Every day, Midi Libre takes stock of the situation in Ukraine. This Monday March 18, 2024, discover the latest news around this conflict.
European Council agrees on 5 billion euros in aid to Ukraine
The European Council announced on Monday its decision to increase financial support for the Ukrainian armed forces by five billion euros with the establishment of a dedicated fund.
This involves raising the ceiling of the “European Peace Facility” (EPF) by five billion euros, to 17 billion euros for the period 2021-2027, and securing this new tranche of aid by creating a dedicated fund to assist Ukraine within the EPF. “With this fund, we will continue to support Ukraine in its defense against the Russian war of aggression for as long and at any cost as necessary.”declared the head of EU diplomacy, Josep Borrell, in a statement.
The EU will use these funds to purchase lethal and non-lethal military equipment, as well as to train soldiers, the statement said. The Council authorized the joint purchase of this equipment from EU or Norwegian companies. The principle was validated last week by EU members while kyiv is experiencing intense difficulties on the front.
Ukrainian air defense shoots down 17 drones launched by Russia
Air defense downed 17 drones out of 22 launched by Russia towards nine Ukrainian regions, kyiv authorities announced on Monday.
A fire broke out in the town of Kryvyï Rih, in the center of the country. Emergency personnel managed to evacuate the residents and no casualties were reported, authorities said.
In the Kirovohrad region, the attack damaged industrial sites and residential buildings, with no casualties reported, the local governor said. Russian forces also launched seven missiles towards Ukraine.
No information was immediately available on the damage caused by the devices that Ukraine failed to shoot down.
Putin warns West of risk of World War III
Russian President Vladimir Putin warned Westerners on Monday that a direct conflict between Russia and NATO would bring the world closer to a new war, adding however that virtually no one wanted such an outcome.
Since Moscow launched in February 2022 what it presented as a “special military operation” in Ukraine, denounced by kyiv and its allies as an invasion, relations between Russia and the West have deteriorated to a level unprecedented since the Cuban missile crisis in 1962.
Asked by Reuters about the comments of French President Emmanuel Macron, who said last month not to exclude the possibility of sending ground troops to Ukraine – a hypothesis immediately dismissed by other allies of Kyiv -, and about the risk of a conflict with NATO, Vladimir Putin quipped: “Everything is possible in the modern world”.
Emmanuel Macron, who said he did not want“escalation”last week called on Westerners to “startle”warning that a Russian victory in Ukraine would constitute a “existential threat” for Europe.
“It is clear to everyone that a (conflict between Russia and NATO) would mark the final stage before a Third World War. I think that practically no one wants that”declared Vladimir Putin to the press after having, unsurprisingly, won the Russian presidential election by a large margin.
The Kremlin leader added, however, that NATO military personnel were already in Ukraine. Russian troops heard communications in English and French on the battlefield, he said. “There is nothing good in all this, first of all for them since they are dying there and in large numbers”he continued.
Vladimir Putin said he hoped that Emmanuel Macron would stop trying to fuel tensions over Ukraine, inviting his French counterpart to play a role for peace. “All is not yet lost”did he declare. “I have said it again and again, and I will say it again: we are in favor of peace talks, and not just because the enemy is running out of ammunition.”he added.