Rumors: Putin's Major Speech Postponed In Unusual Move - Video To Be Played Tomorrow Morning?

Putin's Major Wartime Speech Postponed In Highly Unusual Move

TYLER DURDEN

 In a highly unusual move, after about two hours of waiting for Russian President Vladimir Putin to give a highly anticipated speech, Kremlin sources have said it has been postponed until tomorrow. Curiously, Russia's Channel One and RT within the last minutes have even removed the speech announcement. "Go to sleep," RT editor Margarita Simonyan wrote on Telegram.

Amid continued speculation over the nature of what was likely to signal major changes in the way Russia is executing its "special operation" in Ukraine, including the likelihood that Putin was to declare and confirm popular referendums toward joining the Russian federation across occupied parts of Ukraine, one question remains: was he poised to issue formal declaration of war? 

Perhaps there was last-minute internal Kremlin scrambling and second-guessing? Possibly top decision-makers representing the US and NATO reached out in a last-ditch negotiation offer and effort to avoid full war?

Andrey Kartapolov, the chairman of the State Duma Defense Committee, has Tuesday evening been cited as suggesting "There will be no general mobilization, but martial law may be imposed in some places."

It remains that a lot happened on Tuesday, with things seeming to lead to some kind of climactic declaration, anticipated as centered on Putin's now rescheduled speech. As a BBC Moscow correspondent summarizes of how fast events have been moving early this week:

• Parliament passes law introducing concepts of mobilization & martial law
• Rebel 'republics' in east Ukraine (under Kremlin control) announce "referenda" on joining Russia for 23-27 Sept
• Putin urges industry to boost weaponry production
• Pop legend Alla Pugacheva may be investigated under 'discrediting Russian armed forces' law for anti-war post 
• Army recruitment center for foreign citizens to be set up at Moscow migrant center
• Parliament approves law for such recruits to receive Russian passports

There are unconfirmed reports that the speech could yet come by early Wednesday...