What to remember from Thursday, September 12

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that if the West allowed Ukraine to strike Russian territory with longer-range missiles, it would mean that “NATO countries are at war with Russia.”

Vladimir Putin’s warning, Russian counteroffensive, Red Cross employees killed… The war in Ukraine is not abating, Thursday, September 12, as Iran summoned diplomats from four European countries. Franceinfo looks back at the highlights of the day.

Vladimir Putin’s Warning

Russian President Vladimir Putin has threatened a “war with NATO countries” if the West were to allow Ukraine to strike deep into Russian territory with the long-range missiles it has been supplied with. This question is currently at the heart of debates among kyiv’s allies.

“If this decision is taken, it would mean nothing less than direct involvement of NATO countries in the war in Ukraine. This would change the very nature of the conflict. It would mean that NATO countries are at war with Russia.”Vladimir Putin said, according to a video posted on Telegram by a Russian journalist.

Ukraine wants to strike targets deep inside Russian territory with missiles supplied by the West. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized the “delay” caught up in the debates on this issue.

The United States has so far refused to do so, particularly for fear of an escalation that could lead to a direct conflict with Russia, since both countries are nuclear powers. The head of American diplomacy Antony Blinken promised in kyiv on Wednesday to examine “emergency” Ukraine’s military demands. U.S. President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer are due to hold talks on the issue on Friday.

Three Red Cross workers killed

A strike, attributed to the Russian army by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, hit “an aid distribution site” in the east of the country, said Mirjana Spoljaric, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Three Red Cross workers were killed in the raid.

The ICRC team “was preparing to distribute wood” In “the village of Viroliubivka, north of the city of Donetsk”explains a press release. “ICRC teams are regularly present in the Donetsk region and our vehicles are clearly marked with the Red Cross emblem”the organization continues.

Moscow says it has retaken 10 towns in Russia’s Kursk region

The Russian Defense Ministry said it had recaptured ten villages from Ukrainians in its Kursk region in two days. “During offensive operations, units of the Northern Troop Group liberated ten localities in two days,” the Russian ministry wrote in a statement. These are the first military successes claimed by the Russian army in this area. Ukrainian forces say they control about a hundred localities following their offensive launched in August in this border area.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed at the same time that a Russian counter-offensive was underway in this border region, while assuring that this response was “in line with the Ukrainian plan”, without providing further details.

Iran summons diplomats from four European countries after new sanctions

Iran has summoned diplomatic missions from France, Britain, the Netherlands and Germany following sanctions announced by the West in response to alleged deliveries of ballistic missiles to Russia for use against Ukraine.

The four diplomats were “summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs following sanctions and unconstructive remarks from European parties”the official Irna news agency announced.

By summoning European diplomats, the Iranian Foreign Ministry has “firmly condemned” THE “recent destructive statements and actions” from Europe, according to Irna. “The persistence in these positions and actions is seen as a continuation of a hostile Western policy towards the Iranian people.”