Find here all of our live #UKRAINE
08:02 : France stands in solidarity with Ukraine. It stands with the Ukrainians and works with its partners and allies to end the war.
08:02 : France strongly condemns Russia’s decision to wage war on Ukraine. Russia must end its military operations immediately.
08:02 : Hello @Renzo. Emmanuel Macron has just reacted to the war in Ukraine, in two short messages posted on Twitter. “Russia must immediately end its military operations”condemns the French president.
08:03 : But where is Emmanuel Macron?
07:54 : “It’s the worst-case scenario, it’s war. (…) Vladimir Putin announces this war as an operation aimed at liberating the region of Lugansk and Donetsk, but the strikes are taking place on territories that are far beyond.“
According to Cécile Vaissié, a researcher specializing in Russia, Vladimir Putin’s speech this night “was filled with visible lies and inconsistencies”. You can find his analysis in our article.
07:48 : The special envoy of France Télévisions in Donetsk, in eastern Ukraine, explains that “on the separatist side, we hear, almost without stopping, deaf shots that seem quite distant”. However, there is no panic in the city, according to Luc Lacroix.
(FRANCEINFO)
07:50 : The Russian army claims this morning to have destroyed the anti-aircraft defense systems and “out of order” Ukrainian airbases. For its part, Kiev says it has shot down five planes and a helicopter from the Russian army.
07:38 : The beginning of the war in Ukraine has first consequences on the markets. The price of a barrel of oil exceeded 100 dollars this morning for the first time in more than seven years, and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange fell more than 3% at the opening.
07:35 : The world must create “an anti-Putin coalition” for “force Russia to peace”, says Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. He spoke this morning with several leaders, including US President Joe Biden, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
07:48 : The French Embassy in Ukraine has opened “a crisis unit” for French people in the country. She can be reached on +380 55 590 36 39. Last night, Paris had asked its nationals to leave Ukraine but Kiev closed its airspace to civil aviation this morning, after the announcement of the Russian offensive.
07:32 : The French Embassy in Ukraine is opening a crisis cell for French nationals in the country.
07:30 : With a little delay, here is the press review of the day. Most of the newspapers (some of which were finalized last night, before the announcement of the Russian attack) obviously mention the situation in Ukraine.
(THE ECHOES)
(WEST FRANCE)
(THE CROSS)
07:31 : The information on Ukraine is very numerous this morning, let’s try to briefly summarize the situation:
• Vladimir Poutine announced this morning, at 4 a.m. (French time), a “military operation” in Ukraine. The Russian army claims to target Ukrainian military targets.
• In response to this aggression, Ukraine closed its airspace to civil aviation and its President instituted martial law. Explosions sounded in several towns across the country and anti-bombing warning sirens sounded in the capitalKyiv.
• The international community strongly condemned the Russian attack, announced by Vladimir Putin in the middle of an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council. A draft resolution is to be tabled today before this body, at the initiative of the United States.
07:20 : The special correspondent of France Télévisions in Kramatorsk, in the east of Ukraine, reports that several inhabitants were queuing this morning to withdraw cash. Some vending machines are already empty. Several explosions were heard this morning in this city. It would be Ukrainian military infrastructure targeted by the Russian army, according to Maryse Burgot.
(FRANCEINFO)
07:20 : German Chancellor Olaf Scholz described the Russian attack in Ukraine as a “brilliant violation of international law”speaking of a “dark day” for the whole of Europe. “Germany condemns in the strongest possible terms this shameless act by the President Putin, our solidarity goes to Ukraine and its people”he added.
07:04 : “President Putin has chosen a path of bloodshed and destruction in launching this unprovoked attack. The UK and our allies will respond decisively.”
07:02 : “We strongly condemn Russia’s unwarranted attack on Ukraine. In these dark times, our thoughts are with Ukraine and the innocent women, men and children who face this unprovoked attack and fear for their lives. We will hold the Kremlin to account.”
