"A huge tragedy": reactions to the "partial mobilization" announced by Putin

Europe 1 with AFP 2:27 p.m., September 21, 2022

As part of the war in Ukraine, the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, announced on Wednesday the "partial mobilization" of Russians of fighting age, while the Russian-Ukrainian conflict has stagnated for several weeks.

Nearly 300,000 reservists could be mobilized, announcing at the same time the start of a major escalation in the conflict in Ukraine.

Faced with "the threat" represented according to Vladimir Putin by "the Nazi regime in kyiv" and "the war machine of the West", "we will certainly use all the means at our disposal to protect Russia and our people", has warned the Russian president on Wednesday, clearly alluding to nuclear weapons.

Threats that provoke many reactions in the West and more widely, on the international scene.

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The Chinese advocate de-escalation through a "ceasefire" 

China calls on Wednesday for a "ceasefire through dialogue" in the conflict in Ukraine, after the speech of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"We call on the parties concerned to implement a ceasefire through dialogue and consultation, and to find a solution that addresses the legitimate security concerns of all parties as soon as possible," a spokesperson said. of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Wang Wenbin, during a press conference.

Mobilization highlights Putin's "disarray", says EU

The partial mobilization of Russian reservists demonstrates President Vladimir Putin's desire to continue in the "escalation" of the war against Ukraine and is "a new sign of his disarray", said Wednesday the spokesman for the head of the European diplomacy Josep Borrell.

"The announcement of the partial mobilization of the reservists and the confirmation of the referendums (in occupied regions of Ukraine) are a clear signal addressed to the international community during the week of the United Nations General Assembly of its will to continue its war destructive that has negative consequences around the world,” spokesman Peter Stano said.

A "huge tragedy", denounces Alexei Navalny

The partial mobilization announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin will lead to "a huge tragedy", imprisoned opponent Alexei Navalny denounced on Wednesday.

“All this will lead to a huge tragedy and a huge amount of death,” the main Kremlin critic lambasted during a hearing at one of his many trials, according to a video shared by Russian media.

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"It is clear that the criminal war that is currently taking place is getting worse and bigger, and Putin is trying to involve as many people as possible in it," lamented Alexei Navalny, using a word banned by the Kremlin which calls for his assault. in Ukraine "special military operation".

A "confession of failure of the invasion", for the British Minister of Defense

Moscow's announcement of partial mobilization in Russia and "referendums" of annexation of territories constitutes an "admission of failure" of the invasion of Ukraine, British Defense Minister Ben Wallace said on Wednesday.

The fact that Russian President Vladimir Putin "broke his own promise not to mobilize part of his population" constitutes "an admission of the failure of his invasion", he said.

"No threats or propaganda can hide the fact that Ukraine is winning this war...and Russia is becoming a global pariah," he added in a statement.

Moscow's "sign of weakness" according to the American ambassador to Ukraine

Moscow's announcement of partial mobilization in Russia and of "referendums" for the annexation of Ukrainian territories is a "sign of weakness, of Russian failure", US Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink said on Wednesday.

Sham referendum and mobilization are signs of weakness, of Russian failure.

The United States will never recognize Russia's claim to purportedly annexed Ukrainian territory, and we will continue to stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes.

— Ambassador Bridget A. Brink (@USAmbKyiv) September 21, 2022

"Mock referendums and mobilization are signs of weakness, of Russian failure," Bridget Brink wrote on Twitter, while assuring that her country would continue to "support Ukraine as long as it takes."