Emmanuel Macron invited, Friday, November 18, economic leaders of Asia-Pacific countries participating in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit to join the “growing consensus” against the war in Ukraine. “France’s number one priority is to contribute to peace in Ukraine and to try to have a global dynamic to put pressure on Russia”, said the head of state. He counts “to work very closely with China, India, the whole region, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, to create a growing consensus saying, ‘This war is also your problem.'” Follow our live.
Many power cuts. Several Ukrainian cities, including the capital kyiv, again suffered Russian strikes on Thursday. Up to 10 million people have been without power as the first snow fell in Ukraine where temperatures could drop to -10°C this week. These repetitive bombings have targeted Ukraine’s energy infrastructure since October.
Cases of torture denounced in Kherson. In Kherson, Dmytro Loubynets, in charge of the Parliament of Human Rights, affirms to have “not seen yet” torture “on such a scale”. “After visiting all the torture chambers in various regions of Ukraine”he said on national television, that “the extent of the phenomenon” in Kherson, liberated on Wednesday November 9 after weeks of occupation, was “horrible”.
Ukrainian grain deal extended. On the diplomatic and economic level, the agreement allowing the export of Ukrainian cereals from the ports of Ukraine was renewed on Thursday for the four winter months, raising concerns about a possible worsening of the world food crisis.