The Russian Invasion

The Russian InvasionThe Battles  

 

Medvedev: We are probably on the brink of world war  

 

It is likely that the world is heading for a third world war. This is what Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev says in connection with a conference in Moscow, writes Reuters. He also warns that the risk of a nuclear confrontation is increasing.  

 

- The world is sick and is probably on the brink of a new world war, says Medvedev, who at the same time says it is possible to avoid it. The statement comes in parallel with a director at the Russian Foreign Ministry, Vladimir Jermakov, telling the Russian news agency Tass that the risk of a military confrontation between Russia and the United States is "growing steadily". That's what Sky News writes.  

During yesterday's meeting of the UN Security Council, Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the devastation caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. 

 

 

Petr Pavel and Xi Jinping. Petr David Josek / AP  

 

The Russian invasion. The outside world's response

Czech President: China does not want peace in Ukraine 

 

China benefits from dragging out the war in Ukraine. This is what Czech President Petr Pavel tells Politico, and at the same time warns countries like France to trust China's role as a peace broker between Russia and Ukraine. 

 

- I think it is in China's interest to prolong the status quo because it can push Russia to a number of concessions, says Pavel. The statement follows that earlier this year China presented a twelve-point proposal to achieve peace in Ukraine - a proposal that was rejected by several Western countries.  

 

According to the Czech president, China learns lessons from how Russia acts in Ukraine and not least how the outside world responds. 

  

 

Ukrainian soldier in a combat vehicle. LIBKOS / AP  

 

The Russian InvasionThe Battles  

Details: Consequences of failed counteroffensive in Ukraine worry White House  

 

The White House in the United States is said to be concerned about the consequences if the expected Ukrainian counter-offensive does not live up to expectations, reports Politico. According to sources, there is concern that the Biden administration could face criticism from two sides if Ukraine fails to take back territory during the offensive. 

 

On the one hand, the criticism is expected to be that the offensive could have been more successful if the US had provided more weapons. From the other side, criticism is expected that a failure shows that Ukraine simply does not have the opportunity to achieve the goal of driving Russia out completely. 

 

In addition to that, there must be a concern that European allies will begin to push for a negotiated solution to a greater degree if the counter-offensive is not fully successful.  

 

Russian port city of Vladivostok. AP  

 

The Russian invasion The sanctions  

Russia's oil exports speak for intact production  

 

Russian oil exports do not appear to be decreasing despite the government claiming that the country has reduced production.  

 

According to shipping data compiled by Bloomberg, outflows from Russian ports are largely unchanged at an average of 3.4 million barrels per day. Volumes are kept up by increased demand from China, India and Turkey.  

 

According to Bloomberg, the shipments at sea do not match the production cut of 700,000 barrels per day that Russia's Energy Ministry announced starting in March. 

 

The activity in the refineries does not seem to have decreased either, writes the news agency.