimea. 00:05:39.794 --> 00:05:44.174 Every time Ukraine proposes a peace plan, Russia Russia ignores es. 00:05:44.354 --> 00:05:48.594 Meanwhile, Trump-Administration klaims it could end the war within 24 hours. 00:05:48.954 --> 00:05:51.914 But its rhetoric mirrors Russian talking points. 00:05:52.846 --> 00:05:57.306 US Special Envoys nun sogar suggest Ukraine might have to give up land, 00:05:57.686 --> 00:06:02.126 especially Russian-speaking areas, which is a harmful oversimplification. 00:06:02.466 --> 00:06:05.286 Trump goes so far as to blame Ukraine for the war. 00:06:05.546 --> 00:06:10.846 This makes true negotiations almost impossible, and incredibly easy for Russia to exploit. 00:06:11.266 --> 00:06:16.886 Melnick has clear demands. He wants Germany to act, not symbolically, but effectively. 00:06:17.386 --> 00:06:22.866 To be fair, Germany has become Ukraine's second most important partner, after the US. 00:06:23.366 --> 00:06:26.826 It has supplied valuable systems like the GPARD anti-aircraft tank, 00:06:27.086 --> 00:06:33.466 the Iris T air defense system, self-propelled howitzers, Leopard 2 tanks and artillery. 00:06:33.846 --> 00:06:35.946 But Melnick says it's still not enough. 00:06:38.906 --> 00:06:43.166 This means that the new Chancellor Merz should announce a new course on May 00:06:43.166 --> 00:06:44.806 6, the day he takes office. 00:06:45.526 --> 00:06:50.626 On the one hand, to massively increase arms deliveries to Ukraine in close coordination 00:06:50.626 --> 00:06:52.026 mit europäischen Partnern. 00:06:52.406 --> 00:06:55.926 Auf der anderen Seite, zu tightenen Sanktions auf Russland significantly. 00:06:56.346 --> 00:07:00.926 Das includes ein complete hold zu imports von russischen LNG-Gas. 00:07:00.966 --> 00:07:04.966 Es includes cutting all russischen Banken aus von der SWIFT-System. 00:07:05.066 --> 00:07:12.006 Es also includes ein total ban auf russischen government bonds auf EU-stock-exchanges und viel mehr. 00:07:12.606 --> 00:07:17.266 Wenn Chancellor Merz takes diese bold steps, believe me, he will automatically 00:07:17.266 --> 00:07:23.426 be invited to the negotiation table. because he will be holding incredibly strong leverage. 00:07:23.886 --> 00:07:26.006 Leverage that can help stop the war. 00:07:28.166 --> 00:07:31.806 Relations with Germany have improved, but the core issue remains. 00:07:32.286 --> 00:07:37.186 Everything took too long. We debated for months whether to send the PZH 2,000 00:07:37.186 --> 00:07:39.346 howitzer or Leopard 2 tanks. 00:07:39.946 --> 00:07:44.346 The fear was always the same, that Germany would be seen as a party to the war, 00:07:44.606 --> 00:07:48.406 that if we sent heavy weapons, Putin would consider it a red line. 00:07:48.406 --> 00:07:50.886 Es gab keine Angst, dass Deutschland selbst hätte. 00:07:51.686 --> 00:07:57.126 Aber diese Angst wurden unfounded. Ein Beispiel ist die Taurus-Missile-System. 00:07:57.406 --> 00:08:01.966 A long-range cruise-missile, similar zu Franz's Scalp oder Briten's Storm Shadow, 00:08:02.266 --> 00:08:05.886 Ukraine desperately needs diese Weapons zu streiten hinter Russian lines, 00:08:05.946 --> 00:08:09.286 zu cut-off Supply-Routes und weaken Frontline-Forses. 00:08:09.466 --> 00:08:13.186 Aber, wiederum, die argument gegen den Leveren ist die gleiche. 