steel was impeached following a failed attempt to dissolve congress. this is dw news coming to you from berlin. there's much more in our website. www. defense minister has had an eventful 1st day hours after being sworn in bodies, pistole. this was in a face to face meeting with his u. s. counterpart lloyd austin, of both players continuing support for ukraine, but neither commented on the issue that keith most wants to hear about when either countries supply you crate with heavy battle tags. or in germany's case just get out of the way of those countries who want to. i'm from gail in berlin and this is the day ah, the most important thing is to continue to support ukraine, including with material from our own armed forces. decisions you are making good

ones, but you have to speed them up many crunches. we'd like to get this time. but we are waiting for the consent of a country that owns the license. she's leaving it. there is not a single reasonable argument why germany shouldn't do it. the best thing possible for the world is to get this thing done and get it done fast. now we have wasted 10 months and a list of numbers to live. also on the day recognition for a prosecuted to people iraq's u z. these were slaughtered by the so called islamic states. now germany has declared the massacre a genocide. one of the i s men said to me, we asked them several times if they would become muslims or not. and your father and other men sick. no, so we shot them. welcome to the program. we began the

day as many of ukraine's allies gather to discuss their ongoing support for the war torn country. already ahead of a major meeting, a germany said ramstein airbase on friday. pledges of new weapons worth billions of dollars, a rolling em. but the delivery of one weapon in particular hangs in the balance german made lap and tax. today the u. s. and german defense ministers tried to resolve the stand off during talks in berlin. germany is reluctant to approve the export to ukraine despite intense international pressure. and the country is newly sworn in defense minister boris pistole. this got a taste of that pressure during his 1st day on the job a busy 1st day in office. shortly after getting his certificate of appointment. boys historian met his yes. counterpart, lloyd austin. both of them signalled their unified stance. i'd like to thank the german government for all that at his door and to strengthen ukraine, softer french,

and your contributions of security of systems from training for new crimes to friend, bruce herbert and valuable these off to negotiate. so often in history, fight the federal republic of germany and the united states of america in augusta and side by side in the approach. but also on the concrete issues i walk in to be at the infantry fighting vehicles about the patriot air defense system here, or the multiple rocket launchers but for many in germany and further afield. one thing is missing battle tanks for ukraine. something that beneath the show of unity is turning into a growing dilemma for both countries. according to media reports, germany would allow german made leopard tanks to be sent to ukraine. if the u. s. agrees to send its own. while there is still division within the german government on that matter, yes, officials have insisted that washington has no plans to send us may tanks to ukraine for now. expectations are growing ahead of friday's meeting of the ukraine

defense contact group session had ramps then abbeys and sell than germany. a meeting where the 2 countries might be able to settle the tank debate, at least for now. so as we just heard, germany might be ready to drop its objections if the us ends its tags in 1st. so was that on the table today is our political correspondent, benjamin of ours gruber. we presume that it was on the table to day and that it also will be on the table to morrow on friday, with this important meeting of amps and abby's and solving germany. and that something that was already mentioned, enter press release by the u. s. department of defense saying 10 countries in counting, we'll have a meeting on the sideline of the contact group meeting focus, particularly on the issue of getting lepper tongues to a ukraine. that's always a difficult topic for the german chancellor. he was pressed specifically on this

air tanks also a few days ago, the world economic forum in divorce, where he said that is important. there germany has sent several heavy weapons already mentioned as several of them, but he has not answered yet. if germany also wants to send a these tanks, we have this media reports the. busy were also mentioned in the pisa germany would wait for the us to sent the ap ramps taught air tanks. and then germany would continue to center this leper talks to ukraine. so there will definitely be it takes center stage at this meeting of the ukraine air defense group in ramstein, where they will talk about further arms deliveries and very important. and what a ukraine, pres, ukrainian president followed him as he lent he has been asking for repeatedly to sent at main battle tank to santa battle tanks to ukraine. as quickly as possible. was the u. s. and german defense ministers that met in berlin and nato military chiefs from the other members of nato. i held that talks in brussels and later says

it's repairing for the long haul in ukraine. russia's war near the year, mark nato allies are exploring ways to expand the delivery of weapons, training and support to ukraine in the coming months, along with problems of supplying some of the more advanced military systems that are also concerns about the depletion of ammunition, bullets and shells to fire from the weapons that ukraine already has. the w terry sure spoke about those issues with kristi wright, who was deputy director of estonia, international center for defense and security. it is definitely a concern, but it can also be said that nato countries have not been giving as much as they could give. so now we are having new decisions. again, the phone, the interest announced the new major a package bigger than any of the previous ones . which includes heavy weaponry and munition and

