War in Ukraine | Slim victory for diplomacy

Dozens of civilians were able to breathe fresh air again after being evacuated from the Azovstal steel complex, where they were trapped with Ukrainian soldiers still resisting the Russians. And the visit of the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, caused surprise in Ukraine on Sunday.

Lila Dussault
The Press

Hundreds of civilians evacuated from Mariupol

The United Nations (UN) confirmed on Sunday that the evacuation operation of civilians trapped in the Azovstal steel plant, undertaken on Saturday, was still in progress. Russia, Ukraine and the International Committee of the Red Cross are involved in the operation.

This is the first time, after multiple failed attempts despite the intervention of foreign officials and Pope Francis, that civilians entrenched in the Azovstal complex – the last pocket of Ukrainian resistance crushed by Russian bombs – can get out.

“It seems that this evacuation is the result of diplomatic efforts on the part of UN Secretary General António Guterres, who went to Moscow last week,” said Maria Popova, professor of political science at McGill University. specialized in post-Soviet affairs. ” It means that [Vladimir] Putin has not 100% abandoned the idea of ​​cooperation with the international community. »

News that can be seen as a victory, albeit small, according to M^me Popova.

Indeed, with the exception of the Azovstal complex, the city of Mariupol, which was besieged and bombarded for weeks, is now under Russian control. “It’s a clear demonstration that Russia’s war is one of conquest,” says Maria Popova. As soon as they take a territory, they occupy it: they put flags on the buildings, they plan to change the currency: it’s a conquest. »

Nancy Pelosi on a surprise visit to Kyiv

Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi sparked surprise on Sunday during a visit to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

“Our delegation traveled to Kyiv to send an unequivocal and resounding message to the whole world: the United States stands with Ukraine,” said the Congressional delegation, guarantor of American aid which will notably go through a Lend-Lease program (Lend-Lease), similar to the one set up by the United States for its allies during the Second World War.

This meeting follows, within a week, that of the head of American diplomacy, Antony Blinken, and the Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, last Sunday, who then promised 700 million in additional aid for Ukraine.

“The purpose of these visits is to reassure the Americans, in a broad way, and Ukraine too,” explains Paul Lenze Jr., professor of politics and international affairs at Northern Arizona University and member of the Raoul-Dandurand chair. “It shows the Russians that the Americans are here for the long haul. »

According to Maria Popova, President Volodymyr Zelensky has succeeded in accumulating a great deal of power over the past two months: “He has succeeded in convincing the West that Ukraine deserves its support”, she observes.

Violation of Swedish and Danish airspace by Russia

The Russian ambassadors to Sweden and Denmark will be summoned after the violation on Friday of the airspace of these two countries by a Russian reconnaissance plane, Scandinavian diplomats said on Sunday.

Probably a “show of force by Russia.” A subtle and implicit threat”, analyzes Maria Popova.

Denmark is a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), unlike Sweden, a non-aligned country where a debate is however underway and a possible candidacy is being considered.

The Swedish defense minister, however, said he had “no evidence” that the incident was linked to current discussions on Sweden’s potential membership of the North Atlantic alliance.

While Finland is also considering a candidacy to join NATO, Russia has already warned that Stockholm, like Helsinki, must expect “consequences” both in “bilateral relations” with Russia and ” for the European security architecture as a whole”.

A show of force by Russia is not likely to dissuade these Scandinavian countries from joining NATO, according to Mr.^me Popova. “They are already concerned about the aggressive attitude of their neighbor [la Russie], so on the contrary, it could make them even more determined. »

Germany is weaning itself from its energy dependence on Russia

Germany’s dependence on Russian oil imports has fallen in recent weeks to 12% from 35% previously. Those related to coal have for their part increased to 8%, against 50% so far, announced the German Ministry of Economy in a report. On the other hand, dependence on Russian gas remains significant, even if it has also fallen, to 35% against 55%.

“It seems that the German government is in the process of changing its long-standing policy of cooperation with Russia on the energy level, underlines Maria Popova. And that’s because public opinion is demanding to do more for Ukraine. »

In Brussels, European sources have indicated that the European Union is finalizing a gradual cessation of its purchases of oil and petroleum products from Russia to sanction the war in Ukraine and will announce this week a timetable and new measures.

With information from Agence France-Presse