标签： Europe

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has issued an urgent appeal to Western allies for accelerated deliveries of air defense missiles, revealing that several critical defense systems had been completely depleted until a recent shipment arrived on Friday. Speaking against a backdrop of relentless Russian bombardment targeting energy infrastructure, Zelensky characterized current Western supplies as “insufficient” despite the day’s “substantial package” of missiles.

The president’s stark warning comes as Ukraine endures one of its most severe humanitarian crises since the invasion began. With temperatures plunging to -19°C (-2°F), thousands of civilians across multiple regions face life-threatening conditions without heating or electricity. Kyiv’s mayor announced extended school closures through February while implementing emergency measures to address what he described as the capital’s first complete heating collapse and “huge electricity shortage” of the war.

Zelensky emphasized that missile deliveries don’t guarantee immediate relief: “It doesn’t mean that winter will end for us tomorrow. And it doesn’t mean that tomorrow the enemy will stop bombing us.” He criticized nations stockpiling ammunition while Ukraine fights for survival, stating pointedly: “If we are at war, we really need it. And in some countries, there is no war.”

The energy crisis has prompted drastic government actions, including a declared state of emergency in the energy sector and the appointment of former Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal as energy minister. Officials accuse Moscow of deliberately exploiting extreme winter conditions as a weapon, with Shmyhal telling parliament Russia was “betting it can break us through energy terror.”

Amid the devastation, thousands of energy workers race against time to repair bombarded plants and substations. Kyiv has eased curfews to allow residents access to emergency heating hubs, while officials previously suggested civilians consider temporarily relocating to conserve resources.

In a parallel development, Zelensky revealed Ukrainian negotiators were en route to the United States for ceasefire discussions, potentially culminating in agreements during next week’s World Economic Forum in Davos if American counterparts agree to finalized terms.

Meanwhile, Russian strikes continued through Friday, killing two people in the central city of Nikopol as intelligence warnings indicated preparations for larger-scale attacks loom.

Across European capitals, exiled Iranians are mobilizing in sustained protests against Tehran’s theocratic regime, channeling collective fury over its violent suppression of domestic demonstrations. The movement has taken particular root in Berlin, home to one of Europe’s largest Iranian expatriate communities, where daily rallies amplify demands for regime change.

At the forefront are women like Anahita Safarnejad, 34, who seven years ago fled Iran for academic pursuits but now divides her time between bartending and activism. From atop a moving truck during a recent Berlin march, she galvanized hundreds with chants of ‘No more dictatorship in Iran, the mullahs must go!’—a sentiment reverberating through Iranian diasporas from London to Paris.

The protests erupt against a grim backdrop: Iran’s regime has imposed near-total internet blackouts and communication restrictions, severing exiles from relatives amid reports of thousands killed in crackdowns. This information vacuum fuels agonizing uncertainty, with participants like Safarnejad scouring social media for glimpses of missing family members among casualty footage.

Beyond street demonstrations, cultural hubs like Berlin’s Hedayat Cafe have evolved into informal sanctuaries for processing trauma. Proprietor Mehregan Maroufi, daughter of late Iranian author Abbas Maroufi, observes that many patrons are too overwhelmed for conversation yet find solace in shared presence. Her establishment serves as both refuge and incubator for political visions of post-theocratic Iran.

Those visions remain fractious. While protesters universally demand an end to clerical rule, proposed alternatives range from constitutional monarchy under Reza Pahlavi (son of the deposed shah) to decentralized parliamentary models. This ideological diversity reflects deeper debates about avoiding personality cults and ensuring inclusive representation in any future government.

Despite diverging on endpoints, protesters unite in immediate demands: restoring communication channels, ending state violence, and establishing democratic governance. Their sustained mobilization—fueled equally by hope and horror—signals a pivotal moment in four decades of opposition from abroad.

