It is undoubtedly one of the most politically important days since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24. Friday, September 30, Vladimir Putin signed with great fanfare in Moscow the documents for the annexation of four Ukrainian regions, before Russia opposed a Security Council resolution condemning its annexations. Franceinfo returns to the highlights of Thursday, September 29 on the front of the war in ukraine.
Vladimir Putin signed the documents for the annexation of the four occupied regions
At a ceremony in the Kremlin, Vladimir Putin signed the annexation documents, alongside the leaders of Ukraine’s separatist regions of Donetsk and Lugansk, and those occupied by Russian troops in Zaporizhia and Kherson. In his speech, Vladimir Putin called on kyiv to stop “all hostilities and to return to the negotiating table”.
After this ceremony, the Russian president spoke at a festive concert on Red Square in Moscow, in front of several thousand people waving Russian flags. “Victory will be ours!”he launched. “Welcome to the house”also declared Vladimir Poutine to the address of the inhabitants of the annexed Ukrainian territories, affirming that Russia opened to them “his heart”.
Nord Stream annexations and leaks discussed at UN Security Council
In New York (United States), the UN Security Council examined a resolution condemning the annexations in Ukraine, which was immediately blocked by a Russian veto. Apart from the Russian veto, the resolution collected 10 votes in favor and four countries abstained (China, India, Brazil and Gabon). “If Russia prevents the Security Council from carrying out its responsibilities, we will ask the General Assembly, where each country has a voice, to make it clear that it is unacceptable to redraw the borders of force”warned US Secretary of State Antony Blinken just before the vote.
At the end of the meeting on the referendums, the Council was to examine, at Russia’s request, the four leaks affecting the Nord Stream gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea. A report from Sweden and Denmark sent to the Security Council estimates that these leaks are due to underwater explosions equivalent “hundreds of pounds” of TNT. The source and the author of the explosions remain mysterious. Russia, to which all eyes are turned, rejects all responsibility and accuses the West.
Ukraine is a candidate for “accelerated membership” of NATO
Volodymyr Zelensky announced that he would “sign Ukraine’s candidacy for accelerated NATO membership”. In Washington, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken assured that his country and Canada were in favor of this membership. But, he added, “there is a process for this and countries will continue to follow this process.”
In Brussels, the Secretary General of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, remained evasive on this candidacy. “Every democracy in Europe has the right to apply for NATO membership and we have said again and again that the door remains open”, did he declare. But a decision on membership must be approved “unanimously” by the 30 member countries, he recalled.
Strike kills 30, injures 88 in Zaporizhia region
A strike on a column of civilian cars on the border between the Ukrainian zone and the zone occupied by the Russians in the Zaporizhia region left at least 30 dead and 88 injured, according to a report released Friday evening by the Ukrainian police. “Among those killed are two children: an 11-year-old girl and a 14-year-old boy”added the head of the Ukrainian police, specifying that“a 3-year-old girl was also injured”.
The city of Lyman, key point of the Ukrainian counter-offensive
The Russian military has suffered several recent setbacks inflicted by Ukrainian forces. Since Friday, the strategic town of Lyman has been partially surrounded by Ukrainians. Russian soldiers at Lyman, an important railway junction, fight “out of strength” and the situation is there “hard”acknowledged Friday a senior pro-Russian separatist official, Denis Pouchiline.
For his part, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the progress of his troops’ counter-offensive. “We have significant results in the east of the country (…) Everyone has heard what is happening in Lyman, in the Donetsk region. These are steps that mean a lot to us”he rejoiced in his daily address published on social networks.
The United States will increase its aid to Ukraine
US President Joe Biden has sworn to“support Ukraine’s efforts to regain control of its territory” and affirmed that the United States and its allies would not allow themselves “intimidate” by President Putin. His White House national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, assured that there would be “an announcement next week of immediate security assistance” in favor of Ukraine.
The US Congress also approved $12.3 billion in new aid to Ukraine in a vote that validates the budget for the end of the year and avoids a shutdown of federal services.