Ukraine announces partial mobilization of reservists – key developments of the night

new York Against the background of the latest escalations in the Ukraine conflict, the Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenski one Partial mobilization of reservists announced. “We have to operationally replenish the army and other military formations,” said the head of state in a video message. There will also be military exercises in the area defense units. The 44-year-old did not say how many men will be affected.

In parallel, become a Program to increase economic independence started. This also includes the reduction in VAT for petrol and diesel. Zelensky announced a meeting with the 150 most important entrepreneurs and urged all business people to stay in the country.

Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized the independence of the separatist regions of Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine on Monday and ordered Russian soldiers to be sent there. The parliament in Moscow ratified the recognition on Tuesday. The upper house of parliament approved a deployment of troops.

the danger of war could increase with Putin’s decision to recognize the separatist regions in their original Ukrainian borders. The claims of the insurgents, who so far only control about 32 percent of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions, go well beyond the area they have previously administered.

Sanctions by several states

US President Joe Biden After the recent escalation in the Ukraine crisis, expects a large-scale attack by Russia on the neighboring country. “We continue to believe that Russia is ready to go significantly further and launch a massive military strike against Ukraine,” Biden said at the White House in Washington, announcing new ones sanctions against Russia.

The punitive measures will therefore be against two big banksagainst Trading Russian government bonds and against Supporters of Putin and their families judge. Biden stressed that the US is ready to take even tougher steps if Russia continues to press ahead with its crackdown on Ukraine.

This is how the Handelsblatt reports on the developments in the Ukraine crisis:

Also the EU imposes new sanctions on Russia. At a special meeting in Paris, the foreign ministers of the 27 member states approved a corresponding proposal by the EU Commission and the Foreign Service. The sanctions are expected to come into effect on Wednesday.

are in the sights of the EU banks and the armaments sector. Also Russia’s Access to the European capital markets will be restricted. This is a response to Russia’s aggressive behavior, said EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. “If Russia further escalates the crisis of its own making, we stand ready to take further action in response.” Also Great Britains Prime Minister Boris Johnson occupied five Russian banks as three wealthy Russian citizens with sanctions.

On the night of Wednesday, other countries announced punitive measures: This is allowed Canadian also in the future no Russian government bonds buy more or with two state-owned Russian banks doing business, the government in Ottawa announced. Members of the Russian parliament who voted to recognize the separatist regions of Luhansk and Donetsk are to be punished.

Even Japan takes first punitive measures against Russia. The sanctions package includes that Ban on the issuance of Russian bonds in Japan and that Asset Freeze certain Russian individuals, said Head of State Fumio Kishida. The government in Tokyo will consider further steps should the situation in Ukraine deteriorate. Kishida calls on the Kremlin to return to the negotiating table.

Australia announced targeted travel bans and financial penalties for members of the Russian Security Council and comprehensive sanctions for the Donetsk and Luhansk regions recognized by Moscow, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced. “The invasion of Ukraine has practically already begun,” Morrison said. This was “unjustified, unfounded, unprovoked and unacceptable”. Visa applications from Ukraine are now given preferential treatment. “We will work very closely with neighboring countries to deal with the likelihood of displaced people,” Morrison said. “We believe that we can provide effective help here.”

Nord Stream 2 suspended

The federal government has put the Nord Stream 2 Baltic Sea pipeline on hold for the time being. Chancellor Olaf scholz (SPD) stopped the approval process for the pipeline on Tuesday. He thinks it’s possible that temporarily stopped gas pipeline Nord Stream 2 between Russia and Germany never goes into operation. “Now, at any rate, this is a situation in which no one should bet,” said the Chancellor.

the US welcomed the move of the federal government, White House press secretary Jen Psaki wrote on Twitter: “We coordinated closely with Germany over the course of the night.” Also Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau emphasized the unity of the western partners in imposing strong sanctions against Moscow and praised the temporary stop of Nord Stream 2. This was a “significant source of income for the Russian state”, the cessation makes a difference.

the European Union gas supply is, according to the EU Commission, despite the conflict safe for now. The gas storage tanks are currently about 30 percent full.

Further troop transfers planned

The United States and Canada also quit further troop deployments to the eastern states: US President Joe Biden redistributes American soldiers in Europe in view of the Ukraine crisis. He sends 800 infantry soldiers to the Baltic countries and up to eight F-35 fighter jets to the eastern flank of NATO, said a US representative. In addition, Biden sends 32 AH-64 Apache helicopters to the Baltic countries and to Poland from locations within Europe. The additional personnel should prevent possible aggression against NATO member countries.

Even Canada become additional soldiers to Europe send, confirmed Trudeau. He will send up to 460 soldiers to Latvia and the surrounding areas. This should strengthen NATO in the face of Russian aggression.

One scheduled for Thursday meeting US Secretary of State Antony Blinken canceled the meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov. In view of Moscow’s actions, Blinken said it made no sense to hold on to the talks scheduled for Geneva. However, the US government is in principle still ready for diplomatic talks.
With agency material.

More: All news can be found in the live blog on the Ukraine crisis