War in Ukraine: Rhetoric Frightens World War III – Russian Nuclear Threats, West Sends Weapons

The war in Ukraine is escalating dangerously with the Russian side warning of the danger of a third world war, while Western countries send weapons to Kyiv. “No one in the world is safe after the threats at the nuclear power plants,” said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on Tuesday criticized Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov for warning of the threat of World War III, which may mean the use of nuclear weapons.. “We have repeatedly said that this kind of rhetoric is very dangerous and useless,” Austin said after an international summit on arms supplies to Ukraine at the US air base in Rammstein, Germany.

“No one wants to see a nuclear war break out. Dangerous rhetoric is clearly useless. “We will not get involved in it,” he added.

During an interview he gave to Russian state television yesterday Monday The head of the Russian diplomacy said that the danger is real and can not be underestimated. Sergei Lavrov compared the current situation with the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962.

From his side, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says no one in the world can feel safe after the Russian threats to the Ukrainian nuclear power plants. In his night sermon, he called for greater “global control” over Russian nuclear technology.

“I believe that after all that the Russian army has done in Chernobyl and Zaporizhia, no one in the world can feel safe knowing how many nuclear facilities and nuclear weapons and related technologies the Russian state has at its disposal,” Zelensky said. “If Russia has forgotten what happened at Chernobyl, it means that more global control is needed over Russia’s nuclear facilities and nuclear technology.”

The West is sending weapons

Germany has decided to send heavy weapons to Ukraine for the first time, a decision welcomed by the US government. “I think it’s important that Germany has announced that it is going to deliver 50 Cheetah systems,” said US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin after talks with his German counterparts in Rammstein, calling the Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft systems English names. their.

“Vladimir Putin’s Russia has left the circle of civilized nations,” said German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht, while announcing a program of training Ukrainian soldiers on German soil in artillery systems.

This is a turning point in Berlin’s so far cautious approach to arms supplies to Ukraine. France has already announced that it will send Caesar guns, with a range of 40 kilometers. Britain will supply Starstreak anti-aircraft missiles and armor.

The Netherlands will supply a “limited number” of Panzerhaubitze 2000 self-propelled guns to Kyiv, the Dutch government announced on Tuesday, as Russian forces continue to occupy territory in eastern Ukraine.

These are the “heaviest” self-propelled guns available to the Dutch army, the Ministry of Defense explained. They can hit targets at a distance of up to 50 kilometers under all meteorological conditions.

Germany – where they are made – will guarantee the training of the Ukrainian military in their use and will supply ammunition.

Russia cuts gas to Bulgaria and Poland

Meanwhile, Russia’s Gazprom informs Bulgarian state-owned gas distribution company Bulgargaz to cut off gas supplies from today Wednesday (27/4), as announced by the Bulgarian Ministry of Energy.

The Bulgarian ministry says it has taken steps to find alternatives to gas supplies and managing the situation.

Stresses that at this stage no restrictions are needed on gas consumption in Bulgariawhich covers more than 90% of its needs with imports from Gazprom.

Earlier, the Russian energy giant had informed the Polish state oil and gas company PGNiG that it interrupts the supply of natural gas through the Yamal pipeline from 9 in the morning (Greek time) on Wednesday.

On her side, Polish company announces in advance that it has every right to claim compensation for breach of contract.