Von der Leyen: Kremlin tries to undermine international order
The Kremlin has been trying to “undermine the entire European security infrastructure” with military activities in recent weeks. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said this on Saturday at a security meeting in Munich, Reuters news agency reported. The summit will be attended by foreign ministers from the G7 countries, as well as representatives of the European Union and Ukrainian President Volodymir Zelensky.
Von der Leyen said the events of the past few days could change “the entire international system” and that China and Russia want to replace the existing international order. According to her, Moscow is deliberately pursuing a policy of fear and intimidation in Ukraine and is trying to put “the law of the strongest” above international law. Von der Leyen also said that over the past six months, Russian energy giant Gazprom has supplied the European Union with the bare minimum of natural gas that the company is contractually obligated to do.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz took a more moderate tone. He said Europe faces another threat of war and said “as much diplomacy as possible” is required “without becoming naive”. Scholz called a possible Russian attack on Ukraine “a serious mistake” but said he believes the Kremlin is still open for talks.
Federal Chancellor Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz Wir haben Russland gernt: Eine militärische Aggression gegen die Ukraine wäre ein schwerer Fehler. Wir tun Alles dafür, dass es nicht so weit kommt. Wir sind bereit zu traden. So fell Diplomacy wie möglich, ohne naiv zu sein – das ist der Anspruch. #MSC2022
Donetsk leader of separatists declares mobilization
Denis Pushilin, the head of pro-Russian separatists in the eastern Ukraine region of Donetsk, declared a “general mobilization” in a video statement on Saturday morning. He calls on any man “who can hold a weapon in his hands” to report to a military service office.
In a new video released this morning (recorded when I wonder?) Donetsk separatist leader Denis Pushilin announces a total mobilization of forces
He also claims that several attempted “terror attacks by Ukrainian intelligence agencies” have been prevented in recent days pic.twitter.com/NH4DMXkKdK
— Francis Scarr (@francska1) February 19, 2022
Shortly after the statement, Leonid Paschnik, leader of the separatists in Luhansk, signed a similar decree. Saturday said the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) of “a dramatic increase” in ceasefire violations between Ukraine and the rebels. The organization again called on the warring parties to abide by the ceasefire agreed in Minsk in 2015.
A day earlier, Pushilin also released a video statement. In it, he said that the evacuation of women and children from his controlled areas in Ukraine to southwestern Russia had begun and accused Ukraine of attacking. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba dismissed those reports as “Russian disinformation”.
Biden ‘convinced’ of Russian attack on Ukraine including capital Kiev
US President Joe Biden is convinced that his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin has decided raid Ukrainehe said Friday night at a press conference from the White House. He says he has “reasons to believe” that the attack will take place in “the coming days” and will also target the capital Kiev.
Biden has said several times in the past week that he expects an invasion, but new intelligence from intelligence suggests that Putin has now made a final decision.
The Democratic president reiterated that very severe economic and diplomatic sanctions would follow if Russia invaded and urged Putin to reconsider his plans. Despite building a force of 130,000 troops along its borders with Ukraine, Russia has repeatedly denied any plans to invade.
Also read: Americans positive about Biden’s move in Ukraine crisis: ‘a fascinating way to use intelligence’
Diplomacy
Biden says the US and Western allies are more united than ever in their resolve that Russia will pay a heavy price for an invasion. However, he emphasizes that there is still some room to avert the crisis through diplomacy.
Foreign ministers Anthony Blinken and Sergei Lavrov will meet next Wednesday to discuss tensions over Ukraine, it was announced earlier this Friday. According to American media, that meeting will take place in the Swiss city of Geneva.
Russian media meanwhile report that an international oil pipeline has exploded, which runs through the city of Luhansk in eastern Ukraine. Western observers fear that the Russians will use that as an excuse for a raid. Oil flows from Russia to various countries in Eastern and Central Europe via the Druzhba pipeline. Luhansk is an important city for the Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine.
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