Threat against the West: Russia simulates a nuclear attack - and apparently makes the use of the population palatable

Created: 05/06/2022 04:47

By: Michelle Brey, Stephanie Munk, Andreas Schmid

Diplomatic efforts continue in the Ukraine war.

Meanwhile, Russia is simulating a nuclear attack.

The news ticker.

• Ukraine conflict

  :

  Putin simulates a nuclear attack:

  the Russian public is apparently trying to make their use palatable

• Clear rejection of Russia:

  Zelenskyj does not want to cede any areas of Ukraine

• Putin's defense minister is threatening again:

  arms deliveries are targets to be destroyed in the Ukraine war50

• This 

  news ticker on the negotiations and international reactions to the Ukraine war

   is constantly updated.

Update from May 5, 7 p.m.:

According to Israeli information, Russian President Vladimir Putin has apologized to Prime Minister Naftali Bennett for the statements made by his Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

He had claimed that Adolf Hitler could have had "Jewish blood".

"The Prime Minister has accepted President Putin's apology for Lavrov's comments and thanked him for clarifying his attitude towards the Jewish people and the memory of the Holocaust," Bennett's office said in a statement Thursday.

In an interview with the Italian broadcaster Mediaset broadcast last weekend, Lavrov said: "I could be wrong, but Hitler also had Jewish blood."

Ukraine negotiations: Scholz on the phone with Biden

Update from May 5, 6:45 p.m .:

On Thursday, US President Joe Biden discussed further action in the Ukraine war with Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

This was announced by the White House in Washington after the phone call.

The federal government initially gave no information about the call.

The member states of the G7

Japan + the NATO countries USA, Canada, France, Great Britain, Italy and Germany

Update from May 5, 4 p.m.:

An international donor conference for Ukraine took place in Warsaw.

Support of more than six billion euros was promised to Ukraine.

According to the AFP news agency, Poland's Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki announced this on Thursday (May 5) at the end of the event organized jointly with Sweden.

According to Morawiecki, the money "will be used to support Ukraine and all those who help Ukraine".

One of Ukraine's key (humanitarian) supporters is Poland, which has already taken in more than three million Ukrainian refugees.

In military support, the United States is the front runner.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) announced an additional 125 million euros in humanitarian aid from Germany in a video message.

Russian President Vladimir Putin "must not win this war and he will not win it," said Scholz.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen pledged a further 200 million euros for Ukraine.

The money should benefit internally displaced persons, i.e. refugees within Ukraine.

French President Emmanuel Macron and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau each promised 100 million euros.

According to AFP, EU Council President Charles Michel also promised Ukraine a “European Marshall Plan” for post-war reconstruction.

He also stated that the EU is examining the possibility of confiscating the assets of Russian officials frozen by European sanctions - but it is a "long and complicated process," he said in an interview with the Ukrainian news agency Interfax.

At the beginning of the conference, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed in a video message that rapid reconstruction after the war was being planned with the help of the allied countries.

At the same time, Selenskyj renewed his call for EU membership.

"Candidate status must now be granted," he demanded.

The EU Commission is expected to comment on this by June.

It was the second international donor conference for Ukraine in four weeks.

At the beginning of April, the first conference in Berlin, according to von der Leyens, achieved a total of 1.8 billion euros in humanitarian aid for Ukraine.

Update from May 5, 3:30 p.m

.: After Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic, Bulgaria is now demanding an exception to the oil embargo against Russia proposed by the EU Commission.

"We will certainly insist on a postponement from the EU Commission," Bulgarian Energy Minister Alexandar Nikolov said on Thursday (May 5).

After a meeting of energy ministers from south-eastern Europe, Ukraine and Azerbaijan, Nikolov said his country would raise this issue in the coming week.

In view of the Russian war against Ukraine, representatives and ministers from Romania, Greece, Turkey, North Macedonia, Serbia, Ukraine, Bulgaria and Azerbaijan discussed cooperation on energy security and energy diversification opportunities.

The goal is a regional working group as part of the EU platform for energy purchasing.

"We see how the energy industry is being misused as a weapon," regretted Bulgaria's Prime Minister Kiril Petkov.

Update from May 5, 1:24 p.m

.: “This will be an investment in the stability of all of Central and Eastern Europe”: Ukraine needs a modern version of the Marshall Plan for its reconstruction – President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sees it and advertised the investments with these words.

In order to return to a safe life, his country will need money, technology, experts and growth prospects, the Ukrainian politician told the participants of the international donor conference in Warsaw via video link.

Poland's Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said Ukraine needs 12,000 tons of humanitarian aid every day.

At the moment you only get about a quarter of that.

Before the beginning of the Russian war of aggression on February 24, 44 million people lived in the country.

Ukraine diplomacy: Moscow receives Hamas delegation after dispute with Tel Aviv

Update from May 5, 10:25 a.m .:

It is a spicy meeting in Moscow in the middle of the Ukraine war: Shortly after a controversial Nazi comparison by Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, talks with the Palestinian Hamas movement began in Moscow.

“This is a long-planned meeting.

We have ordinary consultations that are ongoing," Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov told the Interfax news agency on Thursday.

