NATO is also concerned about the use of a new Russian missile in the war against Ukraine. Chancellor Scholz warned of a “dangerous rise”. The Kremlin spoke of a “message to the West.” China encouraged restraint.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte calls for a special NATO-Ukraine Council meeting following the deployment of a new Russian medium-range missile. According to an alliance spokesman, the meeting next Tuesday will focus on the recent attack by Russia on the
According to Russian intelligence not yet independently confirmed, it can fly at hypersonic speeds and cannot be intercepted. Experts assume it may also be equipped with nuclear explosive devices. Six Dnipro warlords are said to have been killed on Thursday.
Ukraine: Rocket arrived at eleven o’clock Speed of sound
One day after the attack, Ukraine made its own findings regarding the missile community. The rocket reached more than eleven times the speed of sound, the Ukrainian secret service said. It flew for 15 minutes from takeoff in the Astrakhan region of southern Russia to impact in Dnipro in east-central Ukraine. “The speed in the final part of the flight path was over Mach eleven,” the intelligence agency said.
Russia speaks of “message to the West”
Russia has described the use of a new hypersonic medium-range missile against Ukraine as a “message to the West”. Russia will respond to rash actions by supporters of Western Ukraine, says Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. The main message is that the reckless decisions and actions of Western countries that allowed Ukraine to attack Russian territory with missiles they supplied “cannot remain without a reaction from the Russian side,” says Peskov.
Scholz: ”Dangerous sharpening”
Chancellor Olaf Scholz described the use of Russian medium-range missiles against Ukraine as a dangerous escalation. “Everyone can see how dangerous this war is because of the recent escalation,” the chancellor said at an SPD community event. This also applies to the deployment of North Korean soldiers on the Russian side.
Germany is firmly supporting Ukraine. But the fact remains that no “Taurus” cruise missiles will be delivered to Ukraine, emphasized Scholz. Direct confrontation between NATO and Russia must be avoided.
China recommends restraint
Meanwhile, China called on all sides to exercise restraint. “All parties should remain calm and exercise restraint,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian told reporters in Beijing. All sides in the conflict should “work to defuse the situation through dialog and talks and create the conditions for an early ceasefire.”
China’s position on the issue remains one of wanting to “solve the crisis through political means,” he said. China claims to have a neutral position in the conflict in Ukraine. However, Moscow has a close relationship with Beijing, which is causing criticism in the West. Among other things, China has been accused of supplying Moscow with so-called dual-use goods that could be used in war.
Putin is threatening Western states
Russian President Putin said in a televised address on Thursday evening that Russia had “tested one of Russia’s newest medium-range missile systems in combat conditions”. It is a “hypersonic” rocket of an experimental nature. The use of the new Oreshnik medium-range missile is a response to the use of certain Western missiles against Russian territory.
The Russian president threatened to attack those Western states that allow Ukraine to use its missiles to attack targets in Russia. With the use of long-range missiles from the West against targets inside Russia, the conflict in Ukraine has taken on “aspects of a global character,” Putin warned.
In recent days, Ukraine has attacked targets on Russian territory with US ATACMS missiles and British-supplied Storm Shadow cruise missiles. A number of Western countries, including Britain, the United States and France, have supplied Ukraine with long-range missiles and guided missiles. Last weekend, Washington gave permission to Kiev to use these weapons in the Russian hinterland.
How can NATO address the challenges posed by enhanced military technologies in relation to Russia?
Es technology that can be used for both civilian and military applications. This has raised concerns in NATO and allied nations, as they fear that such technology could enhance Russia’s military capabilities in its ongoing conflict with Ukraine.
In light of these developments, the NATO-Ukraine Council meeting scheduled for next Tuesday is seen as crucial for addressing the implications of Russia’s enhanced missile capabilities and for reinforcing support for Ukraine. The meeting will likely include discussions on intelligence sharing, military aid, and strategies to counteract any further escalation from Russia.
World leaders are increasingly aware of the delicate balance in the region, as actions taken by NATO and Western allies can significantly impact the course of the conflict. The situation continues to evolve, with the international community watching closely for any signs of further escalation or de-escalation in hostilities.
The responses from NATO, the German government, and China highlight the complexities of the geopolitical landscape surrounding the Ukraine conflict. As tensions remain high, the urgency for diplomatic engagement and conflict resolution becomes ever more critical to prevent a potential broader conflict involving multiple nations.