Putin predicts a "long process" in the Ukraine war - and names a prerequisite for the use of nuclear power

Created: 2022-12-09 04:47

By: Momir Takac, Franziska Schwarz, Felix Durach

Russia's Defense Minister Lavrov has made an "offer" to the EU.

President Putin rules out further mobilization.

News ticker on war diplomacy.

• Lavrov

  makes an “

  offer

  ” to the EU: the Russian foreign minister advises EU members to free themselves from an alleged dependence on the USA.

• " Don't prevent

  Ukraine

  from doing this": US Secretary of Defense Austin makes people sit up and take notice after the drone attacks on Russian airfields.

• Russia

  orders hundreds of

  new drones

  from Iran: Moscow is apparently reacting to the existing lack of ammunition and missiles.

• This ticker has ended.

  You can read

  all the latest news on

  diplomatic events

  surrounding the

  Ukraine war in our new news ticker.

Update from December 7th, 6:20 p.m.:

The EU wants to impose sanctions on the Russian army and three other Russian banks.

This was suggested by EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to the member states in Brussels.

In total, according to her words, almost 200 other institutions and those responsible should be subject to asset and entry bans in Europe.

"Russia continues to bring death and devastation to Ukraine," wrote von der Leyen on Twitter: "We stand with Ukraine and make Russia pay for its atrocities." effect, according to von der Leyen.

According to EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, this time it is about members of the Russian military, the defense industry and the government.

Among other things, those responsible for the rocket attacks on Ukraine and the theft of Ukrainian grain are to be hit.

December 7 update, 5:50 p.m.:

As Vladimir Putin explains, Russia will only use nuclear weapons in response to an attack.

"We consider weapons of mass destruction, nuclear weapons, as a means of defense," the Russian president said at a televised meeting of the Kremlin's Human Rights Council.

Russia's strategy is based on a policy of "so-called retaliation".

"If we're attacked, we'll fight back," he added.

Update from December 7, 4:10 p.m .:

Russian President Vladimir Putin has denied rumors of a second wave of mobilization in Russia.

According to the Kremlin boss, there is currently no need for this, as the Reuters news agency reports.

The 70-year-old also stated that almost half of the 300,000 soldiers recruited as part of the partial mobilization were now involved in the special military operation in Ukraine.

With a view to a possible end to the Ukraine war, Putin said: "As far as the duration of the military special operation is concerned, that can of course be a long process."

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu visit a Russian military training facility in late October.

© Russian President Press Office/imago-images

Ukraine-News: Pope Francis compares Russian actions with Nazi crimes

Update from December 7, 3:35 p.m.:

Pope Francis compared the aggression of the Russian armed forces in Ukraine with the crimes of the National Socialists.

At the general audience on Wednesday in the Vatican, the pontiff greeted pilgrims from Poland and mentioned an initiative of the Catholic University of Lublin for the "Reinhardt Campaign".

This was the Nazi code name for the systematic murder of Jews and Roma in Poland during World War II - almost two million people were killed by the Nazis in the process.

"May the memory of this terrible event inspire us all to resolve and act for peace," Francis said, before adding, "And history repeats itself, it repeats itself.

Now let's see what's happening in Ukraine.” Russia has been waging a war of aggression against neighboring Ukraine since the end of February.

The Pope had already caused a stir last week with statements about the Ukraine war.

A spokeswoman for Lavrov's ministry described the pontiff's comments as "perversion".

Lavrov makes EU 'offer': 'You still have all the options'

Update from December 7, 1:45 p.m .:

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has expressed the wish that Russia could again work with the EU as a partner in the future.

To do this, however, the Western European countries would have to break their dependency on the USA.

"Of course we want the EU to be one of the poles of the new multipolar world, it still has all the opportunities for that," Lavrov told the Russian news agency TASS on Wednesday.

The EU has interests that do not coincide with those of the US, the Russian defense minister said.

The EU can expand its position in a multipolar world if it recognizes "that it does not always have to agree with the United States." The Russian chief diplomat spoke of a "multipolar world" as opposed to a world with the USA as a hegemonic power.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at the G20 summit in Bali.

© Imago

Stoltenberg: Russia wants to freeze conflict - warning of offensive in spring

Update from December 7, 12:10 p.m .:

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Wednesday called for the West to continue delivering arms to Ukraine.

The prerequisites for a peaceful end to the war "are not yet in place," Stoltenberg said at an event hosted by the

.

