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Secret Putin plan revealed: Russia apparently wants to secretly annex Belarus

2023-02-21T06:56:35.541Z


Vladimir Putin is planning to take full power over Belarus. The intention is to prove a secret paper. All diplomatic developments in the ticker.


Vladimir Putin is planning to take full power over Belarus.

The intention is to prove a secret paper.

All diplomatic developments in the ticker.

  • Blinken

    and

    Baerbock

    warn

    China

    : No arms deliveries to Russia

  • Biden

    in

    Poland

    on Tuesday : Meeting with Polish President

  • Putin

    apparently wants to take over Belarus: Secret paper leaked

  • This 

    news ticker

     on the negotiations surrounding the

    Ukraine war 

    is continuously updated.

Update from February 21, 7:16 a.m .:

A research network has uncovered a crazy plan by Vladimir Putin: The Russian President should plan to gradually take over Belarus by 2030.

Vladimir Putin apparently wants to take over Belarus: Secret paper shows plan

This emerges from a leaked secret paper from the Moscow presidential administration, which is available to the

Süddeutsche Zeitung

, WDR and NDR.

Accordingly, Putin wants to gradually take over the neighboring country.

This is to be done by infiltrating Belarus, ruled by Alexander Lukashenko, on an economic, military and political level.

One of Putin's goals: to reduce Western influence and create a bulwark against NATO.

The targets are listed on a 17-page document that several Western secret services believe to be authentic, according to

SZ

.

"The content of the document is plausible and corresponds to what we also perceive," a senior intelligence official told the paper.

+

Actually allies?

Kremlin boss Putin (right) is said to be planning to take over Belarus.

© IMAGO/Vladimir Astapkovich

Ukraine war: China worried about possible escalation

Update from February 21, 6:34 a.m .:

China is concerned that the Ukraine war could threaten to escalate.

"China is deeply concerned that the conflict could escalate and even get out of control," said Foreign Minister Qin Gang when presenting a concept paper on the Global Security Initiative by state and party leader Xi Jinping.

There was no further criticism of Russia's war against Ukraine.

China is committed to peace talks and dialogue to consider all countries' interests and seek common security, Qin Gang said.

"At the same time, we urge relevant countries to immediately stop fanning the flames, stop blaming China, and stop chanting 'Ukraine today, Taiwan tomorrow'."

China's peace initiative: Paper only mentions Ukraine war in one sentence

He dismissed growing international concerns that China, like Russia in Ukraine, could launch a war to conquer Taiwan, which Beijing sees as part of the People's Republic.

On Friday, China announced its own peace initiative at the Munich Security Conference marking the first anniversary of the Ukraine war.

It was initially unclear whether a concrete plan would be presented beyond the current concept paper.

It mentions the Ukraine crisis in only one sentence - with the support of "dialogue and negotiations".

Joe Biden in Kiev: US President traveled by train

Update from February 20, 10:14 p.m .:

According to media reports, Joe Biden arrived in Poland on a train on Monday evening.

Coming from Ukraine, Biden arrived at the Przemyśl train station in south-eastern Poland shortly after 8:30 p.m., the Polish news agency PAP reported.

In the evening he was supposed to fly on with his government aircraft Air Force One from the airport in Rzeszów to Warsaw.

Update from February 20, 9:15 p.m .:

The visit of US President Biden Joe Biden is understood in Ukraine as a clear message to Russia.

At the same time, it is a signal to the Kremlin "that the United States will stand by Ukraine until it wins the war," said the head of Ukraine's presidential office, Andriy Yermak, according to local media in Kiev on Monday.

"The Kremlin, in turn, has no chance of winning," he added.

+

US President Joe Biden (l) and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (r).

© Evan Vucci/dpa

"The visit is another step to show that we are friends and partners not only today, but also after the victory: in rebuilding and restoring our state," said Jermak.

Biden's stay in Kiev has accelerated many processes, the most important of which is the provision of necessary weapons.

