The situation in Russia is under observation.
(Photo: dpa)
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, the federal government is consulting with important international partners on the situation in Russia. Wagner’s mercenaries staged a violent uprising there. “Foreign Minister Annalene Berbock has just discussed the situation with the G7 foreign ministers,” a German foreign ministry spokeswoman said in Berlin on Saturday afternoon. In addition to Germany, the G7 also includes France, Italy, Japan, Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom.
The spokesman said the federal government was closely monitoring developments in Russia. The federal government’s crisis team is currently meeting at the Federal Foreign Office, led by State Secretary Andreas Michaelis. The ministry has adjusted travel and security instructions for German citizens in Russia this morning.
The affected areas are now said to be avoided, especially the city of Rostov-on-Don and its surroundings. “In Moscow, state installations, especially military installations, should be largely bypassed. City centers should be avoided until further notice.”
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) is also “constantly informed” of developments in Russia over an uprising by Wagner’s mercenary group, according to a government spokesman. “The situation remains dynamic. In this regard, we are monitoring the situation very closely and coordinating with our closest allies,” the spokesman said in Berlin on Saturday. There are currently no plans for a Chancellor’s statement.
Boris Pistorius (Social Democrats) is also cautious. In the view of the Minister of Defense, it is still difficult to foresee the possible consequences of the armed uprising of the Russian Wagner mercenaries on the war in Ukraine. “It’s difficult to estimate, especially because we don’t know how unstable Russia will become and who will ultimately prevail and who will cooperate with whom,” he said on the sidelines of a party conference in Lower Saxony on Saturday. Aurich Social Democratic Party.
“In this case, we have no option to act.”
(Photo: dpa)
Pistorius said it was too early to make an assessment. “If you do that now, you’re going to be confused about what’s actually going on.” Asked about Germany’s options, the minister replied: “In this case, we don’t have the option to act. It’s Russia’s Internal political conflict. We cannot yet say whether this will develop into a power struggle. We are observers. Like all allies, we are watching closely and will continue to focus on supporting Ukraine.”
Sunak and Duda warn – Erdogan talks to Putin
US President Joe Biden discussed the situation in Russia with Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. The US president’s office said the heads of state and government reiterated their continued support for Ukraine. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken spoke on the phone with his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan to discuss the situation in Russia, according to the Turkish foreign ministry.
Rishi Sunak calls for protection of civilians amid escalating situation in Russia. All those involved must be held accountable, Sunak told the BBC on Saturday. He announced that he would speak with other heads of state and government on Saturday about the uprising of Wagner’s private army against the military leadership. “We are closely monitoring the current development of the situation. “We are in touch with our allies. “
Asked whether Russian President Vladimir Putin’s challenge was good news or bad news, Sunak ducked the question: “It’s a changing situation.”
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky believes that the Wagner mercenary group’s armed uprising against Moscow is a sign of Russian weakness. “Russia’s weaknesses are obvious. Weaknesses across the board,” Zelensky wrote on the social media platform Telegram. “The longer Russia keeps troops and mercenaries in our country, the more confusion, pain and problems it will face in the future.”
The Italian prime minister sees Russia as weakened.
(Photo: AP)
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine had created domestic “instabilities”. In a statement, her office said it was closely monitoring the latest developments in Russia. Meloni announced a special meeting with the ministers in charge of the right-wing government and the secret service on Saturday. Rome’s foreign ministry warns Italians in Russia to be careful.
Polish President Andrzej Duda also announced that the government was closely monitoring developments in Russia. We have consulted with Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and our allies. Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavski has warned his countrymen not to travel to Russia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the situation in Russia following the uprising of mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin. The Kremlin said on Saturday that Erdogan had declared by phone his “full support for the measures taken by the Russian leadership,” state news agency TASS reported. The call was initiated by Türkiye.
Meanwhile, Iran, which has recently strengthened ties with Russia, has described the events in Russia as an internal matter. Iranian state media also quoted a foreign ministry spokesman as saying that the Islamic Republic supports the rule of law in the Russian Federation.
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