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April 29, 2022 – 10:54 am
These are threatening words that Russian President Vladimir Putin sent to the world Wednesday afternoon in St Petersburg: Anyone who interferes in the Ukraine war from outside and creates an unacceptable strategic threat to Russia should know that the response will come “swiftly like lightning” and will be “swift”.
Ready nuclear weapons
While he didn’t say literally that this could also mean military consequences, it resonates with his words. Because Putin added that Russia has “all the instruments” for possible counterattacks. At the senior officials meeting, he went on to say, “And we’re not going to brag. We’re going to use them when necessary. And I want everyone to know that.”
In the context that Putin put the country’s nuclear weapons on increasing alert at the start of the war in Ukraine as a warning to NATO, this should certainly be taken as a clear signal. So far, however, there have been no significant moves at Russian nuclear bases, several US services have repeatedly emphasized.
Anton Hofreiter warns against fear propaganda
The Kremlin’s warnings come on the heels of the German decision to start sending heavy weapons like Gepard tanks to Ukraine.
For the green politician Anton Hofreiter, a nuclear war as an escalation of possible weapons deliveries is still unlikely. He does not assume “that there are many suicide bombers in the Kremlin”, the chairman of the European Bundestag Committee told SPIEGEL. Care must be taken not to adopt “Kremlin fear propaganda”.
Suspension of gas supplies to Poland and Bulgaria
But Putin is not just threatening with weapons: the Russian despot is also using new means in the gas dispute. State-owned Gazprom announced on Tuesday that it would stop supplying gas to Poland and Bulgaria. This happened on Wednesday. “The faucet has been turned off,” confirmed Poland’s climate minister, Anna Moswka.
The reason is said to be the refusal of Poland and Bulgaria to pay for gas supplies in rubles. Sofia and Warsaw, on the other hand, stress that they have fulfilled their obligations. However, these settings currently have no effect on the Federal Republic.
In the video: Putin’s threat with a new nuclear missile
Putin threatens other countries with gas stop
In March, Putin demanded that Western countries open accounts with Gazprombank from April 1 to pay for deliveries. Otherwise, deliveries would be interrupted. However, payments to the bank can still be made in euros or dollars, and the bank will convert the money into rubles. On Wednesday, however, Putin also threatened other countries to shut off gas supplies. (eon, with dpa)