a still unable for working hard on replenishing its own stocks. and really wishes to kind of show an example to other allies that there should be more awareness that we need to give more to ukraine now because it isn't our own security interest to understanding. i think it's still not quite at the same level in allied countries, and especially when it comes to giving heavy weaponry. the baltic states think that we must give heavy weaponry to ukraine so that you can liberate territories. it can be ready for a new russian offensive to push back that and it's in our security interest. whereas in germany, i still get the impression that sometimes the thinking is on the contrary, that giving heavy weaponry to ukraine might be counter productive to germany security interest, which doesn't make sense from the baltic point of view. is it frustrating to you to

see that everybody is not willing to to, to give 100 percent? i think it is really worrying that the understanding of what the west needs to do in ukraine and how ex, essentially important the war in ukraine is for europe insecurity as a whole that they still defer among different european countries. and that's, i think, the most worrying part, but germany has not seen that it is in germany's own security interest to give for heavy weaponry, including battle tanks to ukraine that this judgment can be so different. and that also makes your think then what could be then the situation in that particular scenario of collective defense. it does raise these questions, right? that makes a difference whether a country's a nato member or not ukraine is not the baltic. states are at that state. seeing

all this german hesitation, it has weakened. germany's sag credibility as an ally. oh, security, unlisted, christy reich. so why is cave so adamant about these leopard to tax on x report? he's from ukrainian soldiers on the front lines who tell us why modern western equipment is so desperately needed a ukrainian base in the hockey region. the area has been under russian fire again since the weekend north. tatiana high to moscow, and her medical team are looking after this tank brigade. the men have been stationed here for weeks for morris 1st, the current. so i was good, isn't that these are russian project childs nearly every day and night. they fire at my colleagues and our ambulances. at the moment, we only have 2 of these vehicles. at least this ones survived. the shana hi to

moscow inspects the vehicle they use as an ambulance. that has to hold out a while longer. there's no money to replace it that worries her. there are more and more bullet holes. mission, a professional not assist that either much. these are all old cars that volunteers donated to us as an official and that if they buy up cheap old cars, then they bring them here and give them to us for delos thumps, well, yeah, we then repaired them all the time at a month to month or so because they keep breaking down. no. am i supposed to push gina? it's not just the makeshift ambulances, a tank officer, michael, a tempo is worried about the condition of his own vehicles. he used to look at, it was a more know we're fighting here with old tanks from the soviet union. listen, i'm spot with the same tanks. the russians have often with the court to have an advantage to break russian front lines them. we need more modern main battle tanks like the leopard to thickness in which i know easily so far his unit has been using

old soviet t 72 battle tanks from the early 19 seventies. the tanks have seen a lot of use and some of them are badly damaged. hence the push to get leopard twos . as soon as possible bonsa eisen was leeward there. i'm sure our soldiers will master the modern technology, what they should, their soldiers, who have combat experience with the t 72. he will learn to master the leopard very quickly that the law told to do much with good enough cheat. so we, what the, in the, in the little part, the soldiers here are waiting for russia to mount another major offensive doctor high to moscow is going to stay here. though she could earn much more money and keith dominey, switcheroo, i'm exhausted tired all the time. i'd like to go to my little daughter, he's waiting for me at home, but i know that the soldiers here need me more. even when i'm gone for

a short time, i worry about how the men are doing denisha. then on at this phase hopes that the new modern tanks will arrive soon also fall, united states has been the single biggest donor of military aid to ukraine, sending nearly $24000000000.00 worth of military equipment to help fight the russian invasion. but there are concerns of the republican party, which now controls congress could limit a future us support republicans of pushing from oversized government spending, suggesting that to future funding by not be as forthcoming as it once was. and we've always been, there were the 1st responder to almost everything that goes bad in the world of and, and i think we've earned the right to question about your ask our taxpayers to invest heavy amounts of money. let's let them know exactly what is for our partners in europe. really need to step up and make sure that they're carrying their weight, ah, carrying some of the load with the ukraine. we want to help the ukranian people and

push back against russia. but we want to make sure that we're spending r u. s. tax dollars. well, domestic american policies impact international policy international policy now impacts domestic policy. so i think that if they just kind of pay attention and watch what we're doing here, la, floor right now, they'll see that america's coming back stronger than ever. and we're going to basically be able to take the world stage back away the wants to at the far right consist of arsonist who are intent on burning down everything, including the full faith and credit, the united states. i worry that a republican majority hines, the risk of a government shut down at high ends, the risk of a debt defaults, which could derail the full faith and credit of the united states. and with that, the american economy. let's dig deeper into this with. i wasn't a correspondence to me, some escandone welcome to me. and so we just sort of skepticism from republican congressmen and women and concerns about us tax dollars for ukraine being wisely spent at our republicans gearing up for a fight on this issue. now that they control the house,

