Russia: use of western non-nuclear missiles by Ukraine against Russia could lead to nuclear response
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has said the use of western non-nuclear missiles by the Ukrainian armed forces against the Russian Federation under the new doctrine could lead to a nuclear response, after president Vladimir Putin approved an updated Russian nuclear doctrine on Tuesday.
Speaking at his regular daily press briefing, Tass reports Peskov said that the new nuclear doctrine should become the subject of deep analysis both in the country and abroad.
Peskov said that the Russian Federation considers the use of nuclear weapons to be an extreme measure, but that updating the doctrine was needed to bring the document into line with the current political situation.
Peskov said the “special operation” – Moscow’s preferred term for its full-scale invasion of Ukraine – was being conducted in the context of a war unleashed by the west against the Russian Federation, and that the Russian military is closely monitoring the reports about plans to use longer-range US missiles in the Kursk region of Russia.
Key events
There has been considerable reporting over the last couple of days of the apparent decision by the Joe Biden administration to allow Ukraine to use US-made Atacms ballistic missiles against Russian and North Korean forces inside Russian territory.
But what are they? If you missed it yesterday, my colleague Oliver Holmes has this explainer …
Manfred Weber, president of the European People’s Party (EPP) group, spoke next in the European parliament.
He said “Russia will not change. Russia will continue to be an imperialistic power, a security threat to all Europeans. That is why we need a long, lasting security architecture.”
He told MEPs:
The war in Ukraine is not a simple regional dispute. The war in Ukraine is our battle line between the free world and brutal dictatorship. Drones produced in Iran. North Korean soldiers fighting against Europeans on European soil. What else do you need as a proof for this geopolitical reality?
Zelenskyy addresses European parliament
Volodymr Zelenskyy has said that even with Kim Jong-un by his side, Putin “remains smaller” than the combined states of Europe, and warned that the number of North Korean troops deployed on Ukraine’s border could increase.
Zelenskyy claimed that at present there are 11,000 North Koreans troops deployed, but this contingent, he said, could increase to 100,000.
The Ukrainian president, speaking at the European parliament via video link, said that during the course of the war it has been proved that “our shared European values” are “not just words, not something abstract.”
He said “European values and the European way of life, when transformed into action, protect the lives of real people.”
Zelenskyy continued “Putin does not value people or rules. He values only money and power. These are the things we must take away from him to restore peace.”
He told MEPs “no one can enjoy calm waters during a storm, and we must do everything to end this war fairly and justly.”
He made his regular appeal for more sanctions and the release of funds and assets confiscated by European countries from Russia.
In what appeared to be a reference to US permission to use longer-range missiles at targets inside Russia, Zelenskyy said:
Russia will lack real motivation to engage in meaningful [peace] negotiations without fires in its ammunition depots on Russian territory, without disruption to its military logistics, without destroying Russian airbases, without it losing capabilities to produce missiles and drones, and without its assets being confiscated.
Roberta Metsola, president of the European parliament, has said that Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian people have been an inspiration during the 1,000 days of the Russian invasion.
She said:
Today we mark 1,000 days since Russia unleashed its brutal invasion of Ukraine. 1,000 Days of terror, suffering and unimaginable loss. 1,000 days of courage, resilience and unbreakable spirit. For 1,000 days the people of Ukraine and you, president Zelenskyy, have shown the world what true bravery looks like.
You are an inspiration to all who value freedom around the world.
And for 1,000 days, this European parliament has stood shoulder to shoulder with the people of Ukraine, united and unwavering, and we will continue to stand with Ukraine today, tomorrow and every day for as long as it takes.
This is an assault not only on Ukraine, but on the rules based order, an assault on our values and on our way of life, peace, democracy and freedom. This is what is at stake here, and we know the sacrifices the Ukrainian people are enduring, not just for themselves, but for all of us.
Zelenskyy has begun speaking now.
Roberta Metsola is introducing Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy before his address to the European parliament. She has started by saying “this European parliament has stood with Ukraine for 1,000 days, and we will continue to do so for as long as it takes”. She has then shown a short video about the last 1,000 days of war. Zelenskyy is about to speak, but is receiving a standing ovation from MEPs first.
UK imposes new sanctions on Russia over forced deportation of Ukrainian children
The UK has announced ten new designations under its Russian sanctions regime.
In a statement, the government says it is targeting “those supporting Vladimir Putin’s attempts to forcibly deport and indoctrinate Ukraine’s children and erase their Ukrainian cultural heritage.”
Foreign secretary David Lammy is quoted saying:
No child should ever be used as a pawn in war, yet President Putin’s targeting of Ukrainian children shows the depths he will go to in his mission to erase Ukraine and its people from the map.
As Ukraine reaches the grim milestone of 1000 days of bravely defending against Putin’s illegal invasion, the UK’s support is iron-clad. With our international partners, we stand with Ukraine to confront Russian aggression and fight for freedom, liberty and victory.
The UK government claims “more than 19,500 Ukrainian children have been forcibly transferred or deported” and that “an estimated 6,000 Ukrainian children have been relocated to a network of re-education camps.”
In March last year the international criminal court issued arrest warrants for the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, and Russia’s commissioner for children’s rights, Maria Alekseyevna Lvova-Belova, in relation to the forced deportation of children.
European troops could be needed for Ukraine peace says Estonia
Jennifer Rankin
Jennifer Rankin is the Guardian’s Brussels correspondent
European nations should be ready to send troops to Ukraine to secure any peace deal between Kyiv and Moscow orchestrated by Donald Trump, Estonia’s foreign minister has said.
In an interview with the Financial Times, Margus Tsahkna said the best security guarantee for Ukraine was Nato membership, but if the US opposed Kyiv joining the military alliance, then Europe would have to put “boots on the ground”.
He said:
If we are talking about real security guarantees, it means that there will be a just peace. Then we are talking about Nato membership. But without the US it is impossible. And then we are talking about any form [of guarantee] in the meaning of boots on the ground.
The minister also said it would be “really, really, really complicated” for Europeans to provide security guarantees to Ukraine without US backing, not least because Nato could ultimately be dragged into any clash with Russian forces.
The FT reports the view of some analysts, who suggest a coalition of the willing to support Ukraine could include Poland and the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force, a defence group that includes the Nordic and Baltic states and the Netherlands. These countries are meeting in Tallinn next month.
French president Emmanuel Macron has previously said European troops on the ground could not be ruled out and that Europe should not wait on the results of the US elections to decide on its future.
Local media reports that multiple explosions have been heard in Kherson.
Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to address the European parliament virtually later this morning. We will bring you the key lines when he speaks.
Russia: use of western non-nuclear missiles by Ukraine against Russia could lead to nuclear response
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has said the use of western non-nuclear missiles by the Ukrainian armed forces against the Russian Federation under the new doctrine could lead to a nuclear response, after president Vladimir Putin approved an updated Russian nuclear doctrine on Tuesday.
Speaking at his regular daily press briefing, Tass reports Peskov said that the new nuclear doctrine should become the subject of deep analysis both in the country and abroad.
Peskov said that the Russian Federation considers the use of nuclear weapons to be an extreme measure, but that updating the doctrine was needed to bring the document into line with the current political situation.
Peskov said the “special operation” – Moscow’s preferred term for its full-scale invasion of Ukraine – was being conducted in the context of a war unleashed by the west against the Russian Federation, and that the Russian military is closely monitoring the reports about plans to use longer-range US missiles in the Kursk region of Russia.