Foreign Ministers Blinken and Baerbock warn China against arms deliveries to Russia

Update from February 20, 6:50 p.m .:

The USA was recently concerned about possible arms deliveries from China to Russia.

According to Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin, statements by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken are "false information".

It is "the United States and not China that constantly sends weapons to the battlefield".

Washington must "seriously" think about its own actions and do more to "defuse the situation, promote peace and dialogue" and stop "blaming and misinformation."

Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock also appealed to China not to supply weapons to Russia for the war in Ukraine.

At the weekend at the Munich Security Conference, in talks with the Chinese delegation, she made it clear that China, as a member of the Security Council, is responsible for world peace, the Greens politician said on Monday at the sidelines of a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels.

She added: "Of course, this also means that China is not allowed to supply weapons - including dual-use goods - to Russia.

I underlined this intensively in my discussions.”

Meanwhile, more details were released about the military aid to Ukraine announced by President Joe Biden in Kiev.

The Pentagon announced on Monday that the new package is worth up to 460 million US dollars (a good 428 million euros) and primarily includes rockets for the Himars multiple rocket launcher, artillery shells, mortar shells, armor-piercing rockets and other ammunition.

In addition, the aid package includes radar systems for air surveillance, various vehicles as well as spare parts and medical equipment are included in the planned delivery.

Biden meets Polish President on Tuesday - Putin speaks on state of the nation

Update from February 20, 5:57 p.m .:

After US President Joe Biden’s surprise visit to Ukraine, he is expected in Poland on Tuesday.

According to the White House, a meeting between Biden and Polish President Andrzej Duda is planned in the capital Warsaw.

A speech in front of the Warsaw Royal Castle is expected in the early evening.

On Wednesday, Biden also wants to meet with representatives of other Eastern European NATO countries.

Biden was last in Poland at the end of March 2022.

This year, Biden's speech coincides with a speech by Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin.

He wants to speak on the state of the nation in Moscow on Tuesday.

It should be about the "military operation" and its effects, as the Kremlin announced.

Russia informed of Biden's visit - Italy ready to send fighter jets

Update from February 20, 4:50 p.m.:

Italy is ready to deliver fighter jets to Ukraine.

However, Italy refrains from going it alone.

Italian newspaper

La Repubblica

reports that Italy does not want to be the first ally to deploy fighter jets "for political reasons".

The EU has so far refrained from delivering fighter jets to Ukraine.

The federation of states recently announced a new procurement procedure.

This was confirmed by EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Sunday at the Munich Security Conference.

According to information from Estonia's Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, EU states should make money available, with which large-scale contracts can then be awarded to the defense industry via the EU. 

Update from February 20, 2:45 p.m .:

The USA claims to have informed Russia in advance about President Joe Biden’s visit to Kiev.

US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan did not say in a phone call to journalists what the exact content of the information was and how the Russians responded.

"But I can confirm that we provided that information," Sullivan said.

That happened a few hours earlier.

The US side left open how Biden came to Kiev.

In times of war, state guests usually travel to the Ukrainian capital by train.

However, after the release of the relevant information by the security services, there should be information on the travel route later, according to the delegation.

US President Biden in Kiev today – China's top diplomat in Moscow for a peace solution

Update from February 20, 2 p.m.:

China’s top diplomat Wang Yi is expected in Moscow today, reports the ARD “Tagesschau”.

According to the Reuters

news agency, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov had

already confirmed Wang's planned visit to Moscow, but had not yet given a date for this trip.

"We do not rule out a meeting between Mr. Wang and the president," Peskov told reporters.

"The agenda is clear and very extensive, so there is a lot to discuss."

An anonymous diplomatic source told

Reuters

ahead of the meeting that Wang will be in Moscow to discuss Chinese ideas for a political solution to the Ukraine conflict, as well as bilateral issues.

In the USA, however, there are fears of an agreement on arms deliveries from China to Russia.

