NATO Secretary General considers Putin’s announcement as an escalation
5:01 p.m.: The Secretary General of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, considers the announcement of a part of the mobilization of the Russian president Vladimir Putin as an escalation of the war. But the step did not come as a surprise, NATO will remain calm, Stoltenberg said in an interview with Reuters news agency on Wednesday in New York.
Stoltenberg called Putin’s threat to use nuclear weapons if necessary “dangerous and ruthless rhetoric.” However, this shows that the war is not going the way Putin imagined and that the Russian president made a “big miscalculation”.
After partial Russian mobilization: China calls for “truce through dialogue”.
3:32 p.m.: China asked to negotiate a ceasefire in Ukraine after part of the Russian mobilization. “We call on all parties concerned to reach a ceasefire through dialogue and consultation,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said in Beijing on Thursday.
A solution must be found as soon as possible “that takes into account the legitimate security concerns of all parties”. China has always stood for the “sovereign and territorial integrity of all countries” and for compliance with the UN Charter, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang. His country is ready to play a “constructive role in de-escalating the situation” together with the international community.
Navalny: Putin “throws Russian citizens into the meat grinder”
3:25 p.m.: During a court appearance, Kremlin opponent Alexei Navalny, who was imprisoned in the penal camp, complained that President Vladimir Putin’s “criminal war” is getting worse and worse. Read more about this here.
Zelenskyy: Putin wants to drown Ukraine in blood
3:14 p.m.: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi has accused Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin of wanting to “deny Ukraine of blood” – including his own troops. Selenskyj said that in an interview with “Bild”. However, he does not believe that Putin would use nuclear weapons in Ukraine. The world would not allow that. However, there are “risks”.
The Ukrainian president also said that Russia had already made the partial mobilization announced on Tuesday morning. The mobilization took place last month and his secret services informed him about it. According to the president, the latest move by the Russian military leadership shows that there are “problems with officers and other military personnel” in the armed forces.
Water pipe damaged in Zaporizhia NPP
2:34 p.m.: A water pipe was damaged in a fire at a Zaporizhia nuclear plant in Ukraine. This is reported by the Russian agency Ria, citing the Russian Ministry of Defense.
Long traffic jams on the Finnish-Russian border
1:42 p.m.: Kilometers of traffic jams formed on the border between Finland and Russia after the partial mobilization of the Russian armed forces. A webcam at the border crossing near the town of Vaalimaa, the cars close together.
Russia wants to expand the Kherson region
12:51 p.m.: Russia wants to extend the planned referendum on the annexation of the southern Ukrainian region of Kherson in part of the Mykolaiv region. This is announced by the local administration installed by Russia, according to the Tass news agency. It is about the parts of the region that are still under the control of Russian troops.
Putin’s three big lies
12:37 p.m.: In his speech, the Russian dictator piled false claim after false claim. Three propaganda lies stand out in particular. Read the text here.