Russia: “EU’s Militarization Strategy aims at INCITING WAR”. Putin: “Ready for a Ceasefire” but with Monitoring it
Zakharova: “Armament of countries to provoking war”
by Carlo Domenico Cristofori
The military buildup plan for Europe, approved by the EU summit, is designed to incite war, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated.
“Armament of countries that are clearly losing their ability to operate effectively is progressing rapidly and excessively. Historically, this has always been referred to as provoking war,” she said. Zakharova said this plan means “inciting war” on the European continent.
On March 4, European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen stated that she had presented to the EU leaders a proposal to rearm the union with a budget of 800 billion euros. The EC’s plan entails borrowing up to 150 billion euros from the capital markets by the EC for further lending to EU states under the condition that they jointly procure weapons within Europe.
The funds will be used for the manufacturing of air defense systems in the EU and arms for Ukraine. Additionally, the EC proposed that countries raise their current defense spending by 1.5% to raise 650 billion euros for the production of weapons.
On March 7, the EU summit approved the militarization plan, which aims to provide the European Union with independent circular defense. The sources of financing are yet to be finalized.
Russia ready for ceasefire
Russia is ready for a ceasefire in the Ukraine conflict, President Vladimir Putin has said, stressing that such an agreement “must lead to long-term peace.” Moscow believes that the “idea” of a ceasefire is the “right one,” Putin told journalists during a joint press conference with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in Moscow on Thursday. “We absolutely support it,” he added.
“We endorse the idea of resolving the conflict through peaceful means,” the president insisted.
Certain issues still need to be discussed and resolved before a truce can be reached, Putin stated, adding that Moscow particularly needs to discuss them with the US. The dialogue could also require a personal conversation with US President Donald Trump, the Russian leader said.
Concerns listed by Putin included systems of “control and verification” to monitor the ceasefire regime, as well as Kiev’s potential attempts to use the pause in hostilities to rearm and reinforce its troops on the frontline.
“Are 30 days to be used to continue forced mobilization in Ukraine, to supply it with arms and to train the newly [formed] units?” the president stated. “Will there be any guarantees that nothing of that sort will happen?”
Putin: “It is becoming impossible for Kiev troops to break out of encirclement near Kursk”
The breakout of Ukrainian troops in Russia’s Kursk Region is becoming impossible, Russian President Vladimir Putin said after talks with his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko.
“Command and control of Ukrainian troops inside the incursion zone is no longer possible,” Putin said. “During the first stages, the Ukrainian military attempted to leave this zone in small groups. This is no longer possible.”
In his words, the encircled Ukrainian troops are trying to break out “in small groups of two or three men,” because they are now stuck in the area fully exposed to Russian fire. “They are leaving their military equipment behind, because there is no way to evacuate it. It will remain there, that’s for sure,” the president added.
Putin visits Russia’s Kursk Region
The Russian military must defeat the Ukrainian forces that invaded Kursk Region “as soon as possible,”
President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday. He visited a command post in the region as Russian forces continue a major counteroffensive against Kiev’s remaining troops in the area.
The president held a meeting with military commanders during his visit and listened to a report by the chief of the General Staff, Gen. Valery Gerasimov. Putin thanked the General Staff and the units fighting in the region for their efforts.
“Our goal is to inflict a defeat upon the enemy entrenched on the territory of Kursk Region on short notice,” the president said, adding that Moscow would consider creating a “security zone” along the border with Ukraine as well. The Ukrainian units that invaded the region should be treated as “terrorists,” he stated, including any fighters taken prisoner in the area.
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