Bilateral meeting between Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin in Moscow, Chinese peace plan, European envelope unblocked for Ukraine, judgment of a senior Ukrainian official, export of cereals... Le Figaro takes stock of the war in Ukraine
this
Monday February 20.
Putin says he is ready to discuss China's peace plan
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Monday, during a long-awaited meeting in Moscow with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, to be ready to discuss the peace plan proposed by Beijing to settle the conflict in Ukraine.
“
We are always open to a negotiation process.
We will undoubtedly discuss all these issues, including your initiatives, which we treat with respect
, ”said Vladimir Putin during this informal meeting, the beginning of which was broadcast on Russian television.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping at a bilateral meeting, at the Kremlin, in Moscow, Russia, March 20, 2023. KREMLIN / REUTERS
Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping hail their 'close relations' in Moscow
Vladimir Putin assured his Chinese counterpart that Moscow and Beijing had "
many common tasks and goals
".
The Russian leader also welcomed that Beijing pays "
great attention to the development of relations between Russia and China
".
For his part, Xi Jinping on Monday hailed "
the close relations
" between the two countries.
“
We are partners in a global strategic cooperation.
It is this status that determines that there must be close relations between our countries
,” he said at the start of this informal interview, according to a translation of his remarks live on Russian television.
Chinese President Xi Jinping in front of honor guards during a welcome ceremony at Vnukovo airport in Moscow, Russia, March 20, 2023. ANATOLIY ZHDANOV / AFP
Two billion euros released by the EU
The European Union on Monday approved the allocation of 2 billion euros to buy and deliver artillery ammunition to Ukraine, several European diplomatic sources told AFP.
EU foreign ministers approved a three-phase action plan to supply Ukrainian forces with at least one million 155mm shells and to replenish EU countries' strategic stocks, some of which are close to exhaustion, said the representatives of five delegations.
The head of Ukrainian diplomacy Dmytro Kouleba, who participated by videoconference in the meeting of his EU counterparts, welcomed the agreement.
“
More artillery ammunition for Ukraine as soon as possible.
This was the main focus of today's EU Foreign Affairs Council
,” he stressed in a post on Twitter.
This agreement will "
strengthen Ukraine's capabilities on the battlefield
", he commented.
The agreement will be submitted to European leaders at their summit on Thursday 23 and Friday 24 March.
Senior Ukrainian security official to be tried for 'high treason'
A former head of the Ukrainian security services (SBU) in the Kharkiv region (East) will be tried for "
high treason
", announced on Monday the National Investigation Bureau (DBR) of Ukraine, which accuses the man of sabotage for Moscow at the start of the Russian invasion.
Romain Doudine, 40, "
has de facto taken care of (actions of) sabotage instead of organizing
" the defense of this region, accused the DBR in a press release on Telegram.
“
Once the defense gets to know his case, it will be forwarded to the court,
” he said, adding that the man, arrested in September and who is still in detention, faces life imprisonment. .
A damaged church, which was used by Russian troops as a makeshift hospital, in Mala Komyshuvakha, Kharkiv region, Ukraine, March 10, 2023. ANATOLII STEPANOV / AFP
A Russian promise to export cereals to Africa
Russian President Vladimir Putin promised on Monday to deliver cereals to Africa if the agreement on Ukrainian exports was not renewed in two months, following the extension announced on Saturday March 18 by his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
“
If we ultimately decide not to extend this agreement in 60 days, then we are ready to deliver from Russia free of charge all the volume that was destined lately for the most needy countries in Africa,” he said
. he said during a speech in Moscow to African officials.
Read alsoWar in Ukraine: the cereals agreement is not a panacea
According to him, Russia "
conscientiously fulfills all its obligations, both in the supply of food, fertilizers, fuel and