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2:40 p.m. : British Prime Minister Boris Johnson calls on allies to “unity” in the face of the risks of a Russian invasion of Ukraine. “We must be united against the threat”he said at the Munich Security Conference, highlighting the “shock” for the world that an invasion would represent. “The risk now is that people will come to the conclusion that bullying pays.”
2:00 p.m. : At 2 p.m., here is a new point on the news:
Ukrainian authorities and pro-Russian separatists accuse each other of new attacks in eastern Ukraine. The leaders of the self-proclaimed republics of Donetsk and Luhansk, controlled by pro-Russian separatists, have simultaneously proclaimed the “general mobilization”. The United States claims that Russian troops are “getting ready to strike” Ukraine. Follow our live.
Former modeling agent Jean-Luc Brunel, indicted for “rape of minors”, was found dead hanged in his cell.
• The passage of storm Eunice killed at least nine people in northern Europe, according to a latest report. The storm seriously injured eight people in France and caused extensive damage. Saturday morning, around 37,000 homes remain without electricity in the Nord and Pas-de-Calais.
• The Isère Assize Court sentenced Nordahl Lelandais to life imprisonment, together with a 22-year security sentence for the murder of Maëlys de Araujo in August 2017. He will not appeal.
1:46 p.m. : Ukraine “prepare for all possible scenarios”, said the head of Ukrainian diplomacy Dmytro Kouleba. The United States says it is convinced that Russia wants to invade Ukraine imminently.
1:24 p.m. : Russia’s concerns about Ukraine must “to be respected” in the same way as those of the other actors in this crisis which threatens to degenerate into conflict, estimates the head of Chinese diplomacy. “All parties have the right to express their concerns, and Russia’s reasonable concerns must be equally respected and taken into account.”
1:41 p.m. : During a speech at the Munich Security Conference, Kamala Harris threatens to reinforce NATO forces in Eastern Europe in the event of an attack on Ukraine by Russia. The US vice president also warns Moscow that Russia would face economic sanctions “hard and fast”.
12:46 p.m. : The Kremlin announces that the Russian strategic exercises carried out under the supervision of Vladimir Putin, in the midst of the Russian-Western crisis around Ukraine, involved firing “ballistic and cruise missiles”. “The objectives planned during the exercises of the strategic deterrent forces have been fully accomplished, all the missiles have reached the targets set”specifies the Russian presidency.
12:40 p.m. : German Chancellor Olaf Scholz describes as “ridiculous” Vladimir Putin’s accusations about an alleged “genocide” perpetrated against civilians in pro-Russian separatist Ukrainian territories. “He claims that in the Donbass there is a form of genocide, which is really, to be very clear on this point, ridiculous, but that is his story”said the Chancellor in Munich.
12:18 p.m. : Tensions are at their height in the Russian-Western crisis around Ukraine. And the announcements of each other do not indicate a de-escalation. Just now, the Kremlin announces that Russian President Vladimir Putin has launched military exercises “strategic” involving ballistic missile fire.
12:14 p.m. : The Europeans and their NATO allies will be “United” against Russia in the event of an invasion of Ukraine, hammered Jean-Yves Le Drian. The head of French diplomacy warned Sergei Lavrov “against the consequences for Russia of any further attack on the territorial integrity of Ukraine”according to a press release from the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
12:26 p.m. : Russian troops massed on the border with Ukraine “deploy” and “preparing to strike” this country, says US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. He adds that the Russian military “move to the appropriate positions to be able to carry out an attack”.
12:09 : At noon, here is a new point on the news:
Former modeling agent Jean-Luc Brunel, indicted for “rape of minors”, was found dead in his cell.
Ukrainian authorities and pro-Russian separatists accuse each other of new attacks in eastern Ukraine. The Ukrainian army reported 66 exchanges of fire until 7 a.m. The leaders of the self-proclaimed republics of Donetsk and Luhansk, controlled by pro-Russian separatists, have simultaneously proclaimed the “general mobilization”. Follow our live.
• The passage of storm Eunice killed at least nine people in northern Europe, according to a latest report. The storm seriously injured eight people in France and caused extensive damage. Saturday morning, around 37,000 homes remain without electricity in the Nord and Pas-de-Calais.
• The Isère Assize Court sentenced Nordahl Lelandais to life imprisonment, together with a 22-year security sentence for the murder of Maëlys de Araujo in August 2017. He will not appeal.
