Russia threatens the West over weapons aid for Kiev – situation at a glance

War in Ukraine

Russia has responded to Western support for Ukraine with threatening gestures. A clear warning was issued specifically to London. An overview of the night’s events.

More news about the war in Ukraine

With a nuclear exercise and summoning diplomats, Russia’s leadership responded to US arms deliveries and statements by European leaders in support of Ukraine. The US government criticized the deterrent maneuver of its tactical nuclear forces announced by Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin.

“It is simply reckless and irresponsible for the leader of a major nuclear power to rattle his saber the way he does about the possible use of nuclear weapons,” National Security Council Communications Director John Kirby said Monday. Despite this “reckless rhetoric,” the US government has not observed anything that would cause it to change its strategic deterrence posture. Moscow also sent a threat to Great Britain.

Moscow threatens Britain with retaliation for missile strikes

After British Foreign Secretary David Cameron said that Ukraine had the right to defend itself and to use missiles supplied by his country to attack Russian territory, the reaction from Moscow was prompt: the British ambassador there was summoned and received a note of protest handed over, as the Russian Foreign Ministry announced on Monday. Accordingly, he was “warned that a response to Ukrainian strikes with British weapons on Russian territory could be directed against all military objects and technology of Great Britain, both on the territory of Ukraine and outside it.”

Cameron’s statements would contradict the British government’s previous assurances that longer-range missiles would not be used against Russian territory itself. “In effect, he has recognized his country as a party to the conflict,” criticized the Russian Foreign Ministry.

Cameron again pledged support for Ukraine during his visit to Kiev last week. According to the British news agency PA, he emphasized during his trip that it was up to Kiev to decide how to use the weapons supplied – In any case, Ukraine has the right to carry out retaliatory attacks on targets in Russia.

French ambassador also has to go to roll call

After the British ambassador, the French representative was also summoned to Moscow. Statements by President Emmanuel Macron, who did not want to rule out the deployment of French troops in Ukraine, called Moscow destructive and irresponsible when summoned. Despite such threats, Russia will not allow itself to be dissuaded from its war goals and will achieve them, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Russia had previously announced a maneuver by its tactical nuclear forces. The use of “non-strategic nuclear weapons” should be practiced. Where and when the exercise would begin was initially unclear. The Kremlin justified the maneuver with Western provocations. The Foreign Ministry said the purpose of the maneuver was to cool down “hotheads in western capitals.” Cameron and Macron were particularly criticized.

Zelensky is pushing for speed on promised arms deliveries

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky continues to push for a higher pace of deliveries of promised weapons from the West. “The political decisions must be followed by real logistics – the actual receipt of the weapons by our soldiers,” Zelensky said in his daily video address. To achieve this, cooperation with partners, especially the USA, must be better coordinated.

After a months-long blockade in the House of Representatives, the USA released a military aid package to Ukraine worth $61 billion (57 billion euros) about two weeks ago. According to information from the White House and the Pentagon, arms deliveries should begin within a few days.

Difficult situation on the front for Ukraine

Nevertheless, Ukraine remains on the defensive. The commander-in-chief Olexander Syrskyj, from whom Zelenskyj received a situation report, wrote of a difficult situation at the front. The enemy still has more personnel, weapons and technical equipment at its disposal and is therefore attacking Ukrainian positions on a daily basis. The main forces of the Russian military are targeting the cities of Kurakhove and Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine.

Well-known victims repeatedly demonstrate the difficult situation at the front. Another professional athlete fell victim to the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine. As the Ukrainian Olympic Committee announced on Telegram, two-time European weightlifting champion Olexander Pyeljeschenko (30) died at the front “in war with the enemy.”

That will be important on Tuesday

In the middle of the war and after almost a quarter of a century in power, Russian President Putin wants to start his fifth term as president in order to rule until at least 2030. Four years ago, the head of the Kremlin had the Russian constitution changed specifically for this purpose. A big ceremony is planned in the Kremlin. Putin will take the oath of office in front of parliament, the government and other high-ranking guests. (dpa/tas)

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