"The more we want a peaceful solution, the more important it is to support Ukraine militarily," the NATO Secretary General said, adding that Russia currently shows no interest in a peaceful solution.

Russia is trying to "freeze the conflict" before "launching another major offensive in the spring," explained the Norwegian.

In return, Ukraine now has the momentum and needs the support of the West in order to be able to use it.

Stoltenberg explained that the NATO countries were constantly discussing the delivery of further weapons systems to Kyiv.

Update from December 7, 11:13 a.m .:

In a statement on Wednesday, the Russian Embassy in Berlin rejected connections to “terrorist groups” from the far-right Reich Citizens scene.

25 people involved in a nationwide raid were arrested on Wednesday morning.

"Don't prevent Ukraine from doing it": US Secretary of Defense Austin makes people sit up and take notice after drone attacks

December 7 update, 10:30 a.m.:

The US government does not want to prevent Ukraine from expanding its long-range strike capability.

US Secretary of State Lloyd Austin said on Tuesday.

"We are not working to prevent Ukraine from developing their own capabilities," said the 69-year-old.

With his statements Austin reacts to the drone attacks on Russian airfields on Tuesday.

Moscow blamed Ukraine for the attacks.

There was also speculation about US participation.

Kyiv rejected the allegations.

Victoria Nuland, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs at the US Department of Defense, told CNN television: "No one has taken responsibility for the drone strikes.

But the Ukrainian people are incredibly innovative.

They make their own drones, on land and at sea, which are incredibly effective.” US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken previously denied US involvement in the attacks.

Lloyd Austin, US Secretary of Defense, speaks during a press conference.

© Manuel Balce Ceneta/dpa

Russia Orders Hundreds Of New Drones From Iran - Dirty Deal In Return?

Update from December 7, 8:25 a.m

.: Russia is apparently reacting to the acute lack of military supplies and is ordering hundreds of drones from Iran.

“We know that Iran is planning to increase its deliveries of unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles to Russia in significant quantities.

I don't think they have been shipped yet, but they are clearly in the order books," circles at the United Nations in New York told the dpa.

According to consistent reports, Iran had already sent drones to Russia in August.

A few weeks later, armed forces repeatedly attacked targets in Ukraine using Iranian Shahed 136 kamikaze drones.

It is unclear how exactly Moscow could show its gratitude to the leadership in Tehran for the war aid.

According to diplomatic circles, money is likely to play a subordinate role, rather military aid is suspected: "There will probably be a much deeper defense cooperation - with massive effects on the security of the region."

The influential regional power Iran has recently continued to build up nuclear weapons.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy suggested that the nuclear power Russia could help Iran in its nuclear program in return for the weapons.

According to Zelenskyj, the Russian army is also instructed by Iranians when using the drones.

Neither 'enabled' nor 'encouraged': US denies involvement in attacks on Russian military bases

December 7 update, 7:30 a.m

.: The US has denied any involvement in the attacks on military bases in Russia.

"We neither encouraged nor enabled the Ukrainians to attack inside Russia," said Foreign Minister Antony Blinken.

The attacks on three bases in central Russia, which killed three people and damaged two planes, are believed to have been carried out by Ukrainian drones.

The leadership in Kyiv has not yet commented on this.

A US State Department spokesman also did not explicitly attribute the attacks to Ukraine.

"We are providing Ukraine with what it needs on its sovereign territory - on Ukrainian soil - to act against the Russian aggressors," said ministry spokesman Ned Price.

Experts think it is possible that Ukraine flew the attacks with simple Soviet-era drones and was not dependent on technology from Western allies in this case.

Negotiation push?

Lavrov's deputy open to talks: "If the West is really interested"

Update from December 6, 9.45 p.m

.: Russia is apparently open to negotiation talks with the West.

The Kremlin is ready for a dialogue about security guarantees, the Russian state news agency Ria Novosti reported on Tuesday evening.

One could imagine talks, said Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, Sergei Lavrov's deputy.

"If we hear that the West is really interested in this, we will come back to the subject," the Tass news agency quoted the politician as saying.

French President Emmanuel Macron had previously suggested security guarantees for Russia - and thus triggered mixed feelings in German politics.

The move comes at a time when the EU classified Russia as a "terror sponsor".

The German MEP David McAllister (CDU) told our editorial team that the aim was to further reduce the dialogue with Russia: "Russia must continue to be ostracized internationally and diplomatic relations should be reduced to the absolute minimum."

more on the subject

EU condemns Russia as a "terror sponsor" - German leader of the left explains: "That's why I voted against"

Update from December 6, 6:32 p.m

.: Dmytro Kuleba has now contacted the senders of packages with bloody animal eyes.

