As the Russian army appeared to be on its way to taking the port city of Mariupol on Friday, the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, called on Moscow on Saturday to discuss seriously in order to avoid having the consequences of the conflict rebound on generations of Russians.
Posted at 12:00 a.m.
In Mariupol, a strategic port in the south-east of Ukraine, the fighting has moved to the center of the city where the Russian army and its separatist allies “tighten their grip of encirclement”, announced Friday the ministry of Defense of Russia.
Information confirmed by the mayor of Mariupol, Vadim Boitchenko, who declared to the BBC: “Yes, they were very active today. There are tanks and gunfire. Everyone is hiding in bunkers. According to the mayor, at least 80% of buildings in the city have been destroyed or damaged.
There is no city center left. There is not a single place in the city where the war has not left its mark.
Vadim Boitchenko, Mayor of Mariupol
Very early on this Saturday, President Zelensky declared that it was “time to discuss peace and security”, otherwise “the consequences for Russia will be felt over several generations”. “Negotiations on Ukraine’s peace and security are Russia’s only chance to minimize the damage caused by its own mistakes,” Zelensky said in a video posted on Facebook, filmed in a street at night. deserted.
PHOTO AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky
Already, after just over three weeks of conflict, 3.2 million people have left Ukraine to take refuge in neighboring countries, the United Nations said on Friday. In addition, 6.5 million people have moved within the borders of Ukraine, which has a population of almost 45 million.
Biden warns China
In an expected virtual interview, US President Joe Biden warned his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, of the “consequences” for China of aiding Russia. The American leader did not specify the nature of possible reprisals, but “detailed” the sanctions already taken against Russia.
PHOTO AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
President Joe Biden spoke with President Xi Jinping from the White House in Washington on Friday.
For his part, the Chinese president was content to recall that military conflicts were “in no one’s interest”, without ever speaking of “war”.
On the ground, in Ukraine, Russian “missiles” struck Friday morning the airport district of Lviv, a city located 75 km from the border with Poland. In a sign that the fighting seems to be getting closer day by day, Ukrainian recruits and veterans are preparing to face the Russian enemy in the west of the country.
Civilians had also placed 109 prams, pushchairs and baskets for babies in Lviv’s market square. The gesture was intended as a reminder that 109 children have been killed since Russia launched hostilities.
PHOTO ROMAN BALUK, REUTERS
In Lviv, 109 prams, strollers and baby baskets were laid out in the market square.
“I feel a lot of pain,” said Katerina Bandjanova, 28, to Agence France-Presse. Pain for the future of the country, because these children were the future of Ukraine. “His little girl, less than 1 year old, Solomia, was the only one in a stroller on the market place.
Since the start of the Russian “special military operation” three weeks ago, there have been several strikes against civilian targets sheltering children. The Ukrainian authorities put the number of educational establishments damaged since the beginning of the war at 439, including 63 completely destroyed.
Russia more united than ever, according to Putin
In Moscow, Vladimir Putin held a large rally at the stadium that hosted the 2018 FIFA World Cup final. Police in the capital say 200,000 people were in and around the stadium for the address of the Russian President. According to Reuters, state employees and students had been ordered to attend the event.
“The country has never been so united for a long time,” said Vladimir Putin in front of posters that read slogans such as “For a world without Nazism” and “Let’s support our president”.
Moreover, the consequences of the conflict could well provoke other crises on a global scale. According to the Center for Global Development, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will push more than 40 million people into extreme poverty due to soaring food and energy prices.
According to the Washington-based think tank, food prices since the start of the conflict have exceeded levels seen during price spikes in 2007 and 2010.
For its part, the International Energy Agency (IEA) on Friday unveiled a 10-point plan to reduce oil consumption by 2.7 million barrels per day in four months, the equivalent of consumption of all cars in China.
According to the IEA, measures are needed to alleviate the shortage of oil in Russia, hit by various economic sanctions. On the menu: reduction of speed on the roads, teleworking, reduction of public transport prices, among other measures to avoid a possible oil shock.
Another sign of the many consequences of the war in Ukraine, Belgium announced that it was postponing for 10 years its exit from nuclear power, initially planned for 2025. fossil fuels in a turbulent geopolitical context,” said Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo.
Belgium has also announced a “boost” in renewable energies with additional investments in wind, hydrogen and solar energy.
With the BBC, The GuardianReuters and Agence France-Presse