Drastic video message: Putin calls on the Ukraine army to stage a coup - the Council of Europe suspends Russia

Created: 02/27/2022, 07:12

By: Florian Naumann, Cindy Boden

After the escalation of the Ukraine conflict, the EU, NATO and the western states are looking for answers.

Macron manages to talk to Putin.

All information in the news ticker.

• Ukraine conflict: West imposes sanctions on Russia and Vladimir Putin.

• French President Macron phoned Putin and asked him to discuss (

  see first report

  ).

• Russia announced "retaliation" for Western sanctions - and expressed willingness to talk under a tough condition *.

  (

  Updates from February 25, 11:48 am and 1:10 pm

  ).

• This

  news ticker on international events surrounding the Ukraine war

  has ended.

  All current information is available in this news ticker.

  You can find more information on our topic page on the Ukraine conflict*.

Update from February 25, 6:07 p.m

.: The EU is now also imposing sanctions on Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

The foreign ministers of the 27 member states passed a corresponding legal act on Friday afternoon.

The sanctions decision, which also includes far-reaching economic sanctions, should be published immediately in the EU Official Journal and thus enter into force.

Ukraine conflict: sanctions against Putin - Council of Europe suspends Russia

Update from February 25, 4:50 p.m .:

The sanctions against Russia continue.

the

Council of Europe suspends Russia over escalation in Ukraine conflict.

As the Council of Europe announced on Friday, the participation of Russian diplomats and delegates in the most important bodies of the European organization will be suspended "with immediate effect" because of the "armed attack" on Ukraine.

However, this decision does not affect the European Court of Human Rights, so that it can continue to be appealed to by Russian citizens.

Ukraine conflict: Putin sends video message to Ukraine - "gang of drug addicts"

Update from February 25, 3:52 p.m .:

Vladimir Putin spoke personally in a video message – with drastic allegations towards Ukraine and calls for the Ukrainian army to defect to Russia.

The Russian President spoke of "terrorist elements" who had joined the regular troops of Ukraine.

"The neo-fascists have stationed heavy weapons, including rocket launchers," Putin said.

The associations wanted to provoke return fire on city districts and used people as shields, he claimed.

This is done on the advice of the United States, among others.

Putin spoke of a "gang of drug addicts who have taken the whole people hostage".

The Russian president, on the other hand, praised the regular Ukrainian soldiers as honorable fighters who were doing “their duty as soldiers”.

They should now prevent "their grandmothers" from being used as a human shield.

It is probably an attempt to force the Ukrainian army to capitulate (background of the Ukraine conflict).

The Kremlin had also made this a condition for talks (see update from 2:12 p.m.).

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, on the other hand, recently called on citizens of other European countries to fight in his country.

The Ukrainian armed forces reported on Friday that Russia had suffered heavy losses: Putin's army had "lost" 2,800 soldiers.

However, this information could not be independently verified.

Ukraine conflict: EU freezes Putin's assets - guesswork about entry ban

Update from February 25, 2:26 p.m .:

According to information from the

, the EU will also put Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on its sanctions list.

This means that any assets held by the two politicians in the European Union* will be frozen.

Late in the afternoon, there were different statements about the extent to which Putin and Lavrov were still allowed to enter the EU without restrictions.

Normally, listings also include entry bans that would only be lifted with special permits, for example for peace talks.

The punitive measures are part of a large package of sanctions that are expected to come into force later today.

The foreign ministers of the 27 EU countries intend to adopt the necessary legal texts this afternoon.

According to diplomats, the heads of state and government of the EU states agreed on the listing of Putin and Lavrov on Thursday evening.

The economic sanctions affect, among other things, the areas of energy, finance and transport.

In addition, there should be export controls for certain products and restrictions on visa policy.

An exclusion of Russia from the banking communication network Swift and export bans on natural gas, for example, are not initially planned.

Ukraine conflict: Putin ready for talks - meeting in Belarus possible?

Update from February 25, 2:12 p.m .:

Now it’s official: According to the Kremlin, Russia is ready for peace negotiations with Ukraine.

Moscow is ready to send a Russian delegation to the talks in the Belarusian capital Minsk, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday.

