War Speeches. Russia Officially Shifts Responsibility for the War Against Ukraine to the United States

Last week (March 27 – April 2) a journalist of the US The Wall Street Journal was detained in Russia. This happened following his article claiming that the Russian economy was beginning to collapse.

During the Summit for Democracy, which brought together leaders of 120 countries, Volodymyr Zelensky said that Russia has been at war with the democratic world in various ways for a long time, and this year they must eventually lose.

Russia updated its foreign policy concept and labelled the United States as their main enemy. In addition, Russia is resorting to nuclear blackmail, while Ukraine is getting weapons and preparing for the counteroffensive.

Below, we talk about the key statements and developments of this war-struck week.

Russia Loses in the Security Council and Arrests a US Journalist

Russia continues to accuse Western countries of planting explosives at the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines in September, 2022.

Without waiting for the national investigations of Sweden, Denmark, and Germany, the aggressor tried to pass their own resolution on the explosions through the UN Security Council. However, on March, 27, the Council did not adopt this document. It was supported by three countries only, such as Russia, China, and Brazil. The remaining 12 countries abstained.

The failed resolution became a pretext for Russia to blame Western countries.

"It does not take a detective or an analyst to understand that the United States and the allies are covering their tracks, including adding new speculations and meaningless versions, refusing to comment on the revealed disappointing facts,"  said Vasily Nebenzya at a meeting of the Security Council.

The head of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Sergei Lavrov, said that the overly serious Western officials have their "fingers in that pie", but Russia "will not let it go."

Against the backdrop of ongoing detentions of Russian spies in European countries, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, was surprised that the German, Danish, and Swedish investigations did not allow access to Russia under the pretext of protecting national security interests.

At the same time, Zakharova praised the Danish authorities for inviting representatives of Nord Stream 2 AG to take part in the operation to lift an unknown object discovered near the gas pipeline, which turned out to be an empty sea smoke buoy for visual marking.

"We have reasons to doubt that Copenhagen would have taken this step without our tireless efforts to draw the attention of the international community to the investigation, including within the UN Security Council," Zakharova said.

At the same time, Russia demonstrated by their own example the ability of an "efficient" investigation. Thus, on March, 30, the Russian FSB detained in Yekaterinburg the journalist of The Wall Street Journal, Evan Gershkovich, allegedly for espionage.  According to Russian security officials, Gershkovich collected data on the activities of one of the enterprises of the Russian military-industrial complex. Later, it came out that the Lefortovo district court of Moscow took the journalist into custody for a period of two months.

It is noteworthy that two days before the arrest, the WSJ published a detailed article by Gershkovich about the collapse of the Russian economy. It talked about the reduction of the country's income, the depreciation of the ruble, bloated military spending, and the prospects of becoming an economic colony of China.

The Wall Street Journal denied all the accusations and called on the American authorities to take decisive action. "The Biden administration will have to consider diplomatic and political escalation. The expulsion of the Russian ambassador to the United States, as well as all Russian journalists working here, is the minimum that can be expected."

However, the Russian side denies that the arrest was groundless. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that foreign journalists accredited in the Russian Federation "do not face any restrictions and work perfectly well," but in the case of Gershkovich "we are talking about undercover journalistic activities, espionage activities in essence."

"An employee of the US publication The Wall Street Journal has nothing to do with journalism. Unfortunately, this is not the first time when the status of "foreign correspondent," journalist visa and accreditation are used by foreigners in our country to conceal activities that are not journalism," Maria Zakharova said.

Advisor to the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Mykhailo Podolyak, condemned the arrest of Gershkovych. "The brutal detention of WSJ journalist Evan Gershkovich by the FSB is another sign that it is extremely dangerous to work from Russia and in Russia. The Russian Federation openly and brazenly violates the rule of law, laws, and freedoms," he  said.

Russian action has also been condemned in the EU. The High Representative of the EU for Foreign Policy, Josep Borrell, emphasized that journalists should be able to freely practice their profession and deserve protection. 

In the context of detaining a journalist, Poland and the United States urged their citizens to leave the Russian Federation. At the same time, White House spokeswoman, Karin Jean-Pierre, called the aggressor's actions a "well-known tactics" that intends to gain additional leverage for negotiations.

In addition, commenting on the freedom of journalism, Russia managed to reduce everything to the "Ukrainian crisis" and the "collective West".

"For many years, they have been killing journalists in Ukraine, in particular, Western journalists, they blew them up, and shot. Why was the journalistic community silent, including those accredited in Russia, who regularly traveled to the territory of Ukraine and covered the situation there?" said Maria Zakharova at a briefing.

After reports of the death of the Russian "warrior" Vladlen Tatarov, Ms Zakharova accused Western countries of the lack of proper reaction and "human sympathy": "Today, the lack of reaction in the White House, on the Downing Street, in the Elysee Palace, a.o., given their apparent concern for the welfare of journalists and freedom of journalism, speaks for itself."