"Stop terrorizing our consulates and just relax and don't waste your money on postage.

You're not getting anything with these actions," Ukraine's foreign minister said, according to the

.

According to the government, Ukrainian diplomatic missions in twelve countries have already been the target of suspicious mail in the past few weeks. 

Latvia withdraws its license from Russian TV station Dozhd

Update from December 6, 4:06 p.m

.: Latvia has withdrawn the broadcasting license from the independent Russian television station Doschd.

The Media Council sees a "threat to national security" - Putin spokesman Peskov reacted with mockery to the ban on broadcasting.

Update from December 6, 3:29 p.m

.: A possible “shadow fleet” of Vladimir Putin’s Russia continues to employ observers.

According to energy expert Adnan Vatansever, it could increase the risk of environmental disasters.

He said this to the

according to the pre-notification.

"Most of these ships are quite old," Vatansever said.

The risk of accidents is high.

Earlier there were reports that Russia could build its own fleet of about 100 used tankers to circumvent the Western price cap on Russian oil.

According to an EU representative, however, the structure should be “very complicated” in the short term.

He also reckoned that Russia would have trouble attracting customers.

Drones at Russian military airports: Putin convenes Security Council

Update from December 6, 2:41 p.m .:

Vladimir Putin has now convened his country’s Security Council because of alleged Ukrainian drone attacks on military bases in Russia.

High-ranking representatives of the security authorities discussed with the head of the Kremlin how the country's "internal security" could be guaranteed.

Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov also told reporters that the authorities would take "necessary" measures to protect the country from Ukrainian attacks.

A drone had previously hit a military airfield in the Kursk region near the border.

On Monday (November 5), Moscow had already blamed Kyiv for drone attacks on two airfields far inland.

The Kremlin has thus underscored a harsh judgment by the British secret service: If Moscow classifies the explosions as targeted attacks, this would probably be one of “the most serious failures” in protecting its own troops since the beginning of the war, according to London sources.

Picture from November 6: Vladimir Putin at a conference in the Kremlin © Mikhail Metzel/Imago

Russian state news agency reports 'French people's delight' over Putin video

Update from December 6, 2:32 p.m

.: "The French were happy about the video of Putin on the Crimean bridge", is the headline of a current report from Ria Novosti.

The Russian state news agency based this assessment on online reader comments under an article in the French daily

.

Users referred primarily to the rapid reconstruction of the bridge.

"According to many, this proves once again that the economic war against Russia only harms the West," Ria Novosti concluded, based on four selected reader contributions.

EU aid to Ukraine: Hungary blocks another 18 billion euros

Update from December 6, 1:13 p.m

.: Hungary under Prime Minister Viktor Orbán continues to block EU financial aid of up to 18 billion euros for Ukraine.

The representative of Hungary voted against their release at a public consultation of the EU finance ministers.

It must be decided unanimously.

According to the Czech Finance Minister Zbynek Stanjura, the other 26 member states now want to look for an alternative solution, which is considered complicated.

According to diplomats, Hungary wants to prevent the other member states from blocking EU aid totaling more than 13 billion euros for Budapest with its blocking stance.

The EU Commission recommended freezing the funds last week, partly because of massive problems in the fight against corruption in Hungary.

Orbán uses Macron's US criticism for his own purposes: "Rethink Russia sanctions"

Update from December 6, 10:33 a.m

.: "The costs of this war are unequally distributed on both sides of the Atlantic": With these words, Emmanuel Macron recently criticized in a CBS interview that relations with the USA are currently "not synchronous". be.

“Europe buys gas and oil.

The USA, in turn, produce these raw materials.

But our industries and private households do not buy at the same price,” explained the French President.

Rather, there is “a big gap”.

A current point of contention between the EU and the US is the high profits that US energy exporters are making by supplying LNG to Europe.

In addition, Macron attacked the "America First" economic policy during his recent visit to the US.

Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban has now joined him - but has drawn rather unpleasant conclusions from a French perspective: "Macron is right," he tweeted on Monday (December 5), adding: "It is high time to reconsider the Russia sanctions." .” One of Macron's advisors said in November that Europe is suffering most from the sanctions against Russia.

Emmanuel Macron and Victor Orban (left) at the informal EU summit in Prague in October © Kay Nietfeld/dpa

German ambassador apologizes for Merkel's Russia policy: "Warning signals ignored"

Update from December 6, 9:34 a.m

.: The German ambassador to the United States, Emily Haber, has admitted that the federal government has made mistakes in dealing with Russia in recent years.