It should be about "the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories, in East Jerusalem and the situation around the Al-Aqsa Mosque".

The visit by the delegation from Hamas, which is considered a terrorist organization in Israel, is piquant, above all because of the timing: In an interview a few days ago, Lavrov justified the Ukraine war with a necessary "denazification" of the neighboring country.

When he was then asked about his Jewish roots by President Volodymyr Zelenskyj, he went so far as to claim that Adolf Hitler also had "Jewish blood" and that the biggest anti-Semites had always been Jews.

This provoked sharp protests in Israel, and the Russian ambassador was summoned.

Nevertheless, Moscow followed up on the dispute again.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Israel is now helping neo-Nazis in Ukraine.

Ukraine negotiations: Russia is simulating a nuclear attack - and is apparently making the use of the population palatable

Update from May 5, 7 a.m.:

According to information from Moscow, the Russian armed forces in Kaliningrad have simulated attacks with nuclear-capable missiles.

As part of an exercise, around a hundred soldiers simulated the “electronic launch” of mobile ballistic missile systems with Iskander-type nuclear weapons, the Defense Ministry said on Wednesday.

The armed forces practiced attacks on military targets of an imaginary enemy and how to respond to a counterattack.

Since the start of the military operation in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin has indicated his readiness to use Russia's tactical nuclear weapons.

In late February, Russia put its nuclear forces on high alert.

The head of the Kremlin also warned of "quick retaliation" if the West intervened directly in the Ukraine conflict.

According to observers, Russian state television has been trying in recent days to make the use of nuclear weapons palatable to the public.

"For two weeks we have been hearing on our TV screens that the nuclear silos should be opened," Russian journalist and Nobel Peace Prize winner Dmitry Muratov said on Tuesday.

Ukraine negotiations: Selenskyj clearly rejects the cession of territory to Russia

Update from May 4th, 8:15 p.m

.: Russia keeps demanding territory from Ukraine.

Its President Volodymyr Zelenskyj has now again given a clear rejection.

"The goal of every Ukrainian is to restore territorial integrity to international borders," Zelenskyy said at a

event, according to a statement Wednesday.

With a view to the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea, which has been annexed by Russia since 2014, this is zar "difficult".

But: "We will not go into a frozen conflict."

The Russian troops would have to retreat.

In addition, Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin must agree to a ceasefire.

"And if possible, publicly." Otherwise, a peace agreement would be impossible.

President of Ukraine since 2019: Volodymyr Zelenskyj © Ukraine Presidency/Ukraine Presi/Imago Images

Update from May 4, 7:30 p.m .:

NATO and EU member Bulgaria now wants to repair military technology from Ukraine, but will no longer deliver weapons to Kiev.

That was decided by the parliament in Sofia on Wednesday after a corresponding letter was submitted by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The other points on his wish list were also approved - such as exporting grain from Ukraine via the Bulgarian Black Sea port of Varna, further humanitarian aid and support for Ukraine's EU accession.

Ukraine negotiations: Biden wants to discuss further sanctions with G7 allies

Update from May 4, 6:15 p.m .:

After the EU Commission’s proposal for an oil embargo against Russia, US President Joe Biden wants to discuss further possible sanctions against Moscow with allies.

"I'm going to be speaking to the members of the G7 this week about what we're going to do and not do," Biden said on the sidelines of a White House appearance on Wednesday.

"We are always open to additional sanctions."

The members of the G7

Japan + the NATO countries USA, Canada, France, Great Britain, Italy and Germany.

Ukraine talks: Hungary announces reservations about oil embargo against Russia

Update from May 4th, 4:30 p.m.:

The EU Commission’s latest proposal for an oil embargo against Russia

creates a need for discussion.

The Hungarian government has expressed reservations.

"We see no plans or guarantees on how Hungary's energy security would be secured on the basis of the current proposal," government spokesman Zoltan Kovacs said on Twitter on Wednesday.

It is unclear how Hungary's transition to an oil supply without Russian imports can be managed. 

The proposal includes an exemption for Hungary and Slovakia, two member countries that are highly dependent on Russian oil imports.

The two countries could therefore continue to import Russian oil beyond the turn of next year.

"Our partners agree with a transition phase, we are now discussing its length," the agency quoted Slovakia's Economy Minister Richard Sulik as saying.

According to Prime Minister Petr Fiala, the Czech Republic also called for a "two to three year delay" in implementing the import ban for his country.

"The sanctions must not burden Czech citizens more than Russia," he said in Prague.

Ukraine-Russia talks: Kremlin criticizes lack of "dynamism" in peace talks

Update from May 4, 3:05 p.m .:

The Ukraine-Russia negotiations are still characterized by mutual allegations.

Now Russia has blamed Ukraine for the lack of movement in the negotiations for a peace settlement after more than two months.

"On the negotiation path, one can still hardly speak of dynamics, on the contrary," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday, according to the Interfax agency.

The Ukrainian leadership is constantly changing its position and threatening to withdraw from the talks.

"It gives little confidence that the negotiation process will end with any result," Peskov said.

In return, Kyiv accuses Moscow of ignoring offers to negotiate.

