Josep Borrell Fontelles has warned that President of Russia is not bluffing about nuclear weapons in the Ukraine war
The High Representative of the European Union (E.U.) for Foreign Affairs – Josep Borrell Fontelles has warned that President of Russia – Vladimir Putin is not bluffing about nuclear weapons in the Ukraine war.
His remarks come as Putin announced partial mobilisation of Russian citizens for Ukraine war. Putin has signed amendments toughening punishment for voluntary surrender and refusal to fight by upto 10 years in prison. He also signed a law which grants Russian citizenship to foreigners who volunteer to fight in Ukraine war.
Speaking on the occasion, Borrell said, “Certainly it’s a dangerous moment because the Russian army has been pushed into a corner, and Putin’s reaction – threatening using nuclear arms – it’s very bad.”
He further said, “Everybody who has gone to Moscow, to the Kremlin to talk to Putin, they came back with the same answer, ‘I [Putin] have military objectives, and if I don’t get these military objectives I will continue the fight.’ This is certainly a worrisome direction, but we have to continue to support Ukraine.”
He said the right way to end the war is through diplomatic means or else there will never be peace and this would lead to another war. Borrell also dismissed concerns that the E.U.’s arms supplies are running low and ensured continued support to Ukraine, as well as applying economic sanctions against Putin and his allies. At the same time, he admitted that the rising cost of energy is a big problem for E.U.
Meanwhile, Ukraine has recaptured 8,000 sq. km. (3,088 sq. miles) of his territory from Russian forces. Russia is also holding referendums in Russia-occupied Luhansk, Donetsk, Southern Kherson and Zaporizhia for officially including them in Russia. Armed soldiers have been going door-to-door getting people to vote on whether 4 Moscow-controlled regions should formally join Russia. Some residents have been threatened with punishment if they don’t vote.
Upto 100 people from Mariupol have gathered in Kyiv to protest against the Kremlin-organised referendums being held in their hometown over the possibility of Russian annexation. Covered in Ukrainian flags, with posters reading “Russia killed 100 thousand people of Mariupol” and “Mariupol is Ukraine”. The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) said it will never recognise Russia’s referendums in occupied regions of Ukraine. The alliance has called on all Member States to reject what it is calling a blatant attempt at territorial conquest.
The President of Ukraine – Volodymyr Zelenskyy said it would downgrade diplomatic ties with Iran for supplying Russian forces with drones.
