Nuclear escalation?

Change of mood in Russia?

Four open questions for Scholz and Germany

Created: 09/22/2022, 09:31 am

By: Florian Naumann

The federal government is planning to decide on a third relief package for the citizens (symbol image).

© Jochen Eckel/IMAGO

The partial mobilization in Russia also frightened German politicians.

What is to be done now - with nuclear threats, weapon requests and flight?

Moscow/Berlin – A partial mobilization, four annexation referendums in an emergency and new threats with the in-house nuclear arsenal: It seems obvious that Russia's President Vladimir Putin wants to herald a new phase in the Ukraine war.

But how to react?

How serious are the warnings from the Kremlin to be taken?

On Wednesday (September 21), German politicians also reacted with concern to the next level of escalation by Putin.

Of course, Germany and its traffic light coalition do not have to react alone to the changed situation.

But Berlin is definitely a “decision center”.

This was also recently heard from Russia - in a less than pleasant context.

How German politicians assess the situation and which debates are now pending: an overview.

Germany's reaction to Putin: Lindner agrees to a long war - CDU expert warns of misery in Ukraine

What does Putin's partial mobilization mean?

The federal government seems to agree on its official interpretation: the Kremlin is very concerned.

The planned partial mobilization of around 300,000 Russian reservists is an "act of desperation," said Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) on the fringes of the UN General Assembly in New York.

His deputy Robert Habeck (Greens) spoke of a "further escalation of this illegal war of aggression against Ukraine".

The mobilization of the Russian reservists was a "bad and wrong step from Russia".

FDP leader Christian Lindner also attested to a "sign of weakness".

At the same time, however, he also sent a warning to the people of Germany.

Everything now points to a long conflict.

The finance minister told Der

that Germany must now “examine among its allies and partners” how Ukraine could be given “long-term” support.

Putin threatens nuclear weapons - should we worry?

Russia apparently wants to quickly incorporate the regions of Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhia and Kherson into its territory.

And at the same time threatens nuclear attacks in the event of attacks on its territory.

The CDU foreign politician Roderich Kiesewetter did not want to relegate a nuclear strike on Wednesday to the realm of fables.

His thesis: "If Putin should use tactical nuclear weapons, it will not go against military targets, but will lead to him wanting to bring about mass migration, flight, expulsion and misery in Ukraine," Kiesewetter warned on the RTL and ntv channels.

Already at the beginning of the war there was speculation that depopulated areas could be in the interests of the Kremlin.

"We currently have no knowledge, no news that Russia is increasing the readiness of the nuclear forces."

A spokesman for the German Ministry of Defense on nuclear threats from Russia.

also read

There is rumbling in Putin's empire: after Kadyrov's threat, the Kremlin spokesman's response gives a deep insight

"Militarily a disaster for Russia": Expert calculates with Putin's partial mobilization

FDP foreign affairs expert Alexander Graf Lambsdorff told the Welt competition channel that after military failures, Putin was trying to build up “psychological hurdles” including threatening nuclear weapons.

"These are things that are supposed to frighten the world community."

All the same, the Federal Government did not see itself prompted by the Kremlin's announcement to reassess the nuclear threat.

A Defense Ministry spokesman said: "We currently have no knowledge, no news that Russia is ramping up nuclear readiness."

Putin escalates in the Ukraine war: weapons, escape and visas – how does Germany react?

Ukraine faces new challenges – should Germany supply more weapons?

The sanctions against Russia have been hotly debated recently.

Now the demand for German weapons, especially battle tanks, is once again in focus.

Poland's Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has already called on the West for more support.

It is now "crucial that we continue to help Ukraine militarily, economically and humanitarianly," said Green MP Anton Hofreiter to

.

“Where it is necessary, we have to increase our support.

This also includes the delivery of armored personnel carriers and main battle tanks.”

However, the German government has made itself relatively clear: Even after the announced partial mobilization, it does not want to supply Ukraine with any weapons that would be suitable for an attack on Russia.

"We want to train Ukraine to defend itself," said Deputy Government Spokesman Wolfgang Büchner.

"But it's not about supplying weapons that can be used to attack Russia."

Change of mood in Russia – should Germany open up escape routes?

Even before the final decision was made, experts predicted domestic difficulties for Russia in the event of partial mobilization.

In fact, many Russians initially seemed to be thinking of fleeing on Wednesday.

In any case, several MPs expected a change in mood.

Putin "can no longer lie away the immense victims of the war, even in his own country, with any amount of propaganda," said Agnieszka Brugger, Deputy Group Leader of the Greens.

FDP expert Lambsdorff said: "That's quite a change for Russian society, because the war is also affecting the big cities."

That would be a turn in the interests of the West.

But the call for visas to be issued to Russian dissidents and refugees could also be on the agenda.

Currently, Russians can only travel through countries like Turkey or Armenia without a visa process.

The EU also wanted to make the exhibition more difficult.

A Czech user complained on Twitter that a friend was unable to leave Russia in time because the Czech Republic had stopped issuing visas.

This representation has not been verified, but it is a conceivable scenario.

The man's conclusion: "Thank you, EU, you are helping Putin!".

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