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Ukraine invasion: Von der Leyen names plan for heavy sanctions against Russia - including Nord Stream 2

2022-02-04T10:07:10.780Z


Ukraine invasion: Von der Leyen names plan for heavy sanctions against Russia - including Nord Stream 2 Created: 2022-02-04 10:53 am Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission © Virginia Mayo/dpa The Ukraine conflict is currently occupying many people. The allegations from the Russian and American sides are manifold. There is criticism of German politics. The news ticker. Chanc


Ukraine invasion: Von der Leyen names plan for heavy sanctions against Russia - including Nord Stream 2

Created: 2022-02-04 10:53 am

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission © Virginia Mayo/dpa

The Ukraine conflict is currently occupying many people.

The allegations from the Russian and American sides are manifold.

There is criticism of German politics.

The news ticker.

  • Chancellor Olaf Scholz is planning a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin against the background of the Ukraine conflict*.

  • An FDP politician criticizes the coalition's appearance in Russia policy

    (see update from February 4, 7 a.m.).

  • EU Commission President von der Leyen* outlines possible sanctions against Moscow

    (see update from February 4, 10:25 a.m.).

  • This news ticker on the

    Ukraine conflict with Russia

    is continuously updated.

Update from February 4, 10:25 a.m .:

In the Ukraine crisis, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen outlined possible sanctions from the West in the event of a Russian invasion of Ukraine.

"We have prepared a robust and comprehensive package of financial and economic sanctions," the German politician told the daily newspapers

Handelsblatt

and

Les Échos

.

“This ranges from cutting off access to foreign capital to export controls, especially for technical goods.

These restrictions make the Russian economy even more fragile.”

Von der Leyen named “high-tech components that Russia cannot simply replace” as possible examples of the goods then affected – for example in the field of artificial intelligence and armaments, in quantum computers and in space travel.

Regarding the effects on the Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline project through the Baltic Sea, the CDU politician said that Russia uses gas supplies as a means of exerting pressure.

"That's why you can't take Nord Stream 2 off the table in view of the sanctions, that's very clear."

Ukraine conflict: Putin praises relations with China

Update from February 4th, 9.40 a.m .:

What is Russia planning for the Ukraine conflict?

So far it's not really clear.

In an interview with the

Munich newspaper

, he explains

Diplomat and future head of the Munich Security Conference, Christoph Heusgen, why Russia's President Putin is targeting Ukraine*.

Update from February 4, 9.30 a.m .:

In view of the heightened tensions in the Ukraine conflict, French President Emmanuel Macron wants to travel to Moscow and Kiev in the coming week.

Macron will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday and with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday, the Élysée Palace said on Friday.

It is another diplomatic attempt by the French President to de-escalate the Ukraine crisis.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping are celebrating the quality of their two countries' relations.

"As for our bilateral relations, they are developing really gradually, in the spirit of friendship and strategic partnership," Putin said on his arrival in Beijing on Friday.

"They have taken on a truly unprecedented character." Putin traveled to the Chinese capital to mark the start of the Winter Olympics.

China had recently sided more clearly with Russia in the dispute between Russia and the NATO countries over Ukraine.

Last week, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi called Russia's security concerns "legitimate" and said they should "be taken seriously and addressed."

Chinese President Xi Jinping (right) and Russian President Vladimir Putin before their talks.

© Alexei Druzhinin/Pool Sputnik Government/AP/dpa

Russia policy in Germany: FDP criticizes appearance

Update from February 4, 7 a.m.:

Shortly before Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) visited the USA, the FDP defense expert Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann criticized the appearance of the coalition in Russia policy.

"In the United States, the impression has arisen that the Germans no longer have all the cups in their cupboards," said the chairwoman of the Bundestag Defense Committee of the AFP news agency.

"In the last 14 days, not everything has gone smoothly in terms of communication," she admitted.

"Scholz should make it clear in Washington: Of course Germany is a reliable partner."