00:08:13.286 --> 00:08:17.846 Wir könnten ein Party für die Worte. Ich glaube, das Argument ist nonsensisch. 00:08:17.846 --> 00:08:20.006 Und ich glaube, Deutschland könnte viel mehr haben. 00:08:20.406 --> 00:08:24.526 Und es würde wirklich helfen, wenn Deutschland, mit anderen Westernen Partnern, 00:08:24.826 --> 00:08:28.186 hat sich die Ukraine von Anfang an unterstützt, mit dem es geplant hat, 00:08:28.386 --> 00:08:31.546 was es geplant hat, was es geplant hat, und was es geplant hat militärisch, 00:08:31.546 --> 00:08:32.786 zu stabilisieren die Fronten. 00:08:33.006 --> 00:08:37.026 Das ist auch an die Sanktionen. Die Fakt, dass die Menschen in Deutschland jetzt 00:08:37.026 --> 00:08:41.386 wieder einmal die Möglichkeit der Reaktivation von Nord Stream 2 ist natürlich 00:08:41.386 --> 00:08:43.586 nicht helfen, die Ukraine's negotiating position. 00:08:44.583 --> 00:08:48.503 One person who's experiencing the full brutality of this war is Mitya. 00:08:48.923 --> 00:08:52.783 He's a soldier stationed in the Donbas, near Kostyantinivka. 00:08:53.243 --> 00:08:57.643 I've mentioned Mitya in the podcast a few times before. He used to work as a 00:08:57.643 --> 00:08:59.783 fixer for us until he was drafted last year. 00:09:00.163 --> 00:09:04.403 Now he's with the 28th Brigade, stationed at one of the hot zones along the front. 00:09:04.783 --> 00:09:08.123 I talk to him regularly about how he's doing and what his thoughts are. 00:09:08.463 --> 00:09:13.083 I recently spoke to him again, and he shared his views on the current situation. 00:09:13.823 --> 00:09:19.963 His words are powerful and moving. Behind every statistic, there's a family, a story. 00:09:20.223 --> 00:09:26.323 The situation in the area of responsibility of my unit is very difficult, I would say. 00:09:26.623 --> 00:09:32.103 And not because Russians are, I don't know, swiftly advancing or something. 00:09:32.263 --> 00:09:36.123 They do not, but the cost we pay for holding them back is very high. 00:09:36.483 --> 00:09:40.803 And it's not only the raw numbers of casualties or something, 00:09:40.803 --> 00:09:49.223 aber die damage sie inflicting, wie bei jedem Soldaten, denn behind jedem Soldaten sind Familien. 00:09:49.563 --> 00:09:53.303 Als ich schon erwähnt, Mitya war ein Fixer und Journalist. 00:09:53.503 --> 00:09:57.683 Recently, er hat sich wirklich zufrieden. Er hat sich immer wieder in die Welt 00:09:57.683 --> 00:10:00.503 geblieben, besonders seit er als Teil einer Kombat-Unit. 00:10:00.663 --> 00:10:05.123 Er hat noch nicht auf die Front-Line gearbeitet, was er nennt, wie der Meat Grinder. 00:10:05.703 --> 00:10:09.283 Er hat sich die Situation neben den Front-Linen als verrückt, 00:10:09.283 --> 00:10:13.923 mit Drones constantly in the sky, making movement nearly impossible. 00:10:14.749 --> 00:10:17.909 Mitja fears he might soon be sent directly into the thick of battle, 00:10:18.109 --> 00:10:22.069 and I had the impression he's been teetering on the edge of depression in recent weeks. 00:10:22.269 --> 00:10:27.269 Right now there are just dozens of drones simultaneously in the air, 00:10:27.489 --> 00:10:32.289 so it is almost impossible to make some sneak moves. 00:10:33.069 --> 00:10:37.229 You cannot sneak in or sneak out from the frontline positions. 