Zelenskyy criticized the US$60 price cap on Russian oil: a weak position.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of the decision by the European Union and the G7 to cap the price of Russian oil at US$60 a barrel and called it "a weak position" and a way of taking a big decision.
"Now, unfortunately, the discussion on price caps, i.e., limiting the export price of Russian oil, has ended in the world without big decisions. The decision to set such a limit on Russian prices, which is quite comfortable for the budget of the terrorist state, cannot be called a big decision.
Russia has already caused huge losses to all countries of the world by deliberately destabilizing the energy market, and the world does not dare decide on real energy disarmament. This is a weak position, and it's only a matter of time before you will have to use stronger tools. It is a pity that this time will be lost.
The logic is obvious. If the limit on the price of Russian oil is 60 dollars instead of, for example, 30 dollars, which was discussed, in particular, by Poland and the Baltic states, then the Russian budget will receive about 100 billion dollars a year. This money will be used not only for the war but also for further sponsorship by Russia of other terrorist regimes and organizations. This money will also be used to destabilize further just those countries that are now trying to avoid serious decisions," Zelenskiy said.
Pressure on Putin over nuclear weapons forced him to change tactics of war.
Victoria Nuland, the US Deputy Secretary of State, is convinced that harsh warnings from other states convinced Russian leader Vladimir Putin that the reaction to the use of nuclear weapons would be unprecedented and difficult for Russia, and this forced the Russian Federation to resort to the current tactics of war, which is unacceptable, too.
The US Deputy Secretary of State stressed that after Putin's threats to use nuclear weapons, which he voiced out in summer and autumn, the world has resorted to attempts to convince the Russian Federation not to move past the point of no return. "You have seen that not only the United States but also other G7 members have come out to the Kremlin with signals that it is completely unacceptable and irresponsible to throw this [hints of the use of nuclear weapons] around," Nuland said.
"Russia has already made itself an outcast, but we have explained that the use of nuclear weapons will have a response and consequences of an incomparable level. Our response was united, and after that, Russia switched to a fundamentally different weapon, launching attacks on the energy infrastructure," she said.
Victoria Nuland stressed that the tactics chosen by Russia instead of nuclear escalation were also absolutely unacceptable. "Russia has moved the war from the battlefield to civilians, to people's homes, which is an unacceptable escalation," she said, stressing that the West applies sanctions against Russia. Based on her explanations, the nuclear threat is not currently part of Russia's immediate plans.
"After all this talk about nuclear weapons, which were very dangerous, threatening, and unacceptable, and when we explained the price for Russia, Putin decided to do something different. And you have to live with this "other" now," she stated.
Victoria Nuland stressed that despite this, the West should "remain vigilant" against all threats from the Russian Federation.
James Risch, the US senator [Republicans], has added that the Kremlin was unlikely to escalate the Russian war against Ukraine into a nuclear war and would not dare to use nuclear weapon.
Kremlin announces Putin's visit to Donbas.
Dmitry Peskov, the Press Secretary for the President of the Russian Federation, has reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin plans to visit the occupied territories of Ukraine "soon."
Peskov also said that "conscription in Russia is completed," and the Russian authorities will not provide any additional information.
The Kremlin has not provided any details or dates.