DIRECT. War in Ukraine: Russia “convinced” that it will achieve its objectives in Ukraine

The essential

• Moscow will achieve its objectives by dint of "patience", assured Sergei Lavrov, the head of Russian diplomacy. 

• "Only a few civilians" still live in Bakhmout, the hot spot of the fighting, said Volodymyr Zelensky.

  They were 70,000 a year ago, assured the head of state. 

• Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu was in kyiv on Wednesday and held a press conference alongside Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov.

  Paris is considering supplying more surface-to-air missiles to kyiv. 

06:41

Lavrov rejects any idea of ​​negotiation with Kyiv

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov rejected President Zelensky's "peace formula" as a basis for negotiations.

“It is obvious that kyiv is not ready for dialogue.

Putting forward all sorts of ideas and formulas for peace… Zelensky deludes himself with the illusion of obtaining, with the help of the West, the withdrawal of our troops from the Russian territory of Donbass, Crimea, the region of Zaporizhia and Kherson, the payment of reparations by Russia, international tribunals, etc.

Of course, we will not speak to anyone in such conditions,” he assured in an interview with the Russian news agency RIA.

During the night of Monday to Tuesday, he had laid down the conditions for discussions with the Tass agency: "demilitarization and denazification of the territories controlled by the" Ukrainian regime, "elimination of threats to Russia's security, including on our new lands,” he said, speaking of the four annexed regions.

And to add: “the goal is simple: fulfill them for your own good.

Otherwise, the matter will be decided by the Russian army”.

06:35

A number that makes you shudder

Yesterday Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov reported 13,000 children deported by Russia since the start of the war.

Referring to the 4th Geneva Convention, relative to the protection of civilians in time of war, he deplores "the objective of the 'Russian world': to kill millions of Ukrainians and return their children to Russians". 

Like much information from the Ukrainian and Russian sides, this one is not independently verifiable.

06:30

Zelensky thanks France

In his daily address last night, President Zelensky summarized his meeting with Sébastien Le Cornu, “the French Defense Minister who came to Ukraine” yesterday.

“We discussed cooperation during the year, the reconstruction of our country and a new step in strengthening our air defense.

Thanks France!

“, he concludes.

06:25

Moscow will achieve its goals by dint of "patience", says Lavrov

“I am convinced that thanks to our stubbornness, our patience and our determination, we will defend our noble objectives, those vital for our people and our country”, declared Sergei Lavrov, during an interview broadcast on Wednesday on the Russian television channel. Pervy Canal. 

The head of Russian diplomacy recalled that the resumption of a dialogue with kyiv necessarily required recognition, by Ukraine, of the annexation by Russia of four Ukrainian regions: Donetsk, Lugansk, Zaporijjia, Kherson. 

06:20

Hi there

Welcome to this direct dedicated to the news of the war in Ukraine, more than ten months after the start of the conflict.