[EN DIRECT] 34th day of war in Ukraine: here are all the latest developments

The Russian invasion of Ukraine continues for a 34^and day, while several cities are still the target of bombardments.

Here are the latest developments, minute by minute

8:20 am | The number of refugees is inexorably approaching the 4 million mark

The number of refugees who have fled Ukraine since the invasion ordered by Vladimir Putin is approaching the symbolic bar of 4 million which, at the current rate, could be crossed in the next few days, according to the UN count published on Tuesday .

8:10 am | Kyiv wants an “international agreement” guaranteeing its security

Ukraine is calling for an “international agreement” to guarantee its security, of which several guarantor countries would be signatories, the Ukrainian chief negotiator said on Tuesday after several hours of Russian-Ukrainian talks in Istanbul.

8:04 am | Leaving or staying in Russia, the dilemma of French companies

Long hesitant, French companies are increasingly questioning their presence in Russia and some are taking the plunge as the conflict in Ukraine lasts, like the sports brand Decathlon which announced on Tuesday the suspension of its activities in the country.

8am | The Russian-Ukrainian talks in Istanbul were “meaningful”, says the Russian negotiator.

7:55 am | Russia announces “radical” reduction of military activity in Kyiv and Cherniguiv regions in Ukraine

7:09 am | Russian attacks on Mariupol are a ‘crime against humanity’

The Russian attacks on Mariupol are a “crime against humanity”, denounced Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday in a speech before the Danish Parliament.

6:51 am | The French sports brand Decathlon “suspends” its activities in Russia

6:35 am | Neutrality of Ukraine, a status difficult to validate legally

Non-membership of NATO, neutrality of Ukraine: President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged that these Russian demands were seriously considered but would require amendments to the Constitution or a referendum, both prohibited in wartime .

6:33 am | Kremlin insists on paying for Russian gas in rubles, after criticism from G7

The Kremlin insisted on Tuesday on payment in rubles for Russian gas delivered to Europe, rejecting criticism from the G7, while the West and the Russians have multiplied sanctions and counter-sanctions since the Russian offensive in Ukraine.

6:20 am | Finland worries about Russian interference in its NATO debate

Finland must prepare for Russian interference and hybrid attacks linked to the ongoing debate on the Nordic country’s NATO membership, its intelligence service said on Tuesday.

6:08 am | The Kremlin confirms that the oligarch Abramovich is a mediator with Ukraine

Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich is playing a mediating role in the Russian-Ukrainian talks that opened in Istanbul on Tuesday, the Kremlin said, brushing aside claims that he was poisoned.

READ | Money from the Russian billionaire in the Yellow Pages

A Russian billionaire sanctioned by Ottawa for his links with Vladimir Poutine has financial interests in Quebec, in the Montreal firm Pages Jaunes.

5:50 am | Macron and Putin will talk by phone Tuesday afternoon

5:47 | The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Ukraine to discuss the security of nuclear sites

5:37 | Mykolaiv hit by a Russian strike, at least two dead

At least two people died on Tuesday in a Russian strike that partially destroyed the regional administration building in Mykolaiv, a Ukrainian city near Odessa which has experienced a respite from the bombardments in recent days.

AFP journalists saw two corpses being pulled from the rubble of the building, the central section of which partially collapsed after the strike.

4h40 | Russia grants military reprieve to tech professionals

Russia announced Tuesday to grant a reprieve from military service to young people working in the high-tech sector, to deal with a brain drain caused by the Russian offensive in Ukraine.

4h30 | Talks between Russia and Ukraine open in Istanbul

The Russian and Ukrainian delegations began their negotiations in Istanbul on Tuesday morning, after being welcomed by the Turkish president who urged them to put an end to the “tragedy” constituted by the invasion of Ukraine by troops from Moscow.

3h15 | Washington wants to target even more Moscow’s ability to wage war

The United States, having already sanctioned Russia’s defense industry, is considering targeting other sectors involved in the Kremlin-led war effort in Ukraine, a US Department of Health official said on Tuesday. Economy.

READ | Irpin liberated, Mariupol occupied

The Russian vice is loosening in certain regions of Ukraine where the resistance even managed to repel the enemy yesterday, while other cities are still crumbling under the violent assaults.

WAR NOTEBOOK | Ukrainians block Russians

The Ukrainians claim several territorial reconquests. In particular, the Ukrainian army is said to have managed to recapture the town of Irpin. The region of Mariupol would be the only one where the Russian army would still progress a little.

OPEN LETTER | Who really pays the price for economic sanctions?

“The Russian invasion of Ukraine puts the system of economic sanctions back on the agenda as a ‘defensive weapon’.”