The improvement in relations with Moscow over several decades has strengthened the assumption on the German side that interdependence leads to stability, transparency and ultimately to systemic changes, Haber wrote in a guest article for the

on Monday (December 5).

But that turned out to be wrong.

"We have ignored warning signs to the contrary and failed to take criticism from our allies and partners as seriously as we should have - particularly regarding the geopolitical implications of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline."

On Monday, Chancellor Olaf Scholz also announced a "turning point" in an English-language medium.

Angela Merkel on her farewell visit to Vladimir Putin © Sergey Guneev / Imago

US Secretary of State Blinken warns of a sham ceasefire

Update from December 6, 6:51 a.m

.: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken warns of a sham ceasefire if Russia does not succeed in forcing the Ukrainian people to give up.

"If Russia is unsuccessful in its current attempt to get the Ukrainian people to give up - and they will not be successful - then one can imagine that Russia is looking for an alternative that would be a sham solution," said Blinken at one

event

in Washington.

There will be no movement in the conflict as long as Russia shows no interest in a meaningful diplomatic solution.

"We need a just and lasting peace, not a sham peace."

Putin visits the Crimean bridge in a German car: Kremlin chief controls Mercedes

Update from December 5, 3:33 p.m

.: Vladimir Putin visited the partially destroyed bridge to Crimea.

Pictures from Russian television channels on Monday (December 5) showed the Kremlin chief at the wheel of a Mercedes in which he is said to have crossed the bridge.

It was the Kremlin chief's first visit to the annexed peninsula since the Russian war of aggression began.

The bomb-damaged bridge connects Crimea to mainland Russia.

The Russian authorities had blamed Kyiv for the shelling.

Putin has previously been photographed shirtless on horseback and shirtless fishing.

In the most recent media-effective pictures, however, he wears a jacket:

Also, on Sunday (December 4), Putin signed an amendment to the law banning "propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations," state news agency Tass reported.

According to the Ukrainian media project

, LGBT rallies in the vicinity of public buildings, universities, schools, hospitals, airports, train stations, churches and aid facilities will now also be officially banned in Russia.

Embassies and consulates of Ukraine receive packages with animal eyes

Update from December 5, 1:36 p.m

.: Suspicious packages: Ukrainian missions abroad have already received such packages in twelve target countries this year.

This was announced by Foreign Ministry spokesman Oleh Nikolenko from Kyiv.

There have been a total of 21 incidents in embassies or consulates in the past few weeks.

Last week, several Ukrainian diplomatic missions received packages containing bloody animal eyes.

First report from December 5

: Minsk/Munich - For the first time since the Russian attack on Ukraine, Russia's Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has visited Belarus.

At a meeting with his authoritarian long-term ruler Alexander Lukashenko on Saturday (November 3), it was not just about thanking the Russian soldiers stationed in the neighboring country.

"They really feel at home here," said Shoigu about the Russian military, whose effectiveness is increasingly being questioned internationally.

Putin ally Lukashenko in Ukraine conflict: "We don't want war"

According to the state-run Belarusian news agency Belta, Lukashenko further explained: “We are not hiding in the bushes here.

We state our views openly. Neither you nor we wanted and do want a war.” He emphasized that he didn't want to intimidate anyone, but he dished out against his opponents.

Lukashenko said that neither he "nor the country's security services see that they are ready to negotiate comprehensively and humanely.

You see, in our opinion, how the war could continue.

Well then, in that case, the special military operation will never end.”

Belarus supports Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin's war of aggression against Ukraine - for example by allowing Russian missiles to be launched from its territory.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy currently rejects Moscow's "conditions" for negotiations.

Lavrov spokeswoman dismisses Putin's nuclear threats: "West's attempt at diversion"

Almost at the same time there seemed to be "forgiving" tones from Moscow: the Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova had accused the top US diplomat Victoria Nuland at the weekend of wanting to "blame" Russia for nuclear threats - and dismissed them far and wide.

"Nuland has once again harmed herself: first, she inflated alleged nuclear threats from Russia with the help of the media and think tanks she controls, and now she is trying to distract from them," Zakharova wrote on Telegram, according to Russia's state news agency TASS.

Rather, Moscow had "repeatedly stated" that the use of nuclear weapons was "unacceptable."

According to Tass, she was referring to statements that Nuland made to the Ukrainian portal

.