Update from February 25, 1:50 p.m .:

According to China, Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready for “high-level negotiations” with Ukraine.

According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Putin said this in a telephone call with his counterpart Xi Jinping on Friday.

"Russia is ready to start high-level negotiations with Ukraine," Putin said.

Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy personally addressed Putin and suggested talks: "Let's sit down at the negotiating table to stop people dying."

According to Chinese information, Putin stated that the US and NATO had long ignored Russia's legitimate security concerns - an argument that Russia had long put in the foreground before invading the neighboring country.

The Kremlin initially said nothing about the conversation with Xi.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, however, welcomed a new offer of talks from Zelensky and announced an analysis.

Russia-Ukraine conflict: Zelenskyy addresses Europeans - "defend Europe"

Update from February 25, 1:30 p.m .:

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj has called on Europeans with combat experience to help his country defend against the Russian attack.

"If you have combat experience in Europe and do not want to put up with politicians' indecisiveness, you can come to our country and join us to defend Europe," Zelenskyy said on Friday.

Almost at the same time, Russia indirectly demanded that Ukraine capitulate (

).

Meanwhile, Italy is providing NATO with around 3,400 additional soldiers for security in the east.

Prime Minister Mario Draghi said in a speech to Parliament in Rome on Friday.

The Mediterranean country could muster around 1,400 men and women in the army, navy and air force, plus 2,000 other military personnel.

Ukraine conflict: Russia now “ready to talk” – if Ukraine capitulates

Update from February 25, 1:10 p.m .:

According to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Russia is ready for talks in the Ukraine conflict – if the Ukrainian army surrenders.

"We are always ready to negotiate as soon as the Ukrainian armed forces respond to our request and lay down their arms," ​​Lavrov said on Friday.

Russian troops would want to rid the country of "oppression," he added.

This map shows the areas already conquered by Russia in the Ukraine war.

Russia has taken in more than 110,000 refugees from the "People's Republics" now recognized by Moscow in eastern Ukraine, Lavrov said.

Russia has provided humanitarian aid to people "forced to temporarily relocate from Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts because of the ongoing shelling by Ukraine's armed forces."

The UN expect up to four million refugees from Ukraine * - in the event of a further escalation.

The parts of the country away from the separatist areas are likely to be particularly affected.

Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan* has called on the NATO member states to take a firm stance.

The condemnation of the Russian actions by Western states threatens to become a puppet show, said Erdogan.

He hopes that the heads of state and government of the NATO countries will take a more committed stance in their video conference scheduled for Friday.

Western powers have so far only given Ukraine a lot of advice, but have not offered any concrete support.

Criticism from other quarters was also voiced on the German sanctions stance on Friday.

Ukraine conflict: Putin's foreign minister gives outlook on war goals - "independent government"?

Update from February 25, 11:55 a.m .:

The Kremlin also commented on its plans in Ukraine at noon – as well as on the prospects for negotiations.

At the same time, Vladimir Putin's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov again denied the state and democratic legitimacy of the neighboring country.

"We see no possibility of recognizing as democratic a government that oppresses its own people and uses genocidal methods," Lavrov said, according to the Interfax agency.

"No one will occupy Ukraine," Lavrov claimed.

“The purpose of the operation was openly stated: demilitarization and denazification.” The Kremlin has claimed for years that in 2014 foreign-controlled “fascists” staged a coup in Kiev.

Lavrov assured: "We are interested in the Ukrainian people being independent, having a government that represents all their diversity." After the restoration of the "democratic order" the situation will allow negotiations again.

Ukraine conflict: Kremlin announces "retaliation" to West for sanctions

Update from February 25, 11:48 a.m .:

Now there are details of retaliatory announcements by the government of Vladimir Putin in view of the planned sanctions by the West: "It goes without saying that retaliatory measures will follow," said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Friday Moscow.

"How symmetrical or asymmetrical they will be will depend on the analysis of the restrictions" imposed on Russia.

Update from February 25, 11:25 a.m .:

According to EU Council President Charles Michel, the European Union wants to impose further sanctions on Moscow.

A "further (sanctions) package is urgently being prepared," Michel said on Twitter on Friday.