11:44 am : The Ukrainian army reported a soldier killed by shrapnel. This is the first death in weeks in the conflict in the East. Ukraine has accused pro-Russian separatists of an escalation that raises fears of an imminent Russian invasion. The Ukrainian Armed Forces, however, said in a statement that they “control the situation” and “continue their mission to repel the armed aggression of Russia”. Follow our live.
11:02 : “Europe fears a new migration crisis”valued Le Figaro. For the daily, the Ukrainian crisis and the multiplication of sources of tension raise fears of a threat for which Europe thinks it is better prepared than in 2015.
10:44 am : “Moscow is trying to roll back history and recreate its sphere of influence.”
At Munich security conference, NATO chief reaffirms commitment “steadfast” members of the alliance to protect each other, warning Russia that it would only obtain “no more NATO” if she tries to have “less NATO” at its borders.
10:35 a.m. : A Russian region bordering Ukraine declares a state of emergency over the influx of refugees from separatist regions in eastern Ukraine, which have ordered the evacuation of civilians. “Given the increase in people arriving, it seems appropriate to us to introduce a state of emergency”said the governor of the Rostov region, quoted by Russian news agencies.
10:31 a.m. : Both videos were posted on Telegram. Bad luck for them, we discover on this occasion that it is one of the rare networks that leaves the metadata of the videos visible. Showing that the videos were anything but a spontaneous response to the latest events.
10:31 a.m. : The dramatic escalation of tensions in the Donbass today appears to have been premeditated on the Russian side. The videos of the two pro-Russian separatist leaders calling for the evacuation of civilians to Russia released today… actually were shot on Wednesday. https://t.co/4fg5XMVwTx
12:00 p.m. : Indeed @Investigation. This suggests that the rise in tensions in recent hours was premeditated. Journalist Vincent Glad spotted that the videos released yesterday by pro-Russian separatist leaders to call for the evacuation of civilian populations actually dated from Wednesday. Both videos were posted on Telegram and it is possible to find the metadata of these videos.
10:31 a.m. : There is a journalist who found that the videos of the separatist leaders published yesterday, were in fact recorded on Wednesday.
10:16 a.m. : “We cannot let this happen, we are faced with a blatant attempt to rewrite the rules of the international order.”
Russia has undertaken to “undermine” European security architecture, accuses the President of the European Commission. Ursula von der Leyen also denounced an alliance between China and Russia to impose “the law of the strongest”.
09:59 : South of Donbass, the region of Mariupol remains relatively spared for the moment by the rise of tensions with Russia. But the population is still on the alert: teenagers are preparing for war and have decided to clean the trenches overlooking the Sea of Azov. Report.
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(BENJAMIN ILLY / RADIO FRANCE)
09:32 : The Kremlin confirms that a phone call is scheduled for Sunday between Vladimir Putin and Emmanuel Macron, while fears of a Russian attack in Ukraine are at their height. The Elysée announces that this appeal intended for “avoid the worst” in Ukraine. The French president is also due to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky today.
09:22 : The leaders of the self-proclaimed republics of Donetsk and Lugansk, controlled by pro-Russian separatists at war with Kiev in eastern Ukraine, have simultaneously proclaimed the “general mobilization” this morning. “I call on my fellow reservists to report to the military conscription offices. Today, I signed the general mobilization decree”announced Denis Pushilin, separatist leader of Donetsk.
09:20 : Ukraine’s armed forces and pro-Russian separatists accuse each other of serious ceasefire violations in eastern Ukraine, where the latest attacks have left at least one dead. The Ukrainian army reported 66 exchanges of mortar fire until 7 a.m., a particularly high number. At least one Ukrainian soldier was killed by shrapnel.
09:15 : We start with a first point on the news:
• Ukrainian authorities and pro-Russian separatists accuse each other of new attacks in eastern Ukraine. The Ukrainian army reported 66 exchanges of fire until 7 a.m. The leaders of the self-proclaimed republics of Donetsk and Luhansk, controlled by pro-Russian separatists, have simultaneously proclaimed the “general mobilization”. Follow our live.
• The passage of storm Eunice killed at least nine people in northern Europe, according to a latest report. The storm seriously injured eight people in France and caused extensive damage. Saturday morning, around 75,000 homes remained without electricity in the Nord and Pas-de-Calais.
• The Isère Assize Court sentenced Nordahl Lelandais to life imprisonment, together with a 22-year security sentence for the murder of Maëlys in August 2017. He will not appeal.
• Emmanuel Macron rejected the demand of the ruling military junta in Bamako to withdraw French soldiers “without delay” of Mali. “I won’t compromise for a second on their safety.”did he declare.