07:21 : “Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will cause. … The world will hold Russia to account.”
06:57 : The Russian attack in Ukraine provoked many reactions from the international community, which strongly condemns Vladimir Putin’s decision. We take stock in this article.
07:22 : “The Ukrainian border was attacked by Russian troops from Russia and Belarus”, Ukrainian border guards report in a statement. These attacks were notably carried out using“artillery”.
07:23 : The United States will table a draft resolution today before the UN Security Council condemning Russia for its “war” in Ukraine, according to the American ambassador to the United Nations. According to anonymous diplomats quoted by AFP, the text could be put to a vote tomorrow.
06:37 : Message from Ukrainian President Zelensky: Russia is attacking our military installations across the country. We launch our own defensive measures. He confirms having spoken with Joe Biden. Call on the Ukrainians to calm down.
06:37 : Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on his fellow citizens to “don’t panic” in the face of the Russian attack, in a short video posted on Facebook. “We are ready for anything, we will win”he assured.
07:25 : Several journalists from AFP, BFMTV and CNN have reported hearing the anti-bombing warning sirens in the center of Kiev. Explosions, whose origin is unknown, sounded this morning in the capital and in several towns in eastern Ukraine.
06:29 : Anti-bombing warning sirens sound in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine.
06:28 : “There is no purgatory for war criminals. They’re going straight to hell,” says the Ukrainian ambassador to the United Nations to his Russian counterpart. “Call Putin (…) to stop this aggression.”
07:26 : Vladimir Putin’s statement gave rise to a tense exchange between the Ukrainian ambassador to the United Nations and his Russian counterpart. “Call Putin (…) to stop this aggressiondid he declare. There is no purgatory for war criminals, they go straight to hell.”
07:27 : “In the name of humanity, let us not allow the outbreak in Europe of what could be the worst war since the beginning of the century. [Si cela] leads to all-out war, it’s hard to predict how dramatic it will be, in terms of how many people will die, how many people will be displaced, how many people will lose hope for the future.”
07:27 : “[Ce conflit] must stop now. President Putin, in the name of humanity, bring your troops back to Russia!”
06:12 : Vladimir Putin’s surprise address came as the UN Security Council held an emergency meeting on the Ukraine crisis. This decision, “at the very moment when this Council is meeting, illustrates the contempt in which Russia holds international law and the United Nations”reacted the French ambassador to the UN.
06:09 : The Russian Ministry of Defense claims to aim with “high precision weapons” several military sites in Ukraine, where Moscow launched a military operation this morning. “Military infrastructure, air defense facilities, military airfields and aviation of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are rendered harmless”he says.
07:29 : Here is a first point on the news of this Thursday morning:
• Vladimir Putin announced, during a surprise televised speech at 4 a.m. (French time), that he had launched a “military operation” in Ukraine, calling on the Ukrainian military to “Throw down the weapons”. Follow the latest information in our live.
• The Russian army said it was targeting Ukrainian military sites with “high precision weapons”. Explosions were heard in Kharkiv, Odessa and Kiev, without anyone knowing the origin of these explosions.
• The Ukrainian president has announced the introduction of martial law in the country, in response to the Russian attack. Its foreign minister has claimed that Russia is currently carrying out a “large-scale invasion”while Kiev closed its airspace to civilian flights.
The parliament yesterday adopted the elongation 12 to 14 weeks of the legal deadline for abortion, to respond to a lack of practitioners and the gradual closing of centres.
07:39 : Vladimir Putin announced, during a surprise televised speech at 4 a.m. (French time), to have launched a “military operation” in Ukraine. The Russian president said he wanted to defend the pro-Russian separatists in the east of the country. “We will strive to achieve demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine”he said, without specifying the extent of this “transaction”.
(FRANCEINFO)
05:58 : Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a “military operation” in Ukraine, Kiev denounces a “large-scale invasion”.