00:10:38.429 --> 00:10:44.889 You almost can't do that. Ich weiß nicht, wir müssen etwas zu erreichen, um wieder zu kommen. 00:10:46.009 --> 00:10:49.529 Otherwise, it becomes increasingly difficult to reach the front, 00:10:49.729 --> 00:10:54.149 because drones are also present in nearby towns, attacking anything that moves. 00:10:54.449 --> 00:10:59.649 The Russians even use decoy drones, which land and wait, sometimes at bus stops, 00:10:59.869 --> 00:11:02.049 before launching attacks on passing vehicles. 00:11:02.289 --> 00:11:07.229 They target everything, civilian cars, military vehicles, even ambulances. 00:11:07.509 --> 00:11:09.709 The battlefield is now completely transparent. 00:11:10.349 --> 00:11:15.149 As Mitya said, it's almost impossible to move without being seen by surveillance 00:11:15.149 --> 00:11:20.169 drones and then attacked, whether by kamikaze drones or those dropping explosives. 00:11:20.529 --> 00:11:24.649 This also makes it incredibly hard for us as journalists to report from the front. 00:11:25.109 --> 00:11:27.389 Coverage is becoming more dangerous and limited. 00:11:27.929 --> 00:11:31.969 Another person we've spoken about on this podcast is Katerina Krapisnikova, 00:11:32.109 --> 00:11:34.529 a combat medic in the 47th Brigade. 00:11:34.529 --> 00:11:38.329 You might remember her story, especially that of her fiancé, 00:11:38.529 --> 00:11:42.989 Oleg, who was also in the 47th and died in February of last year. 00:11:43.229 --> 00:11:47.489 His death was a devastating blow to her. She once shared the story of their 00:11:47.489 --> 00:11:50.689 relationship with me. It was deeply emotional and moving. 00:11:51.229 --> 00:11:55.169 Katerina has seen countless wounded soldiers, not all of whom she was able to 00:11:55.169 --> 00:11:58.149 save, but she keeps going every day. 00:11:58.389 --> 00:12:03.349 One of the main challenges, though, for us as the casualty care providers ist 00:12:03.349 --> 00:12:06.369 die Qualität der Evacuation Routen. 00:12:07.209 --> 00:12:12.229 Die Risky-Konditionen der Tracks der Evacke mehr oftmals, also in der Zeit. 00:12:13.109 --> 00:12:14.909 Für die nächsten Casualty Extraction. 00:12:15.641 --> 00:12:19.661 Wir brauchen die Verhäuer-Vehäu-Vehäu-Vehäu-Vehäu. Was Katarina describes mirrors 00:12:19.661 --> 00:12:23.181 what Mitya says. Russian drones attack everything. 00:12:23.761 --> 00:12:27.301 Evacuation teams, medical vehicles, field hospitals. 00:12:27.741 --> 00:12:32.341 The rules of war, like the Geneva Conventions, seem to hold no weight here. 00:12:32.741 --> 00:12:35.661 Even vehicles marked with a Red Cross are not spared. 00:12:36.001 --> 00:12:40.061 This makes the situation incredibly dangerous for field medics like Katarina. 00:12:40.061 --> 00:12:46.161 Adding to this, under the Trump administration, USAID, America's International 00:12:46.161 --> 00:12:49.601 Development Agency, has been effectively dismantled. 00:12:49.821 --> 00:12:54.641 Billions in aid have been cut, affecting not only Africa, where many now suffer 00:12:54.641 --> 00:12:58.101 due to lack of humanitarian assistance, but also Ukraine. 