Even Germany is now "directly involved" in the conflict in Ukraine.
The accusation, leveled so far against the USA and other NATO allies, has now been leveled by the Kremlin against one of the European countries with which Russia had very close ties of interests until the beginning of the war, but now guilty of "pumping arms Ukraine" after the announcement by Berlin of the sending of 18 Leopard tanks to Kiev.
In a seemingly endless spiral of escalation, Moscow continues to display its most formidable weapons, with the Moskit supersonic anti-ship missile test that took place in the Sea of Japan, between the Japanese archipelago and Russian territory.
Russia tests Moskit anti-ship missiles in the Sea of Japan
While the US - which has expressed its support for the creation of a special tribunal to prosecute Russia for the "crime of aggression" against Ukraine, an idea promoted by the EU - has informed Moscow that it will not they will exchange more data on their nuclear forces, in response to Vladimir Putin's decision to suspend Russian participation in the New Start treaty for the reduction of atomic weapons.
ANSA Agency
US will no longer exchange data with Moscow on nuclear forces - World
As a response to the Russian decision to suspend its participation in the new Start treaty.
(HANDLE)
On the ground however, IAEA chief Rafael Grossi warned, "there is an increase in the level of combat" around the Zaporizhzhia plant, which raises the possibility of a nuclear accident.
A series of alarming news accompanied by the announcement of the Moscow Defense Ministry that for the first time Russian forces in Ukraine shot down a rocket carrying an American smart bomb Glsdb (Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bomb), with a range d action up to 150 kilometers, which Washington had promised last February to the Ukrainians.
This would be the first confirmation that these munitions, considered crucial for the repeatedly announced counter-offensive in Kiev, would actually have been delivered.
And Russian sources have also reported that the remains of a Ukrainian drone, crashed or shot down it is not known when, were found in the New Moscow area, just 70 kilometers from the capital.
The decision announced by Putin to transfer some tactical nuclear bombs to Belarus continues.
The US and the EU have so far shown themselves to be skeptical and seem to be inclined towards a propaganda move.
But the Belarusian Foreign Ministry confirmed the plan, stating that it is part of Minsk's actions to "strengthen its security" in the face of "the growing military potential of the NATO countries on its borders".
As for the Russian missile test in the Sea of Japan, it took place a week after a visit to Kiev by Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who had denounced "Russia's aggression towards Ukraine" as "a challenge the rules and principles of the entire international community".
That same day, two Russian strategic bombers had flown over the Sea of Japan for more than seven hours.
Today's test took place in the Gulf of Peter the Great, south of Vadivostok, where Moskit ('gnat') cruise missiles hit a dummy enemy warship 100 kilometers away.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky continued his tour of the places involved in the conflict by visiting Okhtyrka,
While the Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, reiterated that "peace at any cost is an illusion" and therefore Kiev will accept it only if it guarantees "the complete withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukrainian territory".
For their part, pro-Russians have accused Ukrainian forces of having killed two people in a bombing of a building in Donetsk.
While the Ukrainians say they shot down 14 of 15 Iranian kamikaze drones used by Moscow forces last night.
In Bakhmut, in the Donbass, the situation now seems to have stalled, but the battle of Avdiivka, 90 kilometers to the south-west, which the Russians are trying to conquer, is becoming increasingly bloody.
Finally, another alarm bell rings for Russia regarding its real capacity to continue to financially support the conflict.
Energy Minister Nikolai Shulginov admitted that a reduction in oil and gas production is expected this year "due to the rejection of Russian gas by European consumers and our inability to immediately redirect flows" .
According to Moscow, in 2022 energy exports guaranteed 42% of state revenues.