i think it's fair to say that some members of the republican party are certainly gearing up for a fight, particularly members of this hard right faction of the republican party. they had me clear from the beginning that they do not support these huge amounts of money and military aid flowing to ukraine continuously. i think that was really cast in stark relief when a ukrainian president vladimir zalinski visited washington in december. and we saw him speak on the floor of congress, and a few members of that hard white faction declined to stand during those standing ovations. that members of congress from both sides of the aisle were delivering. during his speech to congress, i think it's important to note that beyond that hard white faction, there are republicans who are uneasy, as we heard in that clip, just beforehand about the money and hardware going to support ukraine's defense as they want to change the way that aid for ukraine has been agreed until now, until now again, the democrats in control of the house of representatives and they waved through a lot of this aid without much opposition. and that is something that some of the

new republicans, congress want to change. that being said, on a whole republican say that they do still stand firmly behind ukraine. and we actually reached out to the armed services committee in the house of representatives in the foreign affairs committee, led by republicans the moment and they urge more action on ukraine. i think we pulled up that statement now. they said they're the current indecision and self to turns will prolong the war costing ukrainian lives now was time for the biden and shows governments to follow the lead of r u. k. and eastern european allies. leopard to tanks, attackers, and other long rage, precision munitions should be approved without delay. so i know we're going to talk about the tanks, but interesting there to see that foundation of support does remain among republicans. let's talk about those tongue, sarah, reduce she bit what, what, how do you see the likelihood of the us changing it stumps on sending though so broadly. say, interview crime, you know,

so it's definitely not off the table at the u. s. is a, as thinking rather about these abrams one tanks. as you said, these modern battle tanks until now, the biden administration has declined to send these to ukraine. but that doesn't mean we might not see a change in stance. it remember that the u. s. originally didn't send these patriot missile systems for ukraine, a change at stance on that. so we could see again, a change in policy. but we know that this is the biggest point of discussion, or one of the biggest points of discussion among allied powers right now. and as we heard early in the show, it is likely to be top of the agenda at that meeting of defense ministers and ramstein on friday in germany. observers here phil are very much pointing to that meeting as being significant, seeing what germany decides to do because among the commentary and reaction i've seen here, there is some head scratching and frustration that, that germany has not taken this step on its own. even though the u. s. has mostly been in charge on sending and leading the charge rather on sending various weapons and systems and, and moving the needle on what is being sent. they see this decision as really being

off to germany. so we anticipate that that will be the point of discussion, 1st and foremost with germany's new defense minister on friday. okay. but we spoke of it. literally bodies had been sent abrams a, as you say, a water on that, but the table to the u. s. and germany have the same reasons for their reluctance to provide the visa, heavy weapons to ukraine. they don't fill and actually think that's where some of the frustration stems from. of course, washington and berlin european allies, they way up a number of factors when they decide which weapons are sent to ukraine and when a factors like a will these weapons be useful? are they practical for the type of battle that ukraine is engaged in? at the moment, will it provoke russia? so could the us, for example, be dragged into an act of conflict with russia. but defense officials here say the reason that they to this point have declined to send these abrams tanks is not because they're worried about russia's response, but because they're not practical. these are huge, incredibly heavy tanks. i read somewhere there around

a 70 tons. they are hard to use their hard to maintain their gas guzzlers, and it would take weeks to train ukrainian troops on how to use them in comparison . the leper tanks that are german made. they're considered to be a far better fit, which is why the biden ministration again has been looking to germany to lead on this decision. now, one more note about the abrams tanks. all of that being said, i mentioned already, there was reticence in washington to send the patriot air missile systems for use in ukraine. those were eventually approved by president biden. and right now, as we speak, dozens of ukrainian forces are actually training on those systems in oklahoma. so there is scope for such a decision to be made on the abrams tanks, even if they're not particularly practical. but again, a just underlining the fact that the u. s. is looking to germany to make a decision on those lepper tanks. indeed, who is good to talk to. thanks for that. so we said we saw misconduct. it wasn't

ah, the german parliament has recognized the massacre of ethnic as it is in iraq as genocide, the vote in the bond. this dog was unanimous following a debate that lasted an hour. the decision was hailed by you see the representatives who attended the session in 2014 fighters from the so called islamic state massacre more than a 1000. you see these in northwestern iraq. the w spoke with one family who found refuge here in germany. it's shop english tele slow, still shaken when he recounts the attack on his home villager, paddy islamic state, and my num on he is now in germany that lived in iraq until 2014. that was the year when islamist militia concrete, large parts of his homeland east. and so her bud see, mark taylor's law and his family fell into. i asked him to the t and we separated. his christian shopping of hog, voiced my father on my house. where is my father?

