Putin now stands teetering on brink of the abyss of starting WW3.

As Putin faces military defeat in Ukraine, the 'referendum' ploy is now been adopted, primarily as a way of allowing Putin to 'save face'.

As Paul Kirby (left) reports,

"Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said he believes Russia's leader is seeking an end to the war he began in Ukraine, and that a "significant step" will be made.

He said his impression from recent talks with Vladimir Putin was that he wanted to "end this as soon as possible". (BBC News : 20 September 2022) (my emphasis)

Paul Kirby (2) also reports that,

"Almost seven months after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, four areas under Moscow's control have announced plans for urgent so-called referendums on joining Russia.

The deputy head of Russia's Security Council, Dmitry Medvedev, said early on Tuesday that holding votes in the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk - also known as Donbas - would correct "historical justice" and be irreversible: "After the amendments to the constitution of our state, no future leader of Russia, no official, will be able to reverse these decisions." (BBC News : 20 September 2022) (my emphasis)

Putin's 'glove puppet', Dmitry Medvedev, has fully exposed what Putin meant when Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he believed that, "significant steps will be made" by Putin to end his war with Ukraine.

Critically, Paul Kirby further reports that,

"Respected Russia analyst Tatiana Stanovaya (right) saw the latest move as an "unequivocal ultimatum" from Russia to Ukraine and the West. She said that if they did not react appropriately Russia would fully mobilise its armed forces for war. Annexation would give President Putin the right, as he saw it, to use any weapons to protected territory deemed by Moscow to be Russian." (ibid Paul Kirby (2))

And coming up from the rear we have that dyed-in-the-wool Soviet Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov (left), also now stating that,

"In a sign that the Kremlin was preparing to back the so-called referendums, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that from the start of the operation Russia had wanted residents to have the decision: "The whole current situation confirms that they want to be masters of their fate." (ibid Paul Kirby (2))

And then we have that pro-Kremlin state TV editor Margarita Simonyan also calling for a,

"Crimean scenario" of immediate votes, arguing they will enable Moscow to threaten Nato with retaliatory strikes by "untying Russia's hands". (ibid Paul Kirby (2))

 And now, just in, Chris Pleasance and Will Stewart report  that,

"Vladimir Putin appeared poised to go all-in on his war in Ukraine today, sparking fears of an escalation in fighting that could drag in NATO and spark World War Three.

In a day of rapid-fire developments, Kremlin stooges in Ukraine's Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions simultaneously announced referendums on becoming part of Russia between September 23 and 27, with the sham votes expected to easily pass.

Dmitry Medvedev, a staunch Putin ally, then vowed 'all forces of self-defence' will be used to protect what he called 'Russian territory' - teeing up a new phase in the conflict involving weapons and tactics the Kremlin has so-far held in reserve." (Mail Online : 20 September 2022) (my emphasis)

Chris Pleasance and Will Stewart also report that,

"Russian propagandists hailed news of a possible escalation in the war, with RT chief Margarita Simonyan saying: 'Judging by what is happening and what is about to happen, this week marks either the eve of our imminent victory or the eve of nuclear war. I can't see any third way.' (ibid Chris Pleasance and Will Stewart)

And 3 hours ago, at the 1st full U.N. meeting since 2019, MSN (CBC-Radio Canada) reports that,

"He cited the war in Ukraine and multiplying conflicts around the world ... " (MSN : 20 September 2022) (my emphasis)

As also reported by Adrienne Vogt, Mike Hayes, Aditi Sangal and Maureen Chowdhury,

"Finland's President Sauli Niinistö urged the international community to come together in solidarity to uphold laws and principles of human rights, against the backdrop of Russia's "unprovoked war" in Ukraine.

Speak at the United National General Assembly on Tuesday, Niinistö said Russia is "raging a brutal war in Ukraine" and while countries and members of the assembly might not always agree, “it our common obligation to uphold” rules around international laws and human rights, he said. " (CNN : 20 September 2022) (my emphasis)

Sky News now also reports that,

"Ukraine war latest: Putin due to address nation for first time since invasion - with leader set to announce escalation of war; 'mobilisation and martial law' mentioned in new Russian law; 'panic' in Kremlin

Russia's Kremlin-controlled lower house of parliament has approved legislation that toughens punishment for soldiers breaching their duties, in an apparent effort to boost discipline in the ranks.

The new law also offers a hint that Vladimir Putin is moving closer to a full mobilisation - with a declaration of war needed in order to conscript young men into the military (remember Moscow hasn't yet called this a war). (Sky News : 20 September 2022) (my emphasis) 

And hot on the heels of the Sky Report, Paul Withers reports that,

"The Turkish President has fired a huge warning to his Russian counterpart who is already struggling in the wake of impressive Ukrainian counter-strikes on Moscow's invading army.
...
Turkey has issued a huge warning to Russia after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ordered Vladimir Putin to return all "occupied" land - including Crimea.
...
Turkish leader Mr Erdogan has insisted the Black Sea peninsula should be returned to its "rightful owners"." (Express : 20 September 2022) (my emphasis)

The question that now hangs over the world, according to Andrew Roth (right),

"Is Vladimir Putin happy to risk nuclear war to avoid admitting defeat?

Vladimir Putin has backed himself into a corner in Ukraine. And true to form, the Russian leader is ready to escalate, perhaps up to the brink of nuclear war, rather than admit defeat.
...
Facing humiliation, Putin has issued a new threat: holding “referenda” in the regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, which could lead to them being annexed by Russia by early next week.

In the mind of Russia’s formalistic leader, that would turn the “special military operation” in Ukraine into a defensive war in Russia, opening up the possibility of a full mobilisation, declaration of war and even a nuclear strike. (The Guardian : 20 September 2022) (my emphasis)

Putin now stands teetering on the brink of the abyss of starting WW3.

STOP PRESS!!! 21 September 2022

7.26 am BST - 21 September 2022 : Steve Rosenberg reports that,

"Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has announced “partial mobilisation” in Russia “to defend the motherland, its sovereignty and territorial integrity, the security of our people.”

He says this concerns “only citizens in the military reserve, those who’ve served in the army.”

And he issued this threat (to the West):

“If the territorial integrity of our country is threatened, to defend Russia and our people, we will use all means we have. This is not a bluff.

"The territorial integrity of our motherland, our independance and freedom will be secured, I repeat with all the means we have.

"Those who try to blackmail us with nuclear weapons should know that the prevailing winds can turn in their direction.” (BBC News : 21 September 2022) (my emphasis)
 
PUTIN HAS LIT THE FUSE OF STARTING WW3.

(video) Holly Ellyatt : CNBC : 21 September 2022 

 

(to be continued)