In a significant act of historical restitution, Germany has formally repatriated two small fragments of the renowned Bayeux Tapestry to France. The pieces of unembroidered linen fabric, each measuring just a few centimeters, were stolen during the Nazi occupation of France in 1941.

The fragments were discovered unexpectedly in 2023 by historians conducting an inventory at the state archives in Schleswig-Holstein, northern Germany. They were found among the collection of the late German textile specialist Karl Schlabow, preserved on a glass plate with identifying documentation. Schlabow, who died in 1984, had been sent to Bayeux as part of a Nazi SS research team studying Germany’s so-called ‘ancestral heritage’—a project steeped in racist and antisemitic ideology.

Rainer Hering, head of the Schleswig-Holstein archive, presented the fragments to the mayor of Bayeux on Thursday, stating it was ‘obvious’ that these culturally significant artifacts, taken by the Nazis 85 years earlier, must be returned to France. The fragments are believed to have been removed from the underside of the tapestry.

The Bayeux Tapestry itself is a massive 70-meter (230-foot) embroidery that vividly depicts the Norman conquest of England in 1066, including William the Conqueror’s seizure of the English throne from Harold Godwinson at the Battle of Hastings. The work features 58 scenes spanning two decades of history, with 626 characters and 202 horses.

This restitution comes as the complete tapestry prepares for a controversial loan to the British Museum in London scheduled for September. The move has faced substantial opposition, with over 77,000 people signing a petition citing the artwork’s fragility. Prominent UK artist David Hockney has called the transportation plan ‘madness,’ asserting that ‘some things are too precious to take a risk with.’

In response, the British Museum has vowed to implement stringent protective measures, backed by an unprecedented £800 million insurance policy from the UK government. Recognized for its immense historical value to both British and French heritage, the Bayeux Tapestry was inscribed on UNESCO’s ‘Memory of the World’ register in 2007.

KYIV, Ukraine — Ukraine’s energy infrastructure has sustained devastating damage from systematic Russian attacks, with not a single power plant remaining unscathed since the full-scale invasion began, Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal revealed Friday. The intensification of aerial bombardments during extreme winter conditions has plunged hundreds of thousands into darkness and cold amid temperatures dropping to -18°C (-0.4°F).

Addressing Parliament, Shmyhal characterized the situation as historically unprecedented, detailing that Russian forces executed 612 targeted strikes against energy facilities throughout the past year. This strategic targeting of critical infrastructure represents what Ukrainian officials describe as Moscow’s deliberate ‘weaponization of winter’ to break national resistance.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy concurrently highlighted the critical challenges in securing air defense missiles, disclosing that some systems had been completely depleted until a fresh shipment arrived Friday morning. The acquisition process remains fraught with diplomatic complexities due to allied nations’ stockpile limitations and legal restrictions.

‘Amid warfare, what significance do these regulations hold when we desperately require these missiles?’ Zelenskyy questioned during a Kyiv news conference with Czech President Petr Pavel.

The humanitarian impact has reached crisis proportions. Jaime Wah of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies described this as ‘the hardest winter since the conflict’s escalation,’ with millions enduring extreme cold without heating or electricity atop years of violence and economic hardship.

Emergency measures now include relaxed curfews to facilitate access to public heating centers, while businesses face requests to extinguish decorative lighting to conserve scarce power. ‘Prioritize providing energy to the people—this constitutes today’s utmost importance,’ Shmyhal urged.

Diplomatic movements coincide with the crisis, as a Ukrainian delegation travels to Washington to finalize security guarantees and economic recovery documents. Potential signing could occur at the upcoming World Economic Forum in Davos, where U.S. President Donald Trump is scheduled to appear.

International support continues with Britain announcing an additional £20 million ($27 million) for energy infrastructure repairs during Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy’s Kyiv visit marking the UK-Ukraine ‘100-year partnership’ anniversary.

Despite Russia’s military superiority, the conflict remains stalemated along the 1,000-kilometer front line, with Moscow controlling under 20% of Ukrainian territory since 2014.