Zelensky Emphasizes that Russia Must Lose the War, and Moscow Continues to "Fight" Against Colonialism

On March, 28-30, the Summit for Democracy 2023 was held in Washington. The online event was attended by leaders of 120 countries. US President Joe Biden officially opened the Summit and noted that Ukraine's support in the world demonstrated the unity of democracies.

"We are witnessing an unprecedented unity of democracies that condemn Russia's brutal aggressive war against Ukraine and stand in solidarity with the brave Ukrainian people defending their democracy. So today, the United States stands by our unwavering commitment to strengthening democracy around the world," he said.

He also said that "Today, the world's democracies are getting stronger, rather than weaker; the world's autocracies are getting weaker, rather than stronger."

US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, during the panel discussion "A Just and Lasting Peace in Ukraine" said that the future of democracy is at a tipping point. Throughout the world, autocracies violate human rights, suppress fundamental freedoms, and the war in Ukraine illustrates this most. He also added that the war that Putin started is an attack not only on Ukraine, but also on the international order based on rules that seek to protect international peace and stability, the equal rights of men and women, of large and small nations.

During his speech at the summit, Volodymyr Zelensky said that Russia had been at war with the democracies of the world for a long time: "Russia … has been at war with all of you for a long time. It fights via disinformation, election interference, espionage, corruption exporting, cybercrime, by trying to trigger an energy crisis and price explosions in markets that will hit your people with insane electricity or gas bills. Look: the Kremlin is even trying to turn food provision into a weapon! It blocks the sea so to create a shortage in the global food market."

According to the President of Ukraine, democracy must be uncompromising about evil, the embodiment of which is modern Russia:"Evil must lose the war. If it loses now, it will know that it will always lose everywhere. We should not think how to save Putin's face in order to allegedly reduce the cost of fighting him. We should think how to preserve respect for democracy in those countries where freedom has yet to win."

The Ukrainian president also stressed the need to accelerate the provision of military assistance to Ukraine and called for a speedy decision. "Sanctions against Russia are much slower than Russia’s aggression," Zelensky said.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, called the summit "a manifestation of neo-colonial practices in US foreign policy."

According to her, the organization of such events allegedly is the desire "to legitimize American instruments of external control and interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states." They are targeted primarily against Russia and China, which, according to Maria Zakharova, are unfairly considered authoritarian countries.

However, it is not the first time that such statements come out of the mouth of the Russian political establishment. Russia systematically uses anticolonial rhetoric in communication with the countries of Africa, Asia, and Latin America, which are often called the "Global South". For most of them, this topic is very close, because they gained independence from various states of Europe (mainly Great Britain, France, Spain and Portugal) in the last century or before that.

However, such anti-colonial rhetoric of Putin sounds contradictory, to say the least. In fact, throughout its history, Russia has been colonizing the surrounding nations. Russia's ongoing aggression against Ukraine is a continuation of this policy: Russia is trying to regain Ukraine, which was part of the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union, under its political and economic control. Moreover, Russia questions Ukraine's right to statehood and the existence of Ukrainians as a separate nation that has the right to independently determine its own future and foreign policy.

Russia Updates Foreign Policy Concept and Continues Nuclear Blackmail, Ukraine Prepares for Counteroffensive

On March, 31, Vladimir Putin approved the updated concept of Russia's foreign policy. He said that "a balanced document has been issued that will form the basis of our practical actions in the medium and longer term."

The concept calls the United States and the "collective West" the key threats to the Russian Federation; whereas China and India are key partners. The document mentions Ukraine only once, and in passing: "The United States and its satellites used the measures taken by the Russian Federation to protect their vital interests in the Ukrainian axis as an excuse for aggravating the long-term anti-Russian policy, and unleashed a hybrid war of a new type."

The document was also commented on by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia. Sergei Lavrov said that the document "states an unprecedented level of international tension over the past decade." He added that "the concept envisages the possibility of taking symmetrical and asymmetrical measures in response to unfriendly actions against Russia." He also mentioned the defense of Russia: "The premise has been introduced about the use of the Armed Forces to repel or prevent an armed attack on Russia and its allies. Thus, we unequivocally declare that we will defend the right of the Russian people to existence and free development."

State Duma deputy Leonid Slutsky called the document "the concept of peaceful Eurasianism and the protection of global security." He assured that "Russia did not threaten anyone, but will consistently defend its sovereignty and defend the interests of the state."

The updated concept of Russia's foreign policy was presented against the backdrop of a new wave of nuclear blackmail. This week, the diplomatic discussion of the potential deployment of nuclear weapons in Belarus continued, which was announced by Vladimir Putin on March, 25, and which a few days ago was threatened by Alexander Lukashenko: "When required, we and Putin will decide and introduce strategic nuclear weapons here. And they should understand this, the scoundrels who are trying to blow us up from inside and outside."

