Serious accusation from Moscow: Washington is "indisputably" directly involved in the Ukraine war
Created: 08/03/2022 04:48
By: Patrick Mayer, Stephanie Munk, Andreas Schmid
Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has accused the United States of being directly involved in the Ukraine war.
© dpa
The Russian Defense Ministry accuses the United States of being directly involved in the war.
Andriy Melnyk wants to apologize to Olaf Scholz.
News ticker on negotiations in the Ukraine war.
Russia
accuses the United States of being directly involved in the
war
: Washington should closely support Kiev in reconnaissance in eastern Ukraine.
Because of
the "liver sausage" slogan
: Ukrainian Ambassador Melnyk asks Scholz to meet
Putin
says no
first strike
: "Nuclear war would have no winners"
This
news ticker on the diplomatic negotiations in the Ukraine war
is continuously updated.
Update from August 2, 10 p.m.:
The US government in Washington has imposed new sanctions on oligarchs close to the Kremlin.
The US Treasury Department said Tuesday that the punitive measures had "a high cost to those who support President Vladimir Putin's war."
Among those affected is the former gymnast Alina Kabaeva.
The 2004 Olympic champion now runs the large Russian media company NMG.
The tabloids suspect that Kabaeva has an affair with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The 39-year-old is already on an EU sanctions list because she is “closely connected” to the president.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and gymnast Alina Kabaeva at a reception in 2004 (archive photo).
© Presidential Press Service/dpa
Russia accuses US of direct involvement in the war - "undeniable"
August 2 update, 7:40 p.m.:
Russian officials have accused the US government of being directly involved in the Ukraine war.
The allegations were triggered by an interview with the head of the Ukrainian military intelligence service, Vadym Skibitsky.
In this he explained the use of the US Himar multiple rocket launchers in eastern Ukraine, as reported by the British newspaper
The Guardian
.
These could be used so efficiently above all because Kyiv has excellent satellite images and real-time information.
Skibitsky further stated that there would be consultation between US and Ukrainian intelligence services before air strikes.
Washington should even have the right to veto the selection of Russian targets.
It has long been suspected that the United States and Ukraine are working together on reconnaissance.
The Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement regarding the interview: "All of this proves indisputably that Washington - contrary to the claims of the White House and Pentagon - is directly involved in the conflict in Ukraine." The Biden administration is "Directly responsible for all rocket attacks approved by Kyiv on residential areas and civilian infrastructure in the populated areas of the Donbass and other regions, which have led to mass deaths of civilians." There was initially no reaction from Washington until Tuesday evening.
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Ukraine-News: First ship with Ukrainian grain reaches Turkish coast
Update from August 2, 6:45 p.m .:
The first ship with grain from Ukraine reached the Turkish coast on Tuesday evening.
As the AFP news agency reports, the freighter will shortly enter the Bosphorus.
On Wednesday, the ship is to be examined by representatives of the UN, Russia and Ukraine.
At a meeting in Turkey last week, representatives from Moscow and Kyiv agreed to end the grain blockade.
Ukraine-News: Medvedev blames hacker attack for aggressive post on social media platform
August 2 update, 4:42 p.m.:
In an aggressive post on his official profile, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev questioned the sovereignty of former Soviet republics.
The long message was published on Tuesday night (August 2nd).
Medvedev then explained the post as a hacker attack.
The post appeared on Medvedev's profile on the Russian social network VKontakte and was deleted after a few minutes.
It said, among other things, that "all the peoples who once inhabited the great and powerful USSR will again live together in friendship".
Kazakhstan has also been labeled an "artificial state" and accused of "genocide" against the Russian minority in the country.
Moscow had made similar allegations to justify the Ukraine war.
It went on to say that Georgia "didn't exist" before it became part of the Russian Empire in the 19th century.
Vladimir Putin (left) and Dmitry Medvedev go to a cabinet meeting.