+

China's former foreign minister is expected in Moscow today and wants to talk about a peace solution.

© Alexander Zemlianichenko / Pool / dpa

Update from February 20, 1:00 p.m

.: Selenskyj called Biden’s visit to Kiev and the announced further arms deliveries “an unmistakable signal” that Russia had “no chance” of winning the war.

During the US President's visit, air raids could be heard in Kiev, AFP reporters reported.

It is Biden's first visit to Ukraine since Russia's war of aggression began.

On Tuesday (February 21), Biden's program includes a trip to Warsaw and a meeting with Polish President Andrzej Duda.

In addition, Biden wants to give a speech on February 21 – Kremlin chief Putin has announced a “state of the nation address” for the day.

Biden also plans to meet the heads of state and government of several NATO countries in Central and Eastern Europe on Wednesday (February 22) in Warsaw.

A Year of the Ukraine War: The Origins of the Conflict with Russia

A Year of the Ukraine War: The Origins of the Conflict with Russia

Surprise visit to Kiev: Biden announces further arms deliveries

Update February 20, 12:00 p.m.:

During his visit to Kiev, US President Joe Biden pledged additional arms supplies and “unwavering” support for the US, the White House said in a statement.

Biden will announce the delivery of additional weapons, including artillery ammunition, anti-tank systems and surveillance radars to protect the Ukrainian population against air raids.

Update from February 20, 11:02 a.m .:

US President Joe Biden has arrived in Ukraine for a visit.

Before a planned trip to Poland, the democrat came to the capital Kiev on Monday - his first visit to the country since the start of the Ukraine war almost exactly a year ago.

Photos showed Biden alongside his counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy at a memorial wall for fallen Ukrainian soldiers.

The visit was not announced for security reasons.

Nexta

had previously

reported traffic jams in the center of Kiev and speculated that this could be due to the convoy of a "significant international delegation".

A photo of #Biden and #Zelenskyy in #Kyiv.

The US President's visit to the capital of #Ukraine has been confirmed.

pic.twitter.com/FPagxJHD15

— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) February 20, 2023

"Lost time" with Putin: Selenskyj slows down Macron - new warning of China turnaround

Update from February 20th, 9.45 a.m .:

Are negotiations with Vladimir Putin conceivable?

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rejected this idea - and also indirectly rebuked his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron.

He declared that he wanted to keep the door open for dialogue with Russia.

"It's going to be useless dialogue.

In truth, Macron is wasting his time.

I have come to the conclusion that we are unable to change Russia's behavior," Zelenskyy told the

Corriere della Sera

newspaper and two other Italian dailies.

Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is expected to make her first visit to Kiev in the near future. 

In the interview, with the Repubblica

among others

, Zelenskyj also reacted to rumors that China could possibly supply Russia with weapons: "I don't see any signs of this kind," the Ukrainian president clarified his information situation.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken had fueled speculation about such deliveries.

China in the Ukraine war: Asselborn warns of a "turnaround" in weapons

Update from February 20, 9.35 a.m

.: Luxembourg's Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn has warned of the Ukraine war escalating due to Chinese arms deliveries to Russia.

"That would be a turning point - and not for the better," Asselborn said on Deutschlandfunk.

Since US Secretary of State Antony Blinken had warned against Chinese arms deliveries, there must be "indications" of this possibility, Asselborn said.

Asselborn said China has not clearly sided with Russia and has not voted with Moscow at the UN.

He still hopes that China will see that it "does not play its own role" if a coalition with Russia is formed.

But he had "no illusions," added Asselborn.

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Vladimir Putin (left) and Xi Jinping at a meeting on February 4, 2022 in Beijing

© Alexei Druzhinin/Sputnik/AFP

“Beyond the 2024 federal budget”: Högl calls for funding commitments for the armaments industry

Update from February 20, 8:03 a.m .

