Did you miss the latest events on the tensions in Ukraine? Do not panic, 20 minutes takes stock for you every evening at 7:30 p.m. Who did what ? Who said what? Where are we ? The answer below:
news of the day
The Russian army on Tuesday launched a “powerful assault” involving tanks, troops and boats against the immense Azovstal steelworks, the last pocket of Ukrainian resistance in Mariupol, announced a commander of the regiment which defends it. “We will do everything to repel it,” he added, also calling for “immediate measures to evacuate civilians” still holed up with Ukrainian fighters.
So far Vladimir Putin had refused to launch an assault, deemed too costly in lives. The Russian head of state had preferred to order the steelworks to be besieged “so that not a fly would pass”.
sentence of the day
The West could help stop these atrocities by exerting appropriate influence on the authorities in kyiv, as well as by stopping the supply of arms to Ukraine. »
This is a statement by Russian President Vladimir Putin. The latter assured that the West should stop delivering weapons to kyiv during his telephone exchange with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday.
The number of the day
101. An operation carried out with the support of the UN enabled around a hundred civilians to evacuate the Azovstal steelworks in Mariupol this weekend. They arrived on Tuesday in Zaporijia, 230 kilometers northwest of the port city, where they were welcomed by representatives of the organization.
The trend of the day
While on the ground, Moscow is trying to establish its power over the east and south of the country, the West is keeping up the pressure. On Tuesday, a draft embargo on oil and petroleum products purchased from Russia was submitted to EU member countries. It provides for a gradual cessation of European purchases over a period of six to eight months until the end of 2022, with an exemption for Hungary and Slovakia.
Across the Channel, Boris Johnson has announced an increase in British military aid to Ukraine. The Prime Minister has announced a new £300m plan which includes “radar to locate the artillery bombarding your towns, heavy-lift drones to supply your forces, and thousands of ‘night vision devices’, during a speech in front of the Ukrainian Parliament.
This decision comes as US President Joe Biden requested a $33 billion budget extension to help Ukraine at the end of last week and the seizure of assets of oligarchs for the benefit of kyiv, marking a hardening of tone among Westerners. .