"Russia has so far lost more than 2,000 large battle tanks," says the NATO commander-in-chief

The first traditional Matthiae meal of the Hamburg Senate after the corona pandemic on Friday evening was marked by the Russian attack on Ukraine. NATO's supreme commander in Europe, General Christopher Cavoli, said the alliance had to adapt to a new reality. The extent of this war is unbelievable, Cavoli said on Friday as a guest of honor at Hamburg City Hall. Russia has so far lost more than 2,000 large battle tanks. More than 200,000 Russian soldiers and over 1,800 officers were killed or wounded. On average, the Russian army fires more than 23,000 artillery shells per day.

When the going gets tough for NATO, "hard power" must be an argument. "If the other comes with a tank, you should also have a tank," Cavoli said. At the same time, he emphasized the importance of civilian leadership: "We have learned from this conflict that civilian leadership is absolutely essential." It can mobilize the nation and inspire partners.

The Secretary General of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, Helga Maria Schmid, stated that the OSCE stands ready to support peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. Schmid quoted Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who, with a view to a Chinese peace plan, had called for talks not only with Moscow, but above all with Kiev under the umbrella of the United Nations. "I can only agree with that and add that the OSCE will also make its contribution at this point," said the Secretary General, also as a guest of honor of the Senate.

Mayor Peter Tschentscher (SPD) had previously confirmed the support of the Hanseatic city and Germany for Ukraine in front of around 400 invited guests. In a recent speech, Russian President Vladimir Putin made it clear that Russia's attacks were continuing, Tschentscher explained, adding: "As long as this is the case, Germany, our partners in Europe and NATO will also support Ukraine, you to exercise the right of self-defence legitimized by Article 51 of the UN Charter.”

The attack on Ukraine shook the European security order. The military defense capability has gained a high priority. “The threats to our security aren't just in the newspapers and the TV talk shows. It's real," the mayor said. With its port, Hamburg is of national importance for security. "We in the town hall, in our security authorities and systemically important facilities must be aware of this importance," Tschentscher demanded.

The consequences of the Russian attack on Ukraine can also be felt in Hamburg. Handling in the port has dropped, disrupted supply chains have led to bottlenecks in production. The mayor recalled the "Pact for Solidarity and Future" that Hamburg had signed with Kiev a few weeks after the start of the war. A current project of the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce is the sale of Ukrainian products in Germany.

The motto of the Matthiae meal this year was "For security in the turning point". The banquet, which was first held in 1356, had been canceled for the past two years due to the corona pandemic. According to Tschentscher, guests from more than 70 nations took part on Friday. According to the Senate, representatives of the Ukrainian or Russian Consulate General were not present.