For example, she found it "a little unfortunate" to "link the delivery of the 5,000 helmets to our general announcement that we are helping Ukraine," said Strack-Zimmermann.

This has exposed Germany to unwarranted ridicule - and has sidelined the fact that Germany supports Ukraine in many areas that "are at least as important" as arms sales, which the coalition opposes run Washington.

It is his first visit to the United States since taking office.

Ukraine conflict with Russia: Conciliatory statement from Russia

Update from February 3, 10:38 p.m .:

Just hours after the United States accused Russia of war propaganda, the Kremlin spoke up with an unusually forgiving statement: Russia welcomed the US operation to kill IS leader Ibrahim al-Hashimi al- Kuraishi in Syria* explicitly.

"We support the anti-terrorist efforts of other countries, including members of the US-led coalition," the Foreign Ministry said in Moscow.

At the same time, it called for a "thorough investigation" into possible civilian victims of the US mission.

US President Joe Biden announced the death of al-Hashimi during a night-time operation by special forces in Syria on Thursday.

By killing the leader of the Islamic State (IS) jihadist militia, "US forces have successfully eliminated a major terrorist threat to the world," Biden said.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Moscow said that Russia is ready to cooperate "with all interested countries" in the fight against the threat of terrorism.

Russia supports the ruler Bashar al-Assad in the Syrian war.

Ukraine: US raises serious propaganda allegations against Russia

Update from February 3, 8:22 p.m .:

The tone in the Pentagon is getting rougher: The US government accuses Russia of working on a propaganda video * – in order to legitimize a possible invasion of Ukraine. It is assumed that Russia wants to fake an attack by the Ukrainian military on Russian territory or against Russian-speaking people, says Pentagon spokesman John Kirby. For this purpose, "a very graphic propaganda video" would then be produced.

For such a video, actors would be hired to portray corpses or mourners.

It would then show destroyed places and military equipment in the hands of Ukraine.

It goes so far that the equipment looks as if it had been delivered to Ukraine from the West.

Kirby did not provide any information on what specific evidence there is or what stage the alleged plan is at.

"This is just one example we can talk about today," Kirby said.

The

Washington Post

reported that the plan was already well advanced.

Not only would victims be faked in eastern Ukraine, but also in Russia.

Russia then wants to trigger outrage.

Russia's President Vladimir Putin and Joe Biden, President of the USA.

(Montage) © Pavel BEDNYAKOV/Andrew Harnik/afp/dpa

Turkey's President Erdogan is again offering to mediate between Russia and Ukraine

Update from February 3, 6:33 p.m .:

Amid the high tensions in the Ukraine conflict, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan offered himself again as a mediator during his visit to Kiev.

"Turkey is ready to do its part to end the crisis between the two countries," Erdogan said at a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

He offered Turkey as a possible location for a summit between Kiev and Moscow

For his part, Zelenskyy thanked Erdogan for "becoming a mediator between Ukraine and Russia on the way to ending the war." Erdogan had previously offered to mediate in the conflict.

While Kiev accepted the offer, the reaction from Moscow was rather muted.

Ukraine: Putin flies to Beijing for the Olympic Games - also because of a summit with China

Update from February 3, 6:01 p.m .:

While countries such as the USA, Great Britain, Canada or Australia are boycotting the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Beijing *, the President of Russia uses his visit to the Olympics on Friday (February 4) to deal with the to meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

Both heads of state are expected to show solidarity at their summit.

China supports Russia in the crisis, also wants to see Russian security interests protected and rejects an expansion of military blocs such as NATO.

Shortly before his trip, in interviews with Chinese state media, Putin emphasized the great unity with China and his friendship with Xi Jinping.

Ukraine conflict: Olaf Scholz wants to coordinate with France and Poland at the crisis summit

Update from February 3, 5:07 p.m .: According to a report in the

Süddeutsche Zeitung

, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) wants to

coordinate the Ukraine conflict with the heads of state from France and Poland next week.

