Will Putin today declare war against NATO?

In Putin's war with Ukraine, things seem to ramping up to a new level.

Putin himself is set to make 'important announcement tomorrow' on Ukraine war.

As reported by Paul Withers (right),

"Vladimir Putin is preparing to make an "important" announcement on Wednesday (18 January 2023), a pro-Russian official has claimed, as the war in Ukraine reaches a critical point.
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It would also come just days before Russia's war in Ukraine started exactly a year ago on February 24, 2022 claims official." (17 January 2023) (my emphasis)

At the same time as Putin is going to make this "important announcement",  Alarabiya News informs us that,

"Japan is engaged deeply on issues in Ukraine and is expected to roll out plans at the “appropriate time” to support Kyiv against Russia's invasion, White House Indo-Pacific coordinator Kurt Campbell said on Tuesday.

“Prime Minister Kishida (left) has a game plan and is already engaged deeply on issues in Ukraine,” Campbell told a Center for Strategic and International Studies event." (Alarabiya News (Reuters) : 18 January 2023) (my emphasis)

Furthermore, as reported by Greg Heffer,

"James Cleverly [UK Foreign Secretary] has told Britain's allies 'this is the time' to bring the Ukraine war to an end as the Foreign Secretary urged other nations to 'intensify' their support for Kyiv." (Mail Online : 17 January 2023) (my emphasis)

Mail Online : 17 January 2023

German Chancellor Scholtz is also coming under increasing pressure to allow those EU countries which have German Leopard tanks to be allowed to send them to assist in Ukraine's war effort against Putin's invading army.

As James Randerson reports,

"A move by the German government to supply tanks to Ukraine is a “very, very, very, very needed decision,” Polish President Andrzej Duda said on Tuesday in Davos, arguing that German public opinion is now shifting toward supplying more military aid to Kyiv.
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“The attitude in Germany is changing,” said [Lithuanian President] Nausėda (right), but he bemoaned the delay from Berlin in allowing the release of German-made Leopard tanks to Ukraine — which he called a “very strategic factor in this war.” (Politico : 17 January 2023) (my emphasis)

The urgent call of  the President of Ukraine, Volodomyr Zelensky, for more tanks from his western supporters comes as Christopher Sharp reports that,

"The Russian Federation has deployed intercontinental ICBMs (Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles) to Tver Oblast region of Russia, close to its border with Belarus and within range of Ukraine. The move marks an increase in tension amid fierce fighting around the Soledar and Bakhmut in east Ukraine." (Express : 16 January 2023) (my emphasis) 

Furthermore, as I wrote in my previous blog entry (14 January 2023),

"As reported by Charlie Bradley (left),

"Russia's achieved an unwanted economic record in December as Moscow was forced to borrow £46billion in one month. This comes as the country continues to grapple with Western sanctions.
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The Kremlin's finance minister Anton Siluanov (right) confirmed this deficit which equates to roughly 2.3 percent of Russian GDP (gross domestic product).
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This also means that Russia's spending is more than 30 percent higher than had been forecast at the start of 2022." (Express : 11 January 2023) (my emphasis)

It is therefor no wonder that, as reported by Thibault Spirlet,

"Vladimir Putin's repeated threats of a nuclear war has raised concerns the elimination of all humanity could happen sooner than expected. Scientists are set to reveal the Doomdsay Clock next week in a highly-anticipated forecast as tensions between Russia and Ukraine could push the minute hand even closer to 12 o'clock." (Express : 17 January 2023) (my emphasis)

Disturbingly, as reported by Luke Whelan,

"Vladimir Putin could launch nuclear weapons in a bid to "take as many people as possible with him" as a result of his fading health, according to a Russian telegram group called General SVR who claim to have spoken to Kremlin insiders. The Russian despot is reportedly isolated and "withdrawn" as he suffers the side effects of drug treatment for a serious illness." (Express : 17 January 2023) (my emphasis)

Is Putin staring into the abyss of declaring war against NATO?

 

(to be continued)