: The Bundestag Defense Commissioner, Eva Högl (SPD), has called for the Bundeswehr to be upgraded to quickly build production capacities in the industry.

For this, the industry “also needs commitments from politicians that this will be financed – beyond the federal budget for 2024,” Högl told the

RND

newspapers.

Furthermore - starting with European public procurement law - the legal hurdles and the legal provisions would have to be simplified.

Högl also called for the defense budget to be increased by ten billion euros - beyond the Bundeswehr's special fund of 100 billion euros.

This is also a demand from Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD).

According to Högl, it must be "much faster" to procure new devices and to reacquire those that have been handed over to Ukraine.

Procurement problems exist in all European member states, said Högl.

Ukraine-News: Zelenskyj issues new sanctions against Russia

Update from February 20, 5:56 a.m

.: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj has issued new sanctions against Russia's financial sector in order to weaken the aggressor's war economy.

Accordingly, not only representatives of the banking system in Russia are subject to punitive measures, but also the Moscow Stock Exchange.

Selenskyj announced this in his most recent video speech.

The sanctions issued by decree are the basis for allies in the West to also issue such punitive measures.

In addition, the foreign ministers of the European Union want to discuss new punitive measures in Brussels this Monday (February 20).

+

Volodymyr Zelenskyy

© President Of Ukraine/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

US Secretary of State Blinken: China is considering arms deliveries to Russia in the Ukraine war

Update from February 19, 2023, 8:13 p.m .:

According to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, China is considering supporting Russia with weapons in the Ukraine war.

"The concern we have now based on the information we have is that they are considering providing lethal support," Blinken told CBS on Sunday, referring to China.

At a meeting with China's foreign policy expert Wang Yi at the Munich Security Conference, Blinken warned China of the "consequences" of supporting Russia.

When asked what "deadly support" meant, the secretary of state told CBS "everything from ammunition to the weapons themselves."

Any arms shipments to Moscow would cause "serious problems," Blinken warned.

Blinken said on ABC on Sunday that US President Joe Biden had already warned Chinese President Xi Jinping about arms deliveries to Russia last March.

Since then, China has been careful "not to cross this line," according to US officials.

Moscow accuses Kiev of planned “nuclear provocation”.

Report from February 19, 2023, 7:20 p.m.:

Munich – The war in Ukraine has been going on for almost a year.

Russia has repeatedly accused the Ukrainian military of carrying out or planning alleged provocation.

This was also the case shortly before the first anniversary of the bloody war: In a statement, the Russian Defense Ministry accused the Ukrainian leadership of preparing a “nuclear provocation” in the war zone.

In the statement released on Sunday (February 19), Russia's military leadership claims that Kiev would then blame Moscow for the "gross violation" of nuclear safety.

However, the ministry does not explain how this allegation came about.

In addition, the ministry did not provide any evidence for the allegation.

Russian President Vladimir Putin had previously claimed that he knew the location where Kiev was building a dirty bomb containing nuclear material.

Experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency traveled to Ukraine to investigate the allegations.

There was no confirmation of the Russian claims.

Moscow accuses Kiev of planned “nuclear provocation” – but provides no evidence

According to Russian information, next week, on the first anniversary of the war of aggression ordered by Kremlin chief Putin on February 24, Kiev plans to accuse Moscow of indiscriminate bombing of nuclear objects and "radioactive contamination" of the environment.

For this purpose, some containers with radioactive substances had been transported by a European country, which was not named, circumventing customs regulations.

The material should then be used to stage contamination of radioactive dangerous objects.

Ukraine, in turn, repeatedly accuses Russia of wanting to trigger a nuclear catastrophe with rockets flying past nuclear power plants.

The leadership in Kiev speaks of terrorism and sanctions against Moscow's nuclear industry.

The diplomatic negotiations surrounding the Munich Security Conference can be found here.

List of rubrics: © IMAGO/Vladimir Astapkovich

Source: merkur

All news articles on 2023-02-21

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