Scholz is expecting French President Emmanuel Macron and Poland's head of state Andrzej Duda to attend a crisis summit in Berlin on Tuesday, the newspaper reported.

The topic is the efforts to prevent military action by Russia against Ukraine.

The three countries have been linked in the so-called Weimar Triangle for 30 years.

Within the framework of NATO and the European Union, Poland is calling for clear deterrent signals to be sent to Russia.

This Sunday, Scholz is leaving for his inaugural visit to Washington, where he wants to discuss the crisis with US President Joe Biden.

According to the

SZ

, Scholz is then expected in the Ukrainian capital Kiev on February 14, and in Moscow the following day.

Vladimir Putin (l.), President of Russia, and the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz © YURI KOCHETKOV/Kay Nietfeld/afp/dpa (Montage)

Ukraine conflict: Macron is becoming increasingly involved

Update from February 3, 3:15 p.m .:

Because of the Ukraine conflict, the Klitschko brothers can often be read.

Wladimir Klitschko has now reported as a reservist in Kiev*.

In a

picture

interview, he explained his motives (see link).

Update from February 3, 1:50 p.m .:

French President Emmanuel Macron is increasingly involved in the negotiations in the Ukraine crisis.

After a late-night phone call with US President Joe Biden, renewed phone calls with his Russian and Ukrainian counterparts, Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky, are on the agenda for Thursday.

Macron has also considered a trip to Moscow, as has Chancellor Olaf Scholz

(see initial report).

Biden and Macron had agreed in their phone call to coordinate closely in the Ukraine conflict.

It is also about preparing to "impose rapid and heavy economic costs on Russia should it invade Ukraine further," it said afterwards.

France initially reacted angrily when Putin preferred direct negotiations with the USA without EU involvement in the Ukraine conflict.

Meanwhile, the CSU is calling for the so-called Normandy format* to be expanded to include US participation.

So far, when such consultations have taken place, they have been attended by government representatives from Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany.

Ukraine conflict: Russia responds to US announcement

Update from February 3, 12:30 p.m .:

After the announced dispatch of thousands of soldiers to Eastern Europe, Russia accused the USA of heating up tensions in the Ukraine conflict.

"We constantly urge our American partners not to further increase tensions on the European continent," said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

"Unfortunately, Americans continue to do that."

The Pentagon announced on Wednesday that 2,000 soldiers are to be transferred to Poland in particular, but 300 of them also to Germany.

"Obviously, these are not steps aimed at de-escalation," Peskow said.

Rather, they led to an “increase in tension”.

Russia's concerns about a possible eastward expansion of NATO and the stationing of US troops in the region are therefore "completely justified," the Kremlin spokesman added.

"Any measures Russia is taking to ensure its own security and interests are also appropriate."

Erdogan is supposed to mediate in the Ukraine conflict - is Russia involved?

Update from February 3, 12:20 p.m .:

Before his trip to Kiev, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke out in favor of a peaceful solution to the Ukraine conflict.

"We call on all parties to exercise restraint and maintain dialogue," Erdogan said on Thursday before his departure.

The problems in the Black Sea region must be clarified according to international law.

They also support the independence of the "strategic partner" Ukraine.

NATO member Turkey maintains good relations with both Ukraine and Russia, and Erdogan has repeatedly offered to mediate in the conflict.

While Kiev accepted the offer, the reaction from Moscow was rather muted.

For example, Ankara supplies Kiev with combat drones.

Turkey has a strong interest in good relations with Moscow, among other things, because most tourists come from Russia.

Moscow is also the largest gas supplier.

Ukraine conflict: NATO expects thousands of Russian soldiers in Belarus

Update from February 3, 11:20 a.m .:

In the Ukraine conflict, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) wants to coordinate with the Presidents of France and Poland.

As it was said on Thursday from the Élysée Palace, a meeting of the so-called Weimar Triangle is planned in Berlin.

