Macron warns ‘worst is yet to come’ after a 90-minute phone call with Putin elevating the threat of nuclear war to gloomily hit higher.
The threat of Nuclear War World War 3
Emmanuel Macron President of France had a long talk with Vladimir Putin, President of Russia and Macron warns ‘worst is yet to come’ after his 90-minute phone call with Putin. The mood of the world is gloomy with the impending threat of nuclear war. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has warned that if a third world war were to occur, it would be nuclear.
While the US and UK have unveiled new sanctions on Russian oligarchs, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov warns World War 3 would be ‘nuclear and destructive’ and ministers are suggesting World War 3 has already started.
On Thursday, meanwhile, Ukraine’s Zelenskyy asks Putin for direct talks, says, ‘What are you afraid of? I don’t bite’ asking Putin to ‘sit down’ for negotiations Ukraine insisted on a ceasefire and humanitarian corridors to evacuate citizens during its second round of talks with the Russian delegation during the day. Putin is not listening to anyone and villages in Ukraine have been attacked by the Russian army, killing innocent civilians.
Referring to Putin’s February 7 meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron wherein the leaders were seen sitting at the far ends of a long, white table, Zelenskyy asked, “Sit down with me to negotiate, just not at 30 meters.”
The Zaporizhzhia plant is responsible for around one-quarter of Ukraine’s power generation and after Russia started attacking Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant; which sends out a strong message of the kind of war Russia wants to take forward – nuclear. Putin has already warned interference from any nation will result in destruction the world has never seen. Every nation is gingerly tipping around on their toes around Russia. In fact, when Putin changed Russian laws to make himself the ruler of Russia forever, one would see the nascent signs of megalomania. One would never know how far Putin will go.
Here in Zaporizhzhia, fortunately, they managed to put out the fire but was that fire just a warning sign of what would happen in the future, and is Putin by attacking Zaporizhzhia nuclear zone sending out a message to the world of his push for a nuclear war?
Relieved right now, Ukrainian officials say nuclear safety at Zaporizhzhia power plant is ‘secured’ following Russian shelling and Ukrainian civilians rise in the war to fight, throwing Molotov cocktails to defend the City of Zhytomyr. However, for how long? How does one stop a man bent on nuclear war unless all get involved?
Diplomatic talks have not resulted in a lasting cease-fire in Ukraine, with fighting having entered a second week. Russian forces trying to blockade Ukraine’s port city of Mariupol, mayor says
The United States said it is granting “temporary protected status” to Ukrainians currently in the country. The status will apply for the next 18 months and means Ukrainians in the US will not face deportation.
“Russia’s premeditated and unprovoked attack on Ukraine has resulted in an ongoing war, senseless violence, and Ukrainians forced to seek refuge in other countries,” Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said in a statement.
Mayorkas added, “In these extraordinary times, we will continue to offer our support and protection to Ukrainian nationals in the United States.”
UN nuclear chief calls for fighting to end in Enerhodar and “Director-General Grossi appealed for an immediate halt to the use of force at Enerhodar and called on the military forces operating there to refrain from violence near the nuclear power plant,” an IAEA statement said.
Small Ray of Hope Amid Helplessness
In the meantime, countries like Britain sound helpless in this situation, none having the negotiating power to stop the war, it seems, and they are perhaps waiting for Putin to press the button.
Stunning #Ukraine #UkraineRussiaConflict pic.twitter.com/ZJe2onNazs
— Rita (@MukandRita) March 3, 2022
America while threatening sanctions on Putin are still buying 167,00 barrels of oil from Russia, indirectly finacing the war.
During a visit to Lithuania on Thursday, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said he believes the war in Ukraine could last an extended amount of time. He defined the war as a “violation of international law” and said, “No one in the course of history will be able to justify what is happening in Ukraine now.”
Although Ukraine expressed disappointment about the second round of talks, Russian negotiator Vladimir Medinsky claimed the negotiations produced “substantial progress.”
“The main issue we decided on today was the issue of saving people, civilians, who are in the zone of military clashes,” Medinsky said. “Russia calls on civilians who find themselves in this situation, if military actions continue, to use these humanitarian corridors.”
Russian negotiator Leonid Slutsky said the agreements in the second round of talks will be “implemented in the near future.”
Germany’s Scholz urges cease-fire: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called for a cease-fire in Ukraine during the “Maybrit Illner” TV program and said sanctions on Moscow were having an impact. He called the invasion a “war against the Ukrainian people.”
At the same time, he stated that “regime change” to take out Russian President Vladimir Putin is not an option on the table. He said a direct conflict between NATO and Russia must be prevented.
Scholz also urged former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder to leave his positions at Russian energy companies Rosneft and Gazprom. Schröder is a member of Scholz’s center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD).
The Ukrainian and Russian negotiators at talks in Belarus say the two sides have agreed on provisions for a number of humanitarian issues.
Little Hope
Russia seems to be willing for a temporary cease-fire to allow the evacuation of citizens and the delivery of aid to areas where fierce fighting has been taking place.
The Ukrainian negotiator said that the second round of cease-fire talks had not yielded the results Kyiv hoped for, but the sides had agreed to speak again.
“To our great regret, we did not get the results we were counting on,” Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said. According to Belarusian news agency Belta, Podolyak said the third round of talks will take place at the beginning of next week.
Podolyak said cease-fires will only take place in designated humanitarian corridor areas.
Russian President Vladimir Putin also said his military has agreed to the corridors.
Kyiv human rights lawyer informs DW about the situation in Ukraine
Oleksandra Matviichuk has briefed DW that she has lost any sense of time since the Russian invasion. “War is a horrible thing, but we are resisting the Russian aggression.”
Alongside concerns for family members, Matviichuk said everyone was worried about how to save “peaceful cities and Ukrainian lives.”
Sanctions
The US claims these pro-Putin oligarchs have “enriched themselves at the expense of Russian people.” “Other sit atop Russia’s largest companies and are responsible for providing the resources necessary to support Putin’s invasion of Ukraine,” the White House said.
“These individuals and their family members will be cut off from the US financial system; their assets in the United States will be frozen and their property will be blocked from use,” the statement added.
Alisher Burhanovich Usmanov, an Uzbek-born oligarch who made most of his wealth in mining and metal operations following the fall of the Soviet Union, is one of the sanctioned individuals. Former Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov was also hit with sanctions.
The UK also imposed new sanctions on Usmanov and Shuvalov on Thursday.
Biden said, ‘We’re coming for your ill-begotten gains’
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk says Starlink could be targeted by attacks
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk says Starlink could be targeted by attacks and warned that his company’s Starlink internet service could be targeted by a Russian attack. Musk recently sent Starlink antennas to Ukraine to help civilians stay online amid the invasion.
“Important warning: Starlink is the only non-Russian communications system still working in some parts of Ukraine, so the probability of being targeted is high,” Musk tweeted. “Please use with caution.”
He requested users “turn on Starlink only when needed and place the antenna as far away from people as possible.” He also said users should “place light camouflage over the antenna to avoid visual detection.”
All in all, countries dependent on Russia for oil are weak in the game of chess that Putin has played. Some people feel he is executing a war to end wars, but one must not forget he has threatened destruction the world has not seen before if any nation dares to interfere and his whole goal is imperialism. People who want to be free from the yolk of another nation should never support Putin’s imperialism nor his suggestion of nuclear war if they are thinking correctly.