During his address to the nation, Vladimir Putin raged against the West and announced that he was suspending a treaty on nuclear weapons.
Like a clash from a distance: Vladimir Putin and Joe Biden both gave two resolutely offensive speeches on the war in Ukraine on Tuesday, February 21, three days before the first anniversary of the Russian invasion. As the Russian president announced that his country was suspending its participation in the Russian-American New Start treaty, his American counterpart Joe Biden assured that Russia would not win “Never” in Ukraine.
Franceinfo returns to the highlights of the day on the front of the war in Ukraine.
Vladimir Putin threatens the West and announces that Russia was suspending the New Start treaty
Tuesday morning, in a 1h45 speech reminiscent of the Cold War era, with his virulent anti-Western rhetoric, Vladimir Putin made an impression by announcing the suspension of the New Start treaty on nuclear disarmament, saying he was also ready to resume nuclear testing. An announcement shortly after mitigated by its Ministry of Foreign Affairs assuring in a press release that “Russia intends to maintain a responsible approach and will continue, during the life of the treaty, to strictly observe the quantitative limits of strategic offensive weapons”.
The Russian president also attacked Westerners, accused of“End us, once and for all” and wear “responsibility for the fueling of the Ukrainian conflict and its victims”. Referring to the sanctions that hit Russia, the master of the Kremlin estimated that Westerners would not be able “to nothing”, the Russian economy held up better than expected. A sign that the internal repression accompanying the military offensive is likely to worsen, the Russian head of state also warned that “those who chose to betray Russia” were to “to be held accountable before the law”.
“Ukraine will never be a victory for Russia”, replies Joe Biden to Vladimir Putin
Later in the day, US President Joe Biden made a long-awaited speech in Warsaw, Poland. “Our support for Ukraine will not waver”, “Ukraine will never be a victory for Russia, ever” And “stay free”he hammered, speaking of “America’s Iron Will”.
Vladimir Poutine “thought autocrats like him were tough and democratic leaders were soft, then he came up against the iron will of America and nations around the world who refuse to accept a world ruled by fear”did he declare. “There must be no doubt: our support for Ukraine will not waver, NATO will not be divided and we will not give up”assured the American president.
Westerners call on Moscow to reason on the New Start treaty
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has judged Russia’s decision on New Start “irresponsible”while ensuring that the United States “remain ready to discuss strategic weapons” with Moscow. Paris recalled that the New Start treaty constituted “an essential tool” of strategic stability.
London stressed that arms control was “vital” for security, while NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said “to regret” the Russian decision. A world without nuclear arms control is “much more dangerous”insisted for his part Stéphane Dujarric, spokesperson for the Secretary-General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres.
Europeans to speed up ammunition supplies to Ukraine
The head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, assured Tuesday that the member countries of the EU would draw on their stocks to accelerate the supply of arms and ammunition for Ukraine. Along with Secretary General of the Atlantic Alliance Jens Stoltenberg and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, Josep Borrell expressed confidence in a decision “next week” on this subject. Priority is given to 155 mm shells used by the artillery.
Russian strike kills five civilians in Kherson
During Vladimir Putin’s speech, Russian forces shelled buildings in Kherson, southern Ukraine, killing at least five civilians, according to Ukrainian authorities. Russia “ruthlessly kill the civilian population”, denounced the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky. The images broadcast after this strike show bodies, one covered by a tarpaulin to hide it, lying on the ground near a bus stop and a destroyed supermarket.
Wagner boss accuses Russian headquarters of ‘treason’
The boss of the Russian paramilitary group Wagner has accused his country’s general staff of “treason” to refuse, according to him, to provide equipment to his mercenaries, on the front line in eastern Ukraine. These statements by the businessman Evguéni Prigojine mark an escalation in the tensions between his Wagner group and the Russian army, in competition on the ground in Ukraine.
Tensions have become increasingly visible in recent weeks as Russian forces attempt to seize the eastern town of Bakhmout, with the army and Wagner each claiming advances and sometimes contradicting each other.
France monitors the “activity” of Chinese companies
“There are private Chinese companies whose activity we are watching closely”said Catherine Colonna, on France 5. The French Minister of Foreign Affairs was asked about a potential strategic partnership between China and Russia, while the Sino-Russian rapprochement worries more and more Westerners.
The Minister also assured that France was speaking “quite diplomatically and quite clearly” in Beijing of his wish that Beijing “do not lend a hand to Russia”also emphasizing that she preferred “retaining China’s commitment to stability that benefits it in the long term”.