where is my uncle? one of the i s men said to me, we asked them several times if they would become muslims or not, and your father and other men so no. so we shot them of the happen i'll it shows it's shop english. his father like the rest of the family, belong to the years edi ethnic religious minority, the i as brutally persecuted them because of their beliefs and traditions. the family used to live in the main settlement area of the cds cinder. it's also where tele, his mother and his sisters were held captive by the i ass hot. on ski schleiden, they beat us and gave us little to the us. they took our 4 sisters away and forced each of them to marry a member of the i didn't, i knew this one. i latin according to the u. n. the i as as mad at more than 5000 she cds and kidnapped, there were 7000 women and children since 2014 to this day,

thousands of years edi refugees live in camps in iraq. although the i, as is considered defeated. but their homeland still lacks basic infrastructure as keep kind of us, there is no water and no electricity honk. and there are no hospitals or schools either a truly support from a country like germany would help formal recognition would release government funding to help you see these rebuild their homes. it is crucial for us am if a yes it is called back to the city has. if this does not happen, i ask, will have a chief exactly what it wanted, but it's attack which is to free this region of using these using in 2015, the iraqi government paid the i asked ransom and talent and his remaining family were released and came to germany, but even if the region recovers will gar kindful? i do not want to go back to a country where i suffered so much

a live in worcester. for now, he has everything he needs here. when i corresponded matthew more spoke to delia took knock bow, one of the a german lawmakers who put forward this legislation. tell me why it was important to recognise that the atrocities committed by the islamic state where and are a genocide. this recognition is more than just a symbol. it's trying to find the little bit of justice. what have been done to the year the people it's, it's just horrible. and to this trauma, ter, are still they alive in this easy to community. and this was a historical day for the whole community. so it was important, but it's not just a symbol. we are going to act. this motion is asking us parliamentarians to help b is eda community and germany to get more visible to find justice to

judge the perpetrators. so these are just a few examples of the motion. talk to me though about the, the m that pursuit of justice because germany has had a couple of court cases. yeah. is the intention know that this will lead to more court cases and here in germany and abroad? yeah, we hope so. cause a, it's very sad to say that it was about 1000 germans, went to the northern iraq on to syria and help the e or i asked to perpetrate or to kill people and we have to dance them. we know some of them will be here and this is a very, very important decision. and the use ged community there is here in germany. some of them are patricia has been here for many years. some of them have come as a result of this, genocide is the expectation from their side that they will some point be able to go

home to singe are or and, and how do you, how can germany help to make that happen? and they really want to go back home. it's a few months ago. i have been in that region in northern iraq. i've tried to get in touch with all these people who are the survivors of this genocide. people are silly, leave live in an id p cams about. it's about 300000 women and children still live in and tents and all they want is to go back home to sing jar, but am they need the help of the iraqi government? germany can support the iraq and government to re m, revitalize all that, that region. but this is not something we can do and just to final white, what's the message that you hope the send beyond germany?

and i hope that the whole world is gonna recognize what has happened 2014 in northern iraq. we have to help the community to survive because they're not a lot of them left. and we have to assure that this genocide is not going to be successful. we have to help the victims was german lawmaker dairy. i took knock. bah, one of the law makers who put forth their legislation on the use 80 genocide. and that was the day you can follow the team on twitter at dw news. if it's the latest headlines you're looking for what there's always that d, w dot com or the d w up the days back tomorrow until that have a good day. bye bye. ah

ah, with to the point, strong opinions, clear positions, international perspective, a sake of military brass points to read and russia is war effort, managing failures and a new top commander in ukraine at hinted at a possible name sunset. throwing us on this edition of to the point kremlin power

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lose their jobs. in the pandemic black lives matter. shine a spotlight on racially motivated police violence, same sex marriage is being legalized in more and more countries, discrimination, inequality or part of everyday life. for many, we ask why? because life is diversity to make up your own mind. mm. d. w for mines. a shakeup of rushes, military leadership has ukraine bracing for a possible new offensive improvements war. watching suspected rifts in the kremlin need for their future war strategies. rush us top soldier, malaria gara has been named the latest new commander in ukraine. but moscow hoping he can turn the tide.