Update from May 4, 12:17 p.m .:

Several MEPs think the European Commission’s plans for an import ban on oil from Russia are correct.

"We Europeans have to take this step," said the Vice President of the European Parliament, Nicola Beer (FDP).

"The raised European index finger alone will not end the Russian war of aggression."

The group of the conservative EPP also welcomed the move.

Group leader Manfred Weber (CSU) praised the proposed sanctions on Twitter as an "urgently necessary step".

However, there is also criticism: "The fact that enforcement should take six months and that loopholes are necessary for Hungary and Slovakia makes the package significantly weaker," wrote Green MEP Rasmus Andresen on Twitter.

The Commission's proposal provides for exceptions for Hungary and Slovakia because the two EU countries are highly dependent on Russian oil supplies.

Ukraine negotiations: oil embargo against Russia?

Hungary announces reservations

Update from May 4, 12:10 p.m .:

Hungary has expressed strong reservations about the EU plans for an oil embargo against Russia.

In a statement, the government in Budapest criticized that the proposal submitted by the EU Commission does not include any provisions that would "guarantee Hungary's energy security".

After his re-election in early April, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban announced that he would veto a possible oil or gas embargo against Russia.

The new sanctions package can only come into force if all member states agree.

Ukraine negotiations: Putin's defense minister threatens again

Update from May 4, 11:36 a.m .:

Many Western countries are supplying weapons in the Ukraine war - Germany also recently decided to supply heavy weapons to Ukraine in the fight against Russia.

According to a report in

, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has now threatened to attack arms supplies.

The Ria news agency quoted him as saying that arms transports from NATO countries to Ukraine should be regarded as targets to be destroyed.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (l.) and Sergei Shoigu, Defense Minister of Russia, during a meeting in the Kremlin.

Shoigu now threatened to attack arms supplies in the Ukraine war.

© dpa/Russian Presidential Press Service/AP

Update from May 4, 11:28 a.m .:

In response to sanctions in the Ukraine war, Russia has imposed an entry ban on 63 Japanese, including Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

"The government of F. Kishida has launched an unprecedented anti-Russian campaign and uses improper rhetoric towards the Russian Federation, including slander and direct threats," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

Tokyo's actions are destroying "good-neighborly relations" and damaging the economy and Russia's image, it said.

After the war of aggression against Ukraine ordered by Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin, Japan has participated in the sanctions against Russia.

At the same time, tensions between the two neighboring countries intensified in the dispute over the four southernmost Kuril Islands Etorofu (Russian Iturup), Kunashiri (Kunashir), Shikotan (Schikotan) and Habomai (Chabomai).

Ukraine negotiations: Russia embargo with Orban clause?

Von der Leyen warns "Kremlin's soldiers"

First report:

Kiev/Brussels - In view of the Ukraine war, the European Union is aiming for an import ban for Russian oil.

This is what the EU Commission and the European External Action Service propose for a new package of sanctions against Russia.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen officially presented the plans on Wednesday in Strasbourg

“We are now proposing an embargo on Russian oil.

It is about a complete ban on imports of all Russian oil, ”said Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday morning in the European Parliament.

Russian crude oil shipments are to be phased out within six months and refined product imports phased out by the end of the year.

"It will not be easy because some member states are heavily dependent on Russian oil," von der Leyen said.

"In this way, we maximize the pressure on Russia and at the same time minimize collateral damage for us and our partners worldwide," said the German politician, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"Because if we want to help Ukraine, our own economy must remain strong."

Ukraine negotiations: Von der Leyen warns Russian war criminals - "We know who you are"

Those responsible for war crimes in Ukraine should be subject to EU sanctions, said von der Leyen.

A list is kept of high-ranking officers and other individuals who committed war crimes in Bucha and who are responsible for the inhumane siege of the city of Mariupol, the German said.

Thus, all “Kremlin soldiers” received a clear signal: “We know who you are and you will be held accountable.”

Ukraine talks: Head of Russian Orthodox Church hit by sanctions

In addition to the oil embargo, the EU wants to impose new sanctions on Russian banks, as well as on TV stations that spread misinformation about the Ukraine war.

The extended list includes 58 people responsible, including the family of Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov and members of the military.

The head of the Russian Orthodox Church is also to be included on the European Union's sanctions list.

Patriarch Kirill is listed in the EU Commission's proposal for a sixth package of sanctions.

This would ban him from entering the EU and his assets would be frozen.

In an interview with an Italian newspaper on Sunday, Pope Francis spoke about a frightening conversation with Patriarch Kirill.

Ukraine negotiations: oil embargo could be decided in a few days - exceptions for two countries

The EU's sixth package of sanctions is now being discussed further in Brussels.

It could be decided within a few days if there are no major objections from the 27 member states.

According to the information, far-reaching exception rules are planned for Hungary and Slovakia.

They are currently still getting a large part of their oil requirements from Russia and cannot change course any time soon.

Germany sees itself ready to change course, even if price increases are foreseeable.

In addition to the oil embargo, the EU wants to impose new sanctions on Russian banks, as well as on TV stations that spread misinformation about the Ukraine war.