BY A STAFF REPORTER: German chancellor Olaf Scholz on Wednesday called Russian President Vladimir Putin’s partial mobilization announcement "an act of desperation." "Putin's announcement of partial mobilization is an act of desperation," Scholz tweeted. "Russia cannot win this criminal war. Putin completely underestimated the situation from the very beginning — the will of Ukraine to resist and the unity of its friends." "The planned sham referendums are an attempt to conquer the neighbor's country by force. We will not accept that. In our world, law must prevail over violence. Violence cannot be stronger than law," Scholz tweeted.