Did you miss the latest events on the tensions in Ukraine? 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
It was his first public appearance since his arrest on espionage charges which he denies. US journalist Evan Gershkovich will remain in Russian custody after his request for release was rejected by a Russian court. The arrest at the end of March of this correspondent of the prestigious American daily wall street journal, the first case of its kind in decades in Russia, is part of a context of crisis between Washington and Moscow. Evan Gershkovich, with a determined face and folded arms, smiled repeatedly at reporters filming or photographing him.
The 31-year-old reporter, who himself covered several trials in Russia, was this time on the other side, locked in the glass cage reserved for the defendants, with deep marks of handcuffs on his wrists. At the end of a hearing behind closed doors, the judge decided to “leave unchanged” the measure of placement in pre-trial detention at least until May 29, noted an AFP journalist in court. Despite this decision, Evan Gershkovich remains “combative”, his lawyer Maria Kortchaguina told AFP. In prison, “he plays sports, he understands that people support him,” she added.
sentence of the day
I have the honor to be here today, to thank you for your service, for the defense of our land”
Surprise visit. Volodymyr Zelensky visited the town of Avdiivka, one of the hottest spots on the eastern front in Ukraine, on Tuesday. The presidency which published photos and a video of this trip. In these images, the head of the Ukrainian state can be seen in a black tracksuit struck with a white Ukrainian trident on the chest, without bulletproof vest or helmet, first outside with military men in fatigues, in front a flowering tree, then in a vast industrial shed where he presented state decorations to soldiers.
“I only wish you victory, which I wish every Ukrainian,” the Ukrainian president told the military. “I wish you to preserve your life for Ukraine. With such strong people, after the victory, I am sure that together we will rebuild Ukraine”. “Glory to Ukraine! he launched. “Glory to the heroes! replied the soldiers.
The number of the day
3. Like the number of summons of American, British and Canadian ambassadors, accused of interference by Moscow. The exact reason for the summons was not immediately specified, but the day before, Russian diplomacy had denounced the criticisms of these diplomats after the conviction of the Russian-British opponent Vladimir Kara-Mourza.
Moscow has also warned the American ambassador, Lynne Tracy, against any “subversive activity” in Russia, according to a press release published by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, after the summons of the diplomat. “It was particularly noted that any action by the US side aimed at inciting discord and enmity in Russian society, as well as using the diplomatic mission to conceal subversive activity, will be severely suppressed,” it said. Russian diplomacy in this communiqué.
The trend of the day
Relations between China and Russia are in good shape. Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu, visiting Moscow, has shown his “determination” to strengthen cooperation with the Russian army, according to comments reported by Russian news agencies. The visit comes as Westerners, allied to kyiv, fear that Beijing will deliver arms to Russia to fuel its war effort in Ukraine.
This visit to Moscow aims to “demonstrate to the outside world” the “firm determination to strengthen strategic cooperation between the Chinese and Russian armed forces”, said Li Shangfu. He promised to “promote military and technical cooperation as well as military trade between Russia and China” and to “raise them to a new level”.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, who received his Chinese counterpart on Tuesday, for his part called for developing these relations “by offering each other strong support, including with regard to national security issues. “. “It is important that our countries share the same assessment of the direction of the ongoing transformation of the global geopolitical landscape,” he added.