Scholz: Putin's announcement of partial mobilization, act of despair

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has described Russian President Vladimir Putin's announcement of partial mobilization and holding referenda in the occupied regions as a <x0 minimum despair”.

Writing from the UN General Assembly margins, Scholz said Russia cannot win this criminal war in Ukraine and that Putin, with his most recent decision, makes the situation much worse.

Putin's assessment of partial mobilization is an act of despair. Russia cannot win this criminal war. Putin has downplayed the situation from the beginning, including Ukraine's will to resist and the determination shown by its friends”, wrote Scholz in a Twitter post.

The planned false referendums are an attempt to invade the neighbouring country through the use of violence. We will not accept this. In our world, the law must prevail over violence. Violence cannot be stronger than law”, Scholz added.