A date is still being sought, Germany is responsible for planning.

Both Germany and France have been mediating in the conflict for years*.

NATO expects that Russia is currently relocating around 30,000 soldiers to its partner country Belarus, north of Ukraine.

The combat troops would also include combat aircraft, Iskander missiles that can be equipped with nuclear weapons, S-400 air defense systems and special units of the GRU military intelligence service, said NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Brussels.

The move is the largest in the neighboring country since the end of the Cold War.

NATO also expects it to be combined with Russia's annual nuclear weapons exercise.

According to the government in Moscow, the troops will be deployed for joint maneuvers with the Belarusian armed forces.

According to her, fewer than 13,000 Russian soldiers will be involved.

Ukraine: Russia attack possible "at any time" - Scholz will soon travel to Putin

First report from February 3rd:

Kiev/Moscow – In the midst of the Ukraine crisis, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) will soon be traveling to Moscow.

It was quiet around the head of government for a few days.

On Wednesday evening he gave an interview in the ZDF "heute journal".

An exact date for the meeting with Russia's President Vladimir Putin* is not yet known.

Recently, some heads of state and government have already visited or telephoned the Kremlin boss.

So Scholz will by no means be the first.

The search for diplomatic solutions is in full swing.

Söder on the Ukraine conflict: "First of all, we have to do everything we can to prevent it"

CSU * boss Markus Söder also spoke up.

He misses concepts for solving the conflict with Russia.

Only individual measures would be discussed, he said on Thursday in the ARD "Morgenmagazin".

The federal government does not have a clear position and Europe does not have a uniform language either.

Rather, he would think it would be good if Scholz consulted his predecessor Angela Merkel here - but maybe that would also happen, added Söder.

With a view to possible sanctions against Russia in the event of an invasion of Ukraine, Söder said: "Everything belongs on the table." The Bavarian Prime Minister complained, however, that there were only discussions about the eventuality of Russia invading Ukraine.

"First of all, we have to do everything we can to prevent it," warned Söder.

"We want de-escalation and peace instead of talking our way into a military conflict."

Ukraine conflict with Russia: USA adapts wording

The US, meanwhile, is already taking another step: Jen Psaki, spokeswoman for US President Joe Biden, said she would no longer describe a Russian invasion as possibly "imminent".

However, an attack could nevertheless occur “at any time”.

The term "imminent" caused irritation in Ukraine last week because it suggests "that we know that Putin has made a decision (about an invasion)," Psaki explained in this regard.

Ukraine mediator Erdogan?

Turkish President travels to Kiev

Visits to Ukraine also continue.

The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj receives the Turkish head of state Recep Tayyip Erdogan* in Kiev on Thursday.

The Turkish President had recently offered to mediate.

Turkey is a key ally of Kiev and has several arms deals with the Ukrainian government.

Despite the opposing positions of Russia and Turkey in several conflicts, Erdogan also maintains close ties with Putin.

Russia has massed tens of thousands of soldiers on the Ukrainian border in recent weeks.

The West therefore fears a Russian attack on the neighboring country.

Russia rejects the allegations and says it feels threatened by NATO.

Kremlin chief Putin is also demanding "security guarantees" from the security alliance, including the refraining from further eastward expansion and the withdrawal of NATO troops from the states of the former Soviet sphere of influence.

A

Merkur

editor has now traveled to eastern Ukraine* to report from the area where war is part of everyday life.

During Ukraine conflict: Putin expected in China, including talks on international issues

During these international tensions, Putin announced that he would discuss "relevant international issues" in Beijing.

He is expected on Friday for talks with China's President Xi Jinping and for the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics *.

In an interview with the Chinese state media organization

China Media Group

, Putin called China* a “strategic partner at the international level”.

On most issues on the international agenda, the positions of both nations coincide or are "really close".

(dpa/AFP/cibo) *Merkur.de is an offer from IPPEN.MEDIA.

Source: merkur

All news articles on 2022-02-04

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