World Edges Closer To Nuclear War As Russia Puts Nuclear Forces On High Alert
By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
MOSCOW/BRUSSELS/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – The world came a step closer to nuclear warfare Sunday with Russian President Vladimir Putin ordering the military to put units that also possess nuclear weapons on high alert.
It happened while Europe closed its airspace to all Russian aircraft, including private jets owned by wealthy Russians.
As the world moved to the worst East-West standoff in decades, Ukraine facing a Russian invasion, agreed to hold peace talks with Russia on the Ukraine-Belarusian border.
The talks without preconditions came as Russian troops suffered setbacks. For the first time, the Russian defense ministry has acknowledged casualties in Ukraine, but it has not given figures.
“There have been killed and wounded among the Russian military during the course of the special military operation,” the defense ministry in Moscow said in published remarks.
“The losses suffered by the Russian armed forces are several times less than the number of exterminated nationalists,” it claimed. Ukrainian troops were still in control of Ukraine’s second-largest city Kharkiv, the governor said, despite Russia launching a massive attack.
Ukraine claimed 4,300 Russians had died in the whole invasion, but this had not been verified. Fighting also continued elsewhere, including in the capital, Kyiv.
The reported casualties came as the European Union said it intends to begin shipping arms to Ukraine, the first time in its history, it has taken such a step.
WATERSHED MOMENT
The EU’s executive European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the move marked a “watershed moment.” Even Germany, which long opposed it due to its World War Two history, got involved with arms deliveries to Ukraine and a massive hike in defense spending of some 100 billion euro ($113 billion).
Von der Leyen also announced new sanctions, including banning Russia from using European airspace.
It was a move to isolate Russian President Vladimir Putin, who appeared increasingly ready to use nuclear force in a conflict that rapidly threatened to go beyond Ukraine and move towards World War Three.
He said his decision to put nuclear-possessing units on high alert responded to the NATO military alliance’s “aggression.” NATO has sent thousands of troops to its member states in Eastern Europe.
The U.S. condemned Putin’s nuclear decision as “unacceptable” amid concerns among Kremlin watchers about Putin’s state of mind. He also faces mounting opposition at home, where thousands of anti-war protestors have been detained in rallies across the country.
With all attention focused on Ukraine and Europe, a U.S. security official who predicted the invasion to Worthy News weeks ago expressed concerns about China’s intent with Taiwan. China regards the island as part of its territory. “Watch Taiwan,” the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive issues. China is also an ally of Russia, and both nations have invested heavily in their militaries.
There are worries within the intelligence community about Iran trying to use the attention on the Ukraine conflict to speed up its nuclear program while backing terror groups and threatening Israel.
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