The space for dialogue with Washington remains open, despite everything. And Volodymyr Zelensky himself says he does not believe in the use of nuclear weapons: it is the hope of the whole world

Protests and arrests in Moscow and in many other Russian cities Video

The same day Russian President Vladimir Putin announces the partial mobilization of 300,000 reservists in support of the military operation in Ukraine, his Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is in New York for the UN Security Council, and the Kremlin releases 255. prisoners of war, including ten American, British and other foreign mercenaries, some of whom have already been sentenced to death. Confirming that on the eve of the referendums held in the pro-Russian independence republics of Donetsk and Lugansk, and in the occupied territories of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia - a referendum with a predictable outcome that would lead to the annexation of these regions of south-eastern Ukraine to the Russian Federation - the space for a negotiation between Moscow and Washington is still open - video

Vladimir Putin's speech to the Nation - guard

THE CONDEMNATION OF THE WEST - The condemnations by the leaders of the United States and Europe have been served for what is in effect a threat of an escalation of the war - in the event of annexation, Russia could use its atomic arsenal to defend the new territories now Ukrainian. 'A nuclear war is impossible to win and should not be waged,' said US President Joe Biden. 'I don't think Moscow will use nuclear weapons,' Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky commented. Concerns were instead expressed by China, which renewed its call for an immediate ceasefire, while EU foreign ministers discussed a new package of sanctions, the eighth, in an extraordinary summit called as an emergency.

Mario Draghi, speech to the UN: 'Go ahead with the sanctions, Moscow is trampling the rules

PROTESTS IN RUSSIA - Protests in response to the announcement of mobilization were recorded yesterday in all the major cities of the Russian Federation, starting with Moscow and St. Petersburg, with 1,300 people detained (less than a tenth in any case compared to the demonstrations following the outbreak of the war ). The mobilization will only concern reservists with already military experience and training, said Russian Defense Minister Serghei Shoigu. In reality, a spontaneous mobilization had already started in eight regions and republics of the Federation, including Ramzan Kadyrov's Chechnya, after the Ukrainian counter-offensive of the past few weeks, with increasingly pressing requests for an adequate military response from Moscow.

All about the war in Ukraine - special

THE NEGOTIATIONS - In the meantime, the fighting continues on the field, with very heavy blood tolls for both sides - more than 60,000 dead among Ukrainian soldiers, just as many among Russian ones, at least to believe the statements of the respective commands. 'The referendum may be the prelude to a military escalation, but it is also possible that with this action the Kremlin wants to indicate that it is ready to enter into a real negotiation,' said political scientist Grigorii Golosov, professor at the European University of Sam Petersburg, al New York Times . 'Many political leaders raise their demands before entering into negotiations, and this is a normal tactic.'

Source: oggi.it