are fulfilled 364 days from the start of the war in Ukrainein the week of the first anniversary of the Russian incursion into Ukrainian territory.
Russia stresses that all exchanges of information within the framework of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) have been suspended, in line with the decision announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin to freeze Moscow’s participation in the pact.
The breaking of the New START implies that the arsenals of the world’s two largest nuclear powers would be unconstrained for the first time since the 1970sin the middle of the Cold War.
On February 24, 2022, the President of Russia Vladimir Putinordered the Russian offensive in the country in what he called a “special military operation”.
Since then, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimates that close to 19 million people have fled Ukraine, since the beginning of the Russian military offensive, which he considers to be the fastest exodus in Europe since World War II. That is, about 46% of the population –estimated at almost 41 million in 2021– would have left Ukrainian territory.
Situation of the war in Ukraine on February 22, 2023 / Map: EA According to him last report of Institute Study of War (ISW) (1) to sure that the Russian forces continue “making incremental tactical advances in and around Bakhmut” and continue with “ground attacks near Avdiivka“. Russian forces continue to make incremental tactical advances in and around Bakhmut and continue “ground attacks near Avdiivka
On the other hand, the ISW also highlights that the Russian forces continue with the “limited ground attacks northwest of Svatove and near Kreminna“.
Also, the think tank The US maintains that Ukrainian officials have reported that “Russian forces continue to reinforce and build fortifications in the rear areas in southern Ukraine“.
The Russian Government has stressed this Wednesday that all exchanges of information within the framework of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) have been suspended, in line with the decision announced on Tuesday by Russian President Vladimir Putin to freeze Moscow’s participation in the pact.
“All of that is suspended. All information exchanges, all elements of the agreement relating to verification activities do not apply, taking into account the suspension announcement and the expected legislative execution of the decision,” the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister explained. , Sergei Riabkov.
Likewise, he has pointed out that Moscow does not rule out the possibility that the United States withdraws from the New START after Russia’s decision. “I do not rule out anything. They have previously withdrawn from many agreements,” he argued, as reported by the Russian news agency Interfax.
“It is not easy to predict what they can do now, but Washington’s pattern of behavior does not give rise to optimism,” he said, while noting that Russia will now consider the nuclear potential of the United Kingdom and France as “a single fist” along with the American
In this sense, he stressed that “from the point of view of military planning, the analysis of the situation in Russia to guarantee its security, it is impossible to ignore the British and French potential”. “Now it will be considered together with the American as a single fist directed against Russia,” she pointed out.
Riabkov has stressed that “there are no contacts” planned with these three countries to address the situation and has stressed that Moscow will monitor the strategic decisions of London and Paris. “They cannot be considered as factors outside the Russian-American dialogue on arms control, not even hypothetically,” he concluded.
Putin announced on Tuesday the suspension of New START, the latest pact signed with the United States for the reduction and control of nuclear weapons, stressing that Russia “must be ready to carry out nuclear tests if the United States carries them out first.”
Washington and Moscow extended START in 2021 for a period of five years. The treaty seeks to limit the deployment of intercontinental nuclear weapons by both parties, allowing frequent checks of each country’s programs by the other. The agreement allows Washington and Moscow to deploy up to 700 intercontinental ballistic missiles and 1,550 nuclear warheads on those missiles.
If the treaty is terminated or expires without renewal, the nuclear arsenals of the world’s two largest nuclear powers would be unconstrained for the first time since the 1970s, at the height of the Cold War, and neither side would be able to control the arsenal of the contrary.
The president of the United States, Joe Biden, has considered this Wednesday a “big mistake” the order given by his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, to suspend Moscow’s participation in the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START), signed in 2010.
Biden referred to the issue upon his arrival at the Polish presidential palace, where he met with other leaders of NATO partner countries on the second day of an official visit that was preceded on Monday by an unprecedented trip to Kiev, the capital from Ukraine.
New START limits the number of nuclear warheads that the United States and Russia can have deployed to 1,550. Technically, the agreement is extended until February 2026, but Putin announced on Tuesday that he would put it on hold until further notice, something that has already been endorsed by both houses of the Russian Parliament.
A hypothetical rupture of the New START would imply that the arsenals of the two largest nuclear powers in the world would not have any limitations for the first time since the 1970s, in the midst of the Cold War.
Pope Francis has called for an end to the “absurd and cruel” war in Ukraine and has renewed his call for “concrete efforts” to “reach a ceasefire and start peace negotiations.”
This has been claimed this Ash Wednesday, during his General Audience in the Vatican, on the eve of the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“Dear brothers and sisters, the day after tomorrow, February 24, it will be one year since the invasion of Ukraine, one year since the beginning of this absurd and cruel war, a sad anniversary,” he stressed.
The Pope has indicated that “the number of dead, wounded, refugees, isolated, destruction, economic and social damage speaks for itself” and has asked “that the Lord forgive all these crimes and all this violence”.
In addition, he has urged to remain “close to the tormented Ukrainian people” and to ask himself if “everything possible has been done to stop the war.” “I call on those in authority over nations to make concrete efforts to end the conflict, to reach a ceasefire and start peace negotiations.” “What is built on rubble can never be a true victory,” she remarked.
Since the war began, the Pope has made countless calls for peace, has expressed the availability of the Holy See to assist in peace efforts and his interest in visiting both countries, and has sent representatives to Ukraine several times on their behalf. , as well as aid and supplies.
Flow of refugees from Ukraine to other countries as of February 21, 2023 / Map: EA The number of refugees who have crossed the border from Ukraine into the rest of Europe it continues to grow since the start of the war in Ukraine, unleashed by order of Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 24.
He United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimates that close to 19 million people have fled Ukraine, since the beginning of the Russian military offensive, which he considers to be the fastest exodus in Europe since World War II. Cases of 46% of the population –estimated at almost 41 million in 2021– would have left Ukrainian territory.
According to the latest UNHCR data (2), 18,843,973 people have left the Ukrainian territory as of February 21, 2023. By countries, 9.751.646 Ukrainian refugees have already arrived Poland, 2.852.395 a Russia (October 3, 2022), 2.251.086 a Hungary, 1.998.875 a Romania (February 19th), 1.198.875 a Slovakia, 775.837 a Moldavia (February 19) and 16.705 a belarus (February 14th).
The High Commissioner for Refugees estimates that more than eight million Ukrainian refugees have already been registered on European territory, and that more than five would be in a situation of Temporary Protection, due to the Russian invasion of his country.
References
- (1) Institute for Study of War (ISW).
- (2) United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).