Still this week, Putin's press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, said that the West's reaction would not affect the Russian president's plans to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus. At the same time, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that in the conditions of "total hybrid war unleashed by the West against Russia and the intention to inflict a"strategic defeat", the Russian Federation "reserves the right to take the necessary additional steps regarding the security of Russia and its allies."

While the United States has seen no signs of Russia moving nuclear weapons to neighboring Belarus or any other place, the world's sharp reaction has not been long in coming.

The German government regarded Vladimir Putin's statement as "another attempt at nuclear intimidation." And the spokeswoman of the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Germany clearly said that such rhetoric would not divert her country "from the course of supporting Ukraine in its self-defense."

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda stressed that the announcement of the deployment of nuclear weapons in Belarus is "nuclear blackmail" and "complete disregard for international agreements." "The aggressor must be stopped so that it does not cause a nuclear catastrophe."

The Latvian Foreign Minister said that Belarus is becoming another military district of the Russian Federation and called for new sanctions against Russia and the Lukashenko regime.

US President Joe Biden was more reserved. He told reporters that he was concerned about such plans of Russia.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said a nuclear war could not be won. The diplomat stressed that under the current circumstances, "all parties should focus on diplomatic efforts for a peaceful settlement of the"Ukrainian crisis" and work together to help defuse the situation." Geng Shuang, deputy permanent representative of the People's Republic of China to the United Nations, expressed a similar position, adding that "China stands for the prohibition of the transfer of nuclear weapons, as well as for ensuring that no nuclear countries transfer their nuclear weapons abroad and place them outside their countries."

At the same time, Volodymyr Zelensky believes: "The signal that Russia will deploy nuclear weapons on the territory of Belarus speaks of an unsuccessful meeting with China."

But this week, Lukashenko also used other reasoning than the nuclear weapons. The Belarusian dictator actively spoke about the need for peace talks between Russia and Ukraine: "We need to go to the talks, go straight, and do not expect mediators either from the east or from the west." Lukashenko also said that he allegedly had "insider information" that the Ukrainian and Russian military on the contact line are already "negotiating with each other."

Putin's press secretary Dmitry Peskov, commenting on Lukashenko's words, recommended that journalists ask the Ministry of Defense and added: "Our servicemen who are involved in the SMO, continue to perform the tasks assigned to them."

In response, the President of Ukraine said that to end the war at the negotiating table, the representative of the Russian Federation, which is yet hard to designate, must first "without a fight, withdraw all troops from the territory of Ukraine."

Advisor to the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Mykhailo Podolyak, said that "any ceasefire will mean the right of the Russian Federation to remain in the occupied territory." State Duma deputy, Leonid Slutsky, responded to these words: "With the freezing of the armed conflict, the interest of"sponsors"in Ukraine may rapidly fall, and Zelensky regime will be left alone with the problems of the pseudo-state."

Russia representatives must be concerned not about the decrease, but rather about the strengthening of assistance to Ukraine. Thus, Germany will allocate an additional 12 billion euros for military support to Ukraine. In the statement, representatives of the coalition government in the budget committee of the Bundestag said that "thanks to this money, Ukraine will be able to directly purchase weapons with the support of the German government. It is important to support Ukraine as much as necessary."

According to Reuters, the United States may soon announce a new package of military assistance to Ukraine worth $2.6 billion, which will include air surveillance radars, anti-tank missiles, and fuel tankers.

Other allies of Ukraine also made a number of statements regarding military support for Ukraine. Croatian Defense Minister, Mario Banozic, said that his country is considering the possibility of transferring Mi-8 helicopters to our state and can help with demining. The government of North Macedonia decided to transfer a certain number of combat helicopters to Ukraine. Also, there was some information in the media that Bulgaria, probably through intermediaries, will sell Ukraine a large amount of ammunition. Along with reports of the delivery of armored vehicles from Germany, Portugal, and Great Britain to Ukraine, Ukrainian officials began to comment on the Ukrainian counterattack.

Minister of Defense of Ukraine, Oleksiy Reznikov, said that the General Staff is planning a counteroffensive in several directions, but it all depends on weather conditions. Reznikov added that in 2023 the world will see "very positive changes for Ukraine." US Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, also believes that Ukraine has a "very good chance" to carry out a successful counterattack in the spring of 2023. However, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba, says that "Ukraine should oppose the narrative in every possible way, that the spring counteroffensive is the decisive battle in the war." The diplomat explains that this concept is dangerous "because in case of failure, those in the West who pushed Ukraine to compromise with Russia will strengthen their positions."

Meanwhile, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, Oleksiy Danilov, on April, 2, published his own 12-step plan for the de-occupation of Crimea. This plan includes, among other things, the departure of Russians from the liberated Crimea, the dismantling of the Kerch Bridge and the neutralization of the consequences of the long-term impact of Russian propaganda on the peninsula, as well as the lustration of the official apparatus.

Read about the reaction of Russian politicians to this plan in our next review.