What’s happening in Ukraine? How is the world reacting to the Russian invasion? The current military operation in this country is mobilizing international attention and raising many questions. The duty answers some of them in five key questions.
What’s happening in Ukraine?
After bombing several regions of the country on Thursday and seizing strategic locations, including airports, Russia opted for the land route on Friday to invade Ukraine, an Eastern European country of about 44 million people. inhabitants. As the death toll continued to rise, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said late Friday afternoon that the Russian military will attempt overnight to “capture” Kiev, forcing thousands of inhabitants to take refuge in shelters and in metro stations. On Friday evening, many explosions could be heard on the outskirts and even inside the capital, the American network CNN reported.
“Controlling Kiev would make it possible to control the government”, evokes the Homework Associate Vice-Rector for Research at the Royal Military College of Canada and specialist in Russia, Pierre Jolicoeur. However, Ukraine could react to this threat by moving its government to another region or in exile in another country, he analyzes.
On Friday, the United Nations said around 100,000 people have already left their homes in Ukraine in less than 48 hours. Half of them would have left Ukrainian territory, mostly for neighboring countries, including Poland and Moldova.
How did the world react?
Sanctions continued to rain down on Russia and its leaders on Friday, in response to the ongoing invasion. The Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, notably announced at the end of the afternoon a third salvo of sanctions against the Kremlin, some of which specifically aimed at President Vladimir Putin and his Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sergei Lavrov. Similar measures have been taken by the European Union and the United States, among others, while the United Kingdom has banned Russian planes from its airspace, which was also announced later in the day by Poland, the Czech Republic and Bulgaria.
“We can say that in the West, there is a unanimous message to criticize the Russian invasion”, summarizes Mr. Jolicoeur.
Sporting and cultural events that were to be held in Russia have also been canceled. This is particularly the case of the Formula 1 Russian Grand Prix, which will not ultimately take place in Sochi on September 25 as planned. The Champions League final, which was to take place on May 28 in Saint Petersburg, has for its part been moved to the Stade de France, near Paris. Russia has also been banned from taking part in the Eurovision Song Contest, scheduled for May. Actions whose repercussions on the image of the country internationally could be significant, analyzes Mr. Jolicoeur.
The UN Security Council for its part tried to adopt a draft resolution on Friday to ask Russia to stop “using force against Ukraine”, but the country of Vladimir Putin opposed its right to veto it.
How is the invasion of Ukraine received in Russia?
It is difficult to know precisely the popular support Vladimir Putin enjoys with regard to the invasion of Ukraine, because of the widespread propaganda and censorship in Russia, evokes Pierre Jolicoeur. “Russia is always trying to control the message,” recalls Mr. Jolicoeur.
However, the gatherings of thousands of people Thursday in Moscow and in other cities of Russia in opposition to these military attacks are eloquent, especially since the demonstrations are strongly repressed in this country, notes the expert, who welcomes the “courage” of these demonstrators.
The independent organization OVD-Info also reported on Friday that 622 people were arrested during rallies against the Ukrainian invasion, compared to nearly 1,900 on Thursday.
What are the repercussions of the Ukrainian crisis in Canada?
In Canada, which has a Ukrainian community of about 1.3 million, the repercussions of this military crisis could be significant. Already, about 2,000 immigration applications from Ukrainian citizens have been approved by the Government of Canada, Federal Immigration Minister Sean Fraser announced on Friday. A number that could increase considerably in the coming weeks. “We are open to doing more, to welcoming even more people,” said Justin Trudeau.
Canada, which has sent lethal weapons to Ukraine, will also be called upon to provide humanitarian aid in this country, foresees Pierre Jolicoeur. “Later, Canada will respond for the reconstruction of Ukraine, I am convinced,” said the expert.
When can we expect a de-escalation?
“I am unfortunately a bit pessimistic. I don’t think that Russia’s appetite will be satisfied with Kiev,” replies Pierre Jolicoeur.
According to the expert, Russia will continue in the coming days to try to occupy other regions in eastern and southern Ukraine, in particular. Occupying a country of more than 40 million inhabitants will however require pharaonic expenditure that Russia could have difficulty justifying, he analyzes, especially since part of its population is firmly opposed to the invasion of Ukraine. “We will have to see to what extent Russia is ready to pay the price,” says Mr. Jolicoeur.
With Agence France-Presse