00:12:58.961 --> 00:13:03.821 USAID had supported countless people in frontline towns, funding organizations 00:13:03.821 --> 00:13:08.201 that delivered food, helped evacuate civilians, and provided medical care. 00:13:08.201 --> 00:13:10.701 Das Unterstützung ist jetzt nicht mehr. 00:13:10.741 --> 00:13:15.201 Es ist eine falsche Realität, eine der sich die Ukraine weiter auf die Defensive 00:13:15.201 --> 00:13:18.681 auf und schaffst die öffentliche Morale. Menschen fühlen sich abandone, 00:13:19.001 --> 00:13:23.401 insbesondere von den USA, obwohl Europa weiterhin stand bei Ukraine. 00:13:23.621 --> 00:13:25.581 Diese Entwicklungen sind sehr schwierig. 00:13:25.921 --> 00:13:28.501 Viele haben sich überrascht was, wenn Trump wieder zurückkehlt, 00:13:28.981 --> 00:13:30.961 aber niemand expected es zu sein. 00:13:31.921 --> 00:13:36.381 Alle ich in der Ukraine gesprochen habe sagt das gleiche. Peace can only be 00:13:36.381 --> 00:13:41.261 achieved if the West acts decisively, and more decisively, than it has so far. 00:13:41.701 --> 00:13:46.381 With the US stepping back as a reliable partner, the responsibility falls more 00:13:46.381 --> 00:13:49.641 heavily on Europe, and on other willing nations like Australia, 00:13:50.141 --> 00:13:52.841 Japan, South Korea, and Canada. 00:13:53.401 --> 00:13:58.001 Ukraine still needs weapons. It needs long-range weapons, artillery ammunition, 00:13:58.621 --> 00:14:02.661 air defense systems to protect cities and prevent tragedies wie in Sumy, 00:14:02.921 --> 00:14:07.221 Krivye-Ri und elsewhere, wo viele civilians haben in Russland airstrikes. 00:14:07.541 --> 00:14:11.981 Ukraine braucht humanitarian support und, above all, diplomatische backing. 00:14:12.940 --> 00:14:16.540 What the Americans are currently doing, repeating the Russian narrative, 00:14:17.000 --> 00:14:18.360 is simply unacceptable. 00:14:19.140 --> 00:14:23.280 Suggesting that Ukraine is to blame for the war, or that it could have prevented 00:14:23.280 --> 00:14:28.440 it, or should now give up everything Russia has taken, is not a basis for negotiations. 00:14:28.940 --> 00:14:33.040 Real negotiations involve both sides starting with maximal demands, 00:14:33.540 --> 00:14:34.840 and then meeting in the middle. 00:14:35.200 --> 00:14:39.060 But the way the US is currently engaging makes that impossible. 00:14:39.060 --> 00:14:43.040 Und sicherlich, die Russen nicht interessiert werden, in die Krieg zu Endeffekten. 00:14:44.240 --> 00:14:48.820 Putin ist so-called »Easter Ceasefire«, wurde verletzendlich verletzend, 00:14:48.820 --> 00:14:51.340 mit continuedem Schelling und Angriffen von der Front. 00:14:51.540 --> 00:14:57.600 Das zeigt, dass eine gewisse Interesse in der Krieg ist. Diese Krieg ist real. Es ist nicht frozen. 00:14:57.900 --> 00:14:59.900 Es ist blöde und aufgehört. 00:15:00.240 --> 00:15:02.660 Lives sind immer wieder verloren. Die Menschen sind immer wieder verloren. 00:15:03.240 --> 00:15:08.220 Die Ukrainien sind tired. Sie wollen nicht endlich fighten, aber sie wollen zu hören. 00:15:10.200 --> 00:15:17.540 Das war M. Kreisen Modus, der Podcast, von Alexander Baumeister, 00:15:17.960 --> 00:15:22.040 Journalist und Radio Editor auf die Funky Media Group. 00:15:22.540 --> 00:15:27.840 Wenn du nicht mehr so interessiert, folgt uns auf Spotify, Apple Podcasts oder wo du listen. 00:15:28.040 --> 00:15:31.900 Für die Frage und Fragen sind willkommen an chrisenmodus.de. 00:15:32.300 --> 00:15:35.600 Bis zum nächsten Mal. Take care. Bye-bye. 00:15:36.400 --> 00:15:54.888 Music.