Merkel warns against dismissing Russian threats as a bluff - peace only with the "inclusion of Russia"

Created: 2022-10-06Updated: 2022-10-06 10:34 p.m

By: Bedrettin Bölükbasi

The EU has launched a new package of sanctions.

Angela Merkel warns of an escalation of the Ukraine war.

The news ticker.

• Putin's partial mobilization

  : The Kremlin chief temporarily exempts another group from military service.

• Sanctions

  against

  Russia

  : The EU has activated a new package - it is also about import bans

• Merkel

  warning about the

  Cold War

  : The former Chancellor warns that there can only be peace in Europe with Russia

• This

  news ticker

  on

  diplomatic developments and negotiations in the Ukraine war

  is constantly updated.

Update from October 6, 10:10 p.m .:

Former Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) warns against dismissing threats in the Russian war against Ukraine as a bluff.

The attack on Ukraine was a "profound turning point," Merkel said at a ceremony marking the 77th anniversary of the 

in Munich.

And one where "we are all well advised to take words seriously and grapple with them seriously and not classify them as bluffs from the outset".

She emphasized again that a lasting peace in Europe could only come about "with the involvement of Russia": "As long as we haven't really managed to do that, the Cold War isn't really over either."

Update from October 6, 9:45 p.m .:

According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj, NATO must prevent the possibility of Russian nuclear weapons being used – if necessary with preventive strikes.

In an appearance in front of the Lowy Institute, Zelenskyj emphasized the importance of preventive measures.

NATO “must rule out the possibility of Russia using nuclear weapons.

But it is important - and that's why I'm turning to the international community, as I did before February 24 - that these are preventive strikes, so that they know what's in store for them if they use them." He emphasized: "Not the other way around: wait for strikes from Russia, and then to say: 'Oh, you're getting me like that, then you'll get it from us now'".

The statements caused a stir on the Russian side.

"Zelensky's statements are nothing more than a call to start World War III with unforeseeable, terrible consequences," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

The Russian Foreign Ministry also heavily criticized Zelenskyj's statements.

A Zelenskyj spokesman immediately emphasized that Zelenskyj's demand had been misunderstood.

Medvedev poisons because of new EU sanctions: "shot in your own butt"

Update from October 6, 8:25 p.m .:

Dmitry Medvedev describes the new EU sanctions against Russia as a futile and expensive undertaking.

"Our stupid opponents cannot understand one simple thing: Russia has been living under the restrictions for a long time and has learned well to adapt to the rapidly changing circumstances," the former Russian president wrote on his Telegram channel.

At the same time, however, the sanctions damaged the West itself and the global economy.

He cited official inflation falling from 17.8 to 13.7 percent as "proof" of Russia's resilience to sanctions.

Gross domestic product will also fall less sharply at the end of the year than initially feared, he wrote.

In fact, economists have improved forecasts for the current year.

However, most of them predict a long-lasting recession in Russia.

He called the EU sanctions a "shot in the own butt".

But he no longer wanted to appeal to reason in the West.

The enemy must be “forced to beg for mercy in a lost economic battle.

And end it with the total and unconditional surrender (of the West)," Medvedev wrote.

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© IMAGO/Gavriil Grigorov/Kremlin Pool

EU imposes new sanctions package against Russia with serious consequences - New regulation for oil transport

Update from October 6, 6:50 p.m.:

The new EU sanctions against Russia are in force.

The corresponding legal text was published in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Among other things, the EU imposed sanctions on the Russian right-wing nationalist Alexander Dugin with the package.

The reasoning is: "Dugin ideologically and theologically justified the annexation of Crimea and Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine and regards it as a 'liberation' of Ukraine from Western influence." The EU imposed asset freezes and entry bans on Dugin and 29 other people .

Also affected by the punitive measures are Alan Luzhnikov, the largest shareholder in the arms manufacturer JSC Kalashnikov Concern, and the chairwoman of Russia's central election commission, Ella Pamfilova.

The latter said on Thursday that the sanctions were irrelevant to them.

"Because it's a pathetic excuse from pathetic politicians." The singer Yulia Chicherina is also subject to sanctions because she "publicly announces her support for the annexation of Ukraine by Russia".

The package also includes import bans on certain steel products, cigarettes, plastics, cosmetics and other products worth seven billion euros.

In addition, the legal basis for the upper price limit for Russian oil sought by the G7 economically strong democracies will be created.

This should significantly reduce Moscow's income.

For example, the sea transport of oil products and crude oil from Russia should only be possible worldwide if the oil was bought below a certain price.

This is to be achieved by linking certain services, such as insurance for oil transport, to compliance with the rule.

Russia: Opposition politicians charged with treason

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

The Russian opposition politician and journalist Vladimir Kara-Mursa has been accused of high treason in Moscow.

"Our client is being charged with three counts of criticizing the Russian authorities during public appearances in Lisbon, Helsinki and Washington," his lawyer Vadim Prokhorov told the state news agency

.

These performances, however, posed no threat to national security.

If convicted, the 40-year-old faces up to 20 years in prison.

State media had previously claimed, citing investigators, that Kara-Mursa had helped organizations from NATO countries undermine Russia's national security for a fee of around 30,000 euros a month.

Kara-Mursa is considered a prominent critic of Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin.

Twice he barely survived mysterious poisonings.

Ukraine war: Putin has partial mobilization improved

First report from October 6th:

Munich/Moscow – After more than seven months of bloody fighting in the Ukraine war, the troops of Russian ruler Vladimir Putin are suffering heavy losses.

Now they also have to complain about a successful Ukrainian counter-offensive.

In order to eliminate the deficit in soldiers and to be able to resist Ukrainian attacks, Putin announced a partial mobilization.

However, this step backfired.

A notable proportion of Russian reservists fled to countries neighboring Russia.

Videos even surfaced online showing many young people breaking their own arms or legs to avoid being recruited for military service.

The Ukraine War in Pictures - Destruction, Resistance and Hope

View photo gallery

Putin's partial mobilization - now students at private universities are also freed

In view of the panic among young men in Russia over the partial mobilization, Putin is now temporarily exempting other groups from duty.

According to a decree published by the Kremlin in Moscow on Thursday (October 6), the recruitment of students to state-licensed private universities will be suspended.

Accordingly, certain postgraduates and people who want to become priests or take up other religious professions also get a postponement.

According to the official statement, Putin wants to draft 300,000 reservists across the country to reinforce the Russian troops after the recent defeats.

According to the Ministry of Defense in Moscow, 200,000 men have been conscripted so far.

So far, students, employees of state media and IT experts, as well as fathers of four or more children, have been excluded.

The head of state had recently admitted errors in the partial mobilization.

In addition, it is assumed that the recruits are only ineffective soldiers.