The Kremlin denied a rumor about the announcement of general mobilization in Russia on May 9
The press secretary of the President of Russia Dmitry Peskov denied the reports that appeared in the media about the beginning of the war with Ukraine on May 9. He also assured that no military mobilization would be announced in Russia on Victory Day.
Answering a question from journalists whether it is worth listening to rumors about plans to announce a general mobilization in Russia on Victory Day, Peskov said that such information should not be believed.
"No, it's not worth it. It's not true, it's nonsense," the press secretary of the Russian leader said at a press conference.
Later, a Kremlin spokesman denied rumors about a possible declaration of war on Ukraine on May 9.
"There is no [probability]. This is nonsense," Peskov stressed.
War or mobilization
Earlier, CNN reported that on May 9, a symbolic day for Russia, Russian President Vladimir Putin may officially declare war on Ukraine.
"Western officials have long believed that Putin would use the symbolic significance and propaganda value of this day to announce either military achievements in Ukraine, or a major escalation of hostilities, or both," the article says.
As Oleg Ignatov, senior Russia analyst at Crisis Group, told CNN, "Putin has a lot of options on the table."
"Declaring war is the most difficult scenario," Ignatov said.
The article also noted that the President of Ukraine, Vladimir Zelensky, did not officially declare war on Russia. However, he imposed martial law in the country.
The expert, in an interview with CNN, suggested that on May 9, the Russian leader may also adopt a law on mobilization, which can be used to initiate general or partial military mobilization "in cases of aggression against the Russian Federation or a direct threat of aggression, the emergence of armed conflicts directed against the Russian Federation."
There is no dynamics in the negotiations
Speaking at a briefing, Peskov said that the Kremlin reacted negatively to the statement of the head of the National Security Council of Ukraine Alexei Danilov, who said that Ukraine would not sign a peace treaty with Russia, but "only its surrender."
"It is still hardly possible to state any dynamics on the negotiating track, rather the opposite. And the inconsistency of the Ukrainian side has also been repeatedly stated by us at various levels. They change their position every day, but more and more often such statements are heard from Kiev. Yes, we are also recording this," the presidential press secretary said, answering a question from journalists about Ukraine's plans to withdraw from the negotiation process.
According to the Kremlin representative, there is no storming of the Azovstal metallurgical plant in Mariupol.
"An order was publicly given by the Supreme Commander-in-chief to cancel the assault, there is no assault. We see that there are exacerbations associated with the fact that the militants are entering firing positions. These attempts are suppressed very quickly. There is nothing else to say yet," Peskov explained, commenting on the question of whether it is worth waiting for any changes in Russian tactics around this facility.
Peskov also did not rule out the appearance of additional acts regulating the punishment for non-compliance with the decree of Russian President Vladimir Putin on counter-sanctions.
"The text of the decree does not mention this, but, apparently, it will be regulated by some additional acts. I can't say for sure here, because there is no question of this in the text of the decree. But, of course, the decree is subject to unconditional execution," Peskov said, answering journalists who asked whether such responsibility was assumed.
The day before, Putin signed a decree on retaliatory economic measures against unfriendly countries. According to the document, it is prohibited to make transactions and fulfill obligations to foreign individuals and legal entities that have fallen under retaliatory sanctions, as well as to export raw materials and products from the country in favor of such persons. It is specified that the list of relevant persons should be submitted by the Government.
Maria Shustrova