France warned Russia against violating the territorial integrity of Ukraine | News from Germany about Russia

Russia should reckon with the consequences if it violates the territorial integrity of Ukraine, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and French Defense Minister Florence Parley informed their Russian colleagues Sergey Lavrov and Sergey Shoigu at a 2+ meeting in Paris. 2 on Friday 12 November.

“Both ministers warned of serious consequences in the event of any new violation of the territorial integrity of Ukraine,” reads a statement posted on the website of the French Foreign Ministry. It also contains an appeal by French ministers to Russia “to reinvest in negotiations in the” Normandy format. “In addition, Paris recalled the obligations of the Russian Federation on” transparency in the movement and actions of the military. “

The situation on the border between Belarus and the EU and other topics

One of the topics discussed at the talks was the catastrophic situation on the border between Belarus and the EU, which arose due to the influx of illegal migrants. The French side called the behavior of the Belarusian authorities, who use people arriving from crisis regions to blackmail the European Union, “irresponsible and unacceptable.” Simultaneously, Le Drian and Parley called on Russia to mobilize its close ties with Belarus in order to “put an end to such political games.”

In addition, the parties discussed the Iranian nuclear program, the peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the situation in Afghanistan and a number of other issues, and also stressed the importance of maintaining the channels of dialogue between the EU and Russia, between the Russian Federation and NATO.

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Time.news of a new aggravation of the conflict in Donbass

Checking weapons systems

So far, artillery fire on both sides of the Russian-Ukrainian border is being conducted for testing purposes. According to official figures, the troops are checking the combat readiness of their weapons systems. In a video released by the Russian Defense Ministry, a Russian self-propelled howitzer fires.

Time.news of a new aggravation of the conflict in Donbass

West expresses support for Ukraine

The West assures Kiev of its solidarity. In his first telephone conversation with his Ukrainian counterpart, US President Joe Biden reiterated to Volodymyr Zelenskiy “the unwavering support of the United States for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine in the face of Russia’s ongoing aggression in Donbas and Crimea.” Representatives of NATO and the EU made similar statements.

Time.news of a new aggravation of the conflict in Donbass

Troops are pulling up to Donbass

In early March, Russia began to strengthen its military presence on the border with Ukraine. Moscow said that in this way it responds to Kiev’s provocations aimed at escalating the conflict in Donbass. According to observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), there were no provocations.

Time.news of a new aggravation of the conflict in Donbass

American destroyers are already in the Black Sea

The US, NATO and the EU have pledged support to Ukraine in protecting its territorial integrity. On April 9, Ankara reported that the United States had already announced at the end of March the passage of two of its warships through the Bosphorus to the Black Sea. The picture shows one of two American destroyers that passed through the strait towards the Black Sea on 20 March.

Time.news of a new aggravation of the conflict in Donbass

A war that has been going on for seven years

The conflict in eastern Ukraine erupted in early 2014, when pro-Russian separatists took control of parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine. According to the authorities in Kiev and their Western allies, the Kremlin is helping the separatists with illegal supply of weapons and the dispatch of mercenaries. Since then, the parties to the conflict have repeatedly agreed on a ceasefire, but these agreements have been constantly violated.

Time.news of a new aggravation of the conflict in Donbass

Bombed and destroyed

This man is standing on the ruins of his house, located on the territory of the self-proclaimed “DPR”. The house was destroyed during the fighting between the separatists and the Ukrainian army. They involve soldiers, mercenaries, separatists and paramilitary units. But the fighting has affected civilians again and again. At the beginning of 2019, according to the UN, about 3,300 civilians were killed in the Donbas.

Time.news of a new aggravation of the conflict in Donbass

Clashes and deaths despite the truce

In total, since 2014, more than 13,000 people have died as a result of the fighting in Donbass. According to the OSCE, the current ceasefire, in effect since July 2020, has been relatively stable. However, shelling has recently become more frequent. In recent days, at least five Ukrainian soldiers and a five-year-old boy have been killed on the territory of the “DPR”. Kiev denies any involvement in his death.

Time.news of a new aggravation of the conflict in Donbass

Zelensky presented awards to Ukrainian soldiers

On April 8, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Donbass and tried to sort out the situation on the spot. He awarded Ukrainian soldiers who distinguished themselves in their service at the front. And on April 10, Zelensky will meet with Turkish President Erdogan. Ukrainian media report that Zelensky is also scheduled to meet with French President Macron.

Time.news of a new aggravation of the conflict in Donbass

Russian citizenship under a simplified procedure

In 2019, Russia began to issue citizenship to residents of the “DPR” / “LPR” using a simplified procedure. According to various sources, about 600 thousand people with Russian citizenship now live there. Moscow has already announced that Russia will take all the necessary measures to protect them. A spokeswoman for the US president said the Russian military presence on the border with Ukraine is now the largest since 2014.

By Jan Walter, Kevin Mertens