Action, reaction. Last week, in an interview, French President Emmanuel Macron argued that Western troops could be sent to Ukrainian territory in the event that Russia “breaks through the front lines” — and Kiev asks the West for such support. fair, Vladimir Putin reacted, without words but with a nuclear threat.
The Russian President ordered the holding of nuclear exercises, on a date to be defined but close to the Ukrainian border, in a “response to provocative statements and threats made against Russia by certain Western officials”, reads a brief statement from the Russian Ministry of Defense .
The exercises, which aim to “maintain the readiness” of the army, will involve the air force, the navy and the forces of the southern military district, which covers the regions of Ukraine that Moscow annexed.
When a nuclear conflict is imminent, there are those who call for calm (and look for calm in China) and those who throw more logs on the fire — or simply take precautions.
Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, said this Monday that she trusts that Beijing will continue to play a deterrent role in relation to Russian nuclear threats. “President Xi Jinping has played an important role in deescalating Russia’s irresponsible nuclear threats and I am confident he will continue to do so,” said von der Leyen.
In turn, the head of European Union (EU) diplomacy, Josep Borrel, defended joint initiatives between Ukrainian and European companies, and even the use of community funds, to boost Ukraine’s military industry.
“Ukraine lacks air defense and artillery ammunition. Decisions to support Ukraine have consequences today and tomorrow, for Ukraine and for us. It is a matter of responsibility for Europeans”, highlighted the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
Maintaining the war tone, Finnish authorities stated this Monday that they have weapons and military equipment stored in Norway — and could also do so in Sweden. In an interview with the Financial Times, the Finnish Minister of Defense, Mikko Heiskannen, and guaranteeing that “the eggs do not all have to be in one basket”, stated, categorically, about a hypothetical serious crisis in Europe: “We are not alone, no longer . Now we can count on each other.”
The United States is also considering the possibility of establishing a large arms depot in Scandinavia, in a clear response to the possibility of Russian aggression against one of these northern European countries.
OTHER NEWS
⇒ At least six people were killed and 35 injured in a Ukrainian drone attack in the Russian border region of Belgorod. The drones reportedly hit vehicles transporting workers from an agro-industrial company producing pork products.
⇒ In 2023, the European Union refused entry to almost 119,000 citizens from third countries, the majority of whom (18,325) were people from Ukraine. At land borders, Poland (12,900) and Hungary (12,020) recorded the highest number of entry refusals.
⇒ Speaking of refusals, the Hungarian Government refused this Monday to repatriate Ukrainian refugees old enough to fight. Recently, the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, authorized a new mobilization law that expands the age range and conditions for recruiting civilians — which would allow the return of Ukrainian migrants. “Hungary will not extradite refugees. Humanely, we will not allow them to be sent to their deaths,” said Hungarian Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjen.
⇒ The Prime Minister of Ukraine, Denis Shmigal, guaranteed, this Monday, that Kiev is “one step away” from joining NATO and trusts that the Alliance will make a decision on the matter at the next summit, scheduled for July, in Washington. “Our army works according to NATO standards. We have implemented all the necessary reforms and we are one step closer to being invited,” said Shmigal.
Tags: Putin nuclear weapons neighbors armed teeth summer smells NATO days war
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