06:33
Le Drian “sees no significant retreat” from the Russians
“Even if the progress of the Russian forces is slower than the Kremlin hoped, I have not noticed any significant setback today, nor even a real ceasefire,” said Foreign Minister Jean- Yves Le Drian in an interview with Le Figaro.
Moscow said Tuesday to reduce “radically” its activity in the direction of kyiv and Chernihiv (North) following Russian-Ukrainian talks in Istanbul, to concentrate its offensive on the Donbass region, in the east of the country. “The Istanbul talks did not mark any breakthrough compared to the talks that have been going on for three weeks. The same subjects were raised and basically, there was no substantial progress”, estimated the head of French diplomacy for whom this latency is probably a strategy for the Russian forces to “regenerate”.
06:25
A virtual China-EU summit
Charles Michel, Ursula von der Leyen, Chinese Premier Ki Keqiang and Xi Jinping are meeting this morning, virtually. The European Union wants to make sure that China does not become more involved in the war on the side of Russia.
“In concrete terms, it is essential to know whether China uses its influence to establish a ceasefire, humanitarian corridors” or “if it helps Moscow to circumvent” the sanctions, by increasing its purchases of hydrocarbons or by aid financial, explains a European official.
06:15
A humanitarian corridor will be opened in Mariupol today, assures Moscow
“The Russian Armed Forces will reopen a humanitarian corridor from Mariupol to Zaporizhia,” the Russian Defense Ministry said. This corridor should open this Friday at 9 a.m. Buses that left yesterday are expected to arrive in the city, besieged since February 26.
06:00
Russia will respond to sanctions
“The actions of the EU will not go unanswered (…). Irresponsible sanctions from Brussels are already negatively affecting the daily lives of ordinary Europeans,” senior Foreign Ministry official Nikolai Kobrinets told RIA news agency.
05:45
Trudeau opposed to the presence of Russia at the next G20
“It makes no sense to have a discussion about global economic growth if the country responsible for much of the upheaval is around the table,” Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Thursday. The final decision rests with the G20 itself, a format created to promote dialogue between the old industrial powers of the G7 and emerging economic giants such as China, Brazil and Russia.
05:40
The conflict enters its 37th day
Hello everyone, and welcome to this direct dedicated to the war in Ukraine.