On Thursday evening, the EU had already decided on a second package of sanctions against Russia because of the attack on Ukraine.

According to a report by the AFP news agency, the Kremlin is now announcing retaliation for Western sanctions.

Ukraine conflict: Russia sanctions become a point of contention - China and Erdogan stand in the way

Update from February 25, 10:45 a.m .:

The West is struggling for massive sanctions and a clear edge against Russia - but there are deviations and resistance at the international level.

China* has again spoken out against sanctions.

"I want to reiterate that sanctions have never been an effective way to solve problems," Wang Wenbin, a spokesman for Beijing's Foreign Ministry, said on Friday.

"We hope that the relevant parties can resolve issues through dialogue and negotiation," the spokesman continued.

"We are consistently against all illegal unilateral sanctions," a spokeswoman for Beijing's foreign ministry said on Wednesday.

“Since 2011, the US has imposed more than 100 sanctions on Russia.

Have these US sanctions solved any problem?” the spokeswoman asked.

At the same time, Turkey does not want to close the Black Sea straits for Russia.

According to international law, Turkey must guarantee Russia passage through the Bosphorus and Dardanelles to the Black Sea under certain conditions, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told the Turkish newspaper

.

But we are still busy analyzing the situation.

He also dampened hopes of sanctions against the Russian Federation, with which NATO member Turkey has close ties*.

Ukraine conflict: Macron calls Putin - and has to make a bitter admission

First report:

Kiev - The first day of the Ukraine war with Russia is over: numerous deaths and injuries have already been reported.

On Friday night (February 25) there were several explosions in the capital Kiev.

This map illustrates where the Ukraine war is raging.

The West continues to be appalled by the events.

You can also find all the news about the Ukraine conflict in our live ticker.

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin pledged his country's continued support to Ukraine.

The Pentagon chief spoke to his Ukrainian counterpart Oleksii Reznikov about the war and made it clear that "US support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity is unwavering," the Pentagon wrote in a brief statement on Thursday (local time). .

The US would continue to provide "defense assistance" to Ukraine, it said, without specifying.

The two ministers had agreed to continue working together during the conflict created by Russia.

Ukraine conflict: Macron reaches Putin - and calls on Russian presidents to discuss with Zelenskyy

French President Emmanuel Macron* tried again with a conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin*.

This was "open, direct and short".

At the request of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj*, he asked Putin to end the fighting in Ukraine as quickly as possible, Macron said early Friday morning after an EU crisis summit in Brussels.

Emmanuel Macron (center), President of France, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, and Charles Michel, President of the European Council: The West is looking for answers to Russia's aggression.

© Olivier Hoslet/dpa

Referring to the ongoing war in Ukraine, the French President admitted to his phone call: "It had no effect, you can see that very clearly at the moment because the Russian President has chosen war." He had asked Putin to do so discuss - to discuss with Volodymyr Zelenskyj, said Macron.

After all, the Ukrainian president himself cannot reach Putin.

It is his responsibility to take such an initiative if requested by Ukraine.

Macron is the first Western politician to have spoken to Putin after his internationally sharply criticized deployment order.

After escalation of the Ukraine conflict: EU summit decides on sanctions

The heads of state and government of the 27 EU countries agreed to a comprehensive package of sanctions against Russia at a crisis summit after the Russian military invaded Ukraine.

The punitive measures affect, among other things, the areas of energy, finance and transport.

In addition, there should be export controls for certain products and restrictions on issuing visas.

Ukraine conflict: NATO discusses Russia invasion at crisis summit

NATO is discussing the Russian invasion of Ukraine at a crisis summit on Friday.

It's supposed to start at 3 p.m., around 6 p.m. there should be a press conference.

The heads of state and government of the 30 member countries want to discuss increased protection for the eastern NATO countries via video conference, as Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announced.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz* (SPD) warned Russia against targeting other countries after Ukraine.

The Western allies "agree to prevent this with all the means at our disposal," said Scholz in a televised speech on Thursday.

This applies "expressly to our NATO partners in the Baltic States, in Poland, in Romania, in Bulgaria and in Slovakia".

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian ambassador was not pleased with Germany's position in the conflict.

Read more about the background of the Ukraine crisis here*.