© Dmitry Astakhov/dpa
Now, a spokesman for the ex-Russian president said that the administrators of "VKontakte" would "take care of those who hacked the page, wrote and published the deleted message." The message went to 2.2 million Medvedev followers on the Platform.
Medvedev - today Vice-Chairman of the Russian Security Council - regularly attracts attention with aggressive statements in which he describes Russia's opponents as "assholes" and "degenerates" or considers the use of nuclear weapons.
Because of the "liver sausage" slogan: Ukrainian Ambassador Melnyk asks Scholz to meet
Update from August 2, 2:25 p.m .:
The Ukrainian ambassador to Germany, Andriy Melnyk, is a man of pithy words and has caused some scandals in recent months – among other things, he had dubbed the German Chancellor “offended liver sausage”.
Background: Scholz had refused to travel to Kyiv because German President Steinmeier had previously been disinvited by Ukraine.
Steinmeier had not only attacked Melnyk personally once.
The outgoing ambassador - he is being transferred from the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs - seems to regret at least his statements about Scholz: he is now offering the chancellor an apology.
Melnyk said on Tuesday on Bild TV that he had asked the Chancellery to speak to Scholz about his imminent departure from Germany: "If the Chancellor would receive me before leaving, I would apologize to him" - for that he called him "offended liverwurst".
Melnyk himself described the prospect of a personal meeting with Scholz as uncertain: "Let's see, I hope so." But it is "good manners when someone leaves that they are also received".
The Ukrainian admitted to being offended by his appearance in Germany.
"My main wish remains and is to strengthen relations with Germany, even if it didn't always appear that way," he asserted.
He and his family loved Germany and its culture: "It's hard for us to say goodbye."
Russia warns of failed grain deal with Ukraine
Update from August 2, 2:05 p.m .:
The first grain cargo ship since the beginning of the war has just left Ukraine, when Russia is again warning of a possible failure of the grain agreement.
The agreement on grain exports has a "package character," Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said, according to the Interfax agency.
"That's why we warn against attempts to delay or not to fulfill the second part of the package," she said, referring to the prospect of easing some sanctions against Russia.
About a week and a half ago, Moscow and Kyiv, through international mediation, agreed on an agreement to release grain exports from Ukraine, which had been blocked for months because of Russia's war of aggression.
Russia has consistently said it expects in return that its grain, food and fertilizer exports can also resume in full force.
Update from August 2, 1:37 p.m .:
In view of the tensions surrounding an expected visit by US top politician Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan, Russia has declared its solidarity with China.
"Everything in connection with this tour and the possible visit to Taiwan naturally carries a highly provocative note," said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, according to the Interfax agency.
"We want to emphasize once again that we are absolutely in solidarity with China."
Russia classifies Azov regiment as "terrorist" - Mariupol fighters are now threatened with even worse
Update from August 2, 12:55 p.m .:
The Russian judiciary classifies the Ukrainian Azov regiment as a “terrorist organization”.
This was decided by the Supreme Court of Russia.
The Azov paramilitary units are classified as "terrorist" and their activities are banned in Russia, a judge told the Russian news agency Tass.
The decision could mean very harsh punishment for the members of the Azov regiment captured by Russia, best known for its bitter fighting over the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol.
According to the Russian Criminal Code, members of "terrorist" groups can be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison, leaders and organizers up to 20 years.
The Azov regiment is a former volunteer battalion controversial for its links to far-right extremists and labeled a "neo-Nazi" group by Russia.
Azov fighters are deployed alongside Ukrainian soldiers to push back Russia's "denazification" military offensive in Ukraine.
Men of the Azov Regiment in June 2022 in Zaporizhia.
© IMAGO/Andriy Andriyenko
New US study: Russian economy "paralyzed" by sanctions
Update from August 2, 12:39 p.m .:
According to a recent study, western sanctions are having a serious impact on the Russian economy.
According to the recently published report by the Yale School of Management, the sanctions “not only worked” but “thoroughly paralyzed the Russian economy at all levels”.
The 118-page study was written by economists and management experts who used data from companies, banks and trading partners of Russian companies.
The US researchers see Russia facing an “unsolvable” problem in the event that European states become independent of Russian natural gas, since 83 percent of Russian energy exports have so far gone to Europe.
"Russia is much more dependent on Europe than Europe is on Russia," the report said.
The sanctions imposed by Western countries and the exodus of international companies have brought a large part of economic activity in Russia to a standstill.
Domestic production has “come to a complete standstill”, there is “no capacity to replace the necessary companies, products and talent.” Around 1,000 foreign companies have left the country, which means the loss of up to five million jobs.
Retail sales and consumer spending have recently fallen by 15 to 20 percent compared to the previous year.
The study cites the car industry as a particularly drastic example: sales figures have fallen from 100,000 to 27,000 per month, and because parts from abroad are missing, cars are being manufactured without airbags, automatic transmissions and safety systems such as ABS.
Update from August 2, 12:26 p.m .:
The first cargo ship loaded with Ukrainian grain since the beginning of the Ukraine war continues on its way to Lebanon via Turkey.
The “Razoni”, loaded with around 26,000 tons of corn from Ukraine, is to be inspected by representatives of Ukraine, Russia, Turkey and the United Nations on Wednesday morning in Istanbul.
The freighter is expected to arrive in Istanbul on Wednesday night.
With the deliveries from the Ukraine, millions of tons of grain should once again be available for the world market.
The bulk carrier "Razoni" leaves the port of Odessa.
The ship, flying the Sierra Leone flag, is transporting around 26,000 tons of Ukrainian grain to Lebanon.
© Michael Shtekel/AP/dpa
"Nuclear war would have no winners": Putin protests against first strike
Update from August 2, 6:41 a.m
.: Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin has countered growing fears that Moscow could possibly use nuclear weapons in Ukraine.
"We assume that there can be no winners in a nuclear war and it must never be started," Putin wrote in a greeting published on the Kremlin website Aug. 1.
The greeting was addressed to the participants of the UN Conference on the Review of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in New York.
Russia will stick to its obligations under the treaty.
Recording from August 1: Putin at a conference call in Moscow © Mikhail Klimentyev/Kremlin Pool/dpa
Ukraine News: Poland's President Duda criticizes Merkel's dealings with Putin
Update from August 1, 10:40 p.m .:
In an interview, Polish President Andrzej Duda attacked former Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) because of her dealings with Moscow ruler Vladimir Putin.
Poland also has something to criticize about Germany when it comes to the exchange of armored rings with the Ukraine.
Russia's nuclear threats: Clear criticism from Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens)
Update from August 1, 8:20 p.m .:
Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has sharply condemned Russia’s nuclear threats to the United Nations and campaigned for the disarmament of nuclear weapons.
Russia has repeatedly used "reckless nuclear rhetoric" jeopardizing efforts of the past 50 years to contain nuclear weapons, she said Monday in her speech at the UN Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference.
With Ukraine, Russia attacked a country without nuclear weapons, "brutally violating" earlier assurances.
Despite the heightened threat situation, Baerbock advocated concrete disarmament steps.
"I am here to defend the rules-based international order," she said.
"There is a lot at stake for us and for future generations." For her, the goal of the conference is a commitment to the principles of the Non-Proliferation Treaty.
For more than 50 years, the agreement has formed the basis for controlling the approximately 13,000 nuclear weapons worldwide.
It states that only the US, Russia, China, France and the UK can have nuclear weapons.
The four other suspected nuclear powers India, Pakistan, Israel and North Korea have either not joined the treaty or have withdrawn from it.
The aim of the treaty is to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons, promote nuclear disarmament and promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
Serious allegations against Moscow: US Secretary of State Blinken addresses Russia again
Update from August 1, 7:30 p.m .:
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has accused Russia of using its nuclear weapons for ruthless threats of war.
Earlier statements by Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin that military aid could have unprecedented consequences for Ukraine are "dangerous nuclear saber-rattling," said Blinken on Monday at the start of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) review conference in New York.
The statements are contrary to international agreements.
“There is no place in our world for nuclear deterrence based on force and intimidation or blackmail.
We must stand together to reject this.”
The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), which is more than 50 years old and to which 191 countries have joined, forms the basis for nuclear disarmament worldwide.
It states that only the US, Russia, China, France and the UK can have nuclear weapons.
The four other suspected nuclear powers India, Pakistan, Israel and North Korea have either not joined the treaty or have withdrawn from it.
The aim of the treaty is to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons, promote nuclear disarmament and promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
Blinken said the United States would only consider using nuclear weapons in extreme circumstances to defend the vital interests of the United States, its allies and partners.
After the end of the Russian blockade: the first grain ship leaves the port of Odessa
Update from August 1, 6:30 p.m .:
After the end of the Russian blockade in the Black Sea, a first grain ship left the port of Odessa in Ukraine.
According to the ARD “Tagesschau”, the ship is to bring 26,000 tons of corn to Lebanon, where the hunger crisis had recently worsened as a result of the blockade.
The ships that are now sailing would be checked in Turkey to prevent any arms smuggling.
The deliveries were made possible by separate agreements between the warring parties and the United Nations (UN) and Turkey.
According to Ukrainian government information, the country with its approximately 44 million inhabitants intends to ship 15 million tons of grain by the end of the year.
Millions of Ukrainians earn their living in agriculture.
Former Kremlin Special Envoy Anatoly Chubais (left) with Russia's President Vladimir Putin.
The officer is now in the hospital.
© IMAGO/Russian Look (archive photo)
Anatoly Chubais: suspected poisoning - arms and legs "lamed"
First report from August 1st:
Moscow/Cagliari – fuss about a former Putin confidant.
Anatoly Chubais resigned as a Kremlin official after the start of the Ukraine war.
He is now in a hospital in Italy.
According to a report in the Italian daily
La Repubblica
, Chubais is being treated in a clinic on the Mediterranean island of Sardinia, where he is said to have previously been on vacation.
A suspicion of poisoning is being investigated.
At the weekend there were first reports that Chubais had been taken to an intensive care unit.
Russian presenter and former presidential candidate Ksenia Sobchak, citing Chubais' family, said he was in "unstable condition".
Specifically: “He got sick.
His arms and legs suddenly became paralyzed.” According to Sobchak, the room in which Chubais last stayed was examined by “specialists in protective chemical suits”.
These descriptions sparked speculation on social networks that the former confidante of Russian President Vladimir Putin might have been poisoned.
The
Repubblica
also wrote that a suspected poisoning was being investigated.
A possible cause of Tschubais' malaise could also be a rare nervous disease, it said.
Anatoly Chubais
Chubais was "Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation" - and thus a direct confidant of Putin.
He took over the post in 2020. He resigned at the end of March this year – around a month after Russia invaded Ukraine.
According to media reports, he did not agree with Putin's war.
The Kremlin only said at the time that Chubais had left “at his own request”.
In the past there have been repeated cases of opponents of the Kremlin being poisoned - including the well-known Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny, who barely survived an assassination attempt with the nerve agent Novichok in 2020.
Navalny's spokeswoman Kira Jarmysch now commented directly on the sick Chubais: "So that's the Kremlin's reputation: nobody has any major doubts that Chubais was poisoned," she wrote on Twitter.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was quoted by the state agency Interfax as follows: "Of course this is sad news, we wish him a speedy recovery."
Ukraine negotiations: grain blockade ended
In the meantime, there was an initial agreement in the negotiations on the Ukraine war: the grain blockade is passé.
For the first time since the beginning of the war, a ship with grain left the port of Odessa.
A cargo ship loaded with corn left for Lebanon on Monday.
An agreement on grain exports had previously been negotiated with the help of Turkey and the United Nations.
"That's pretty positive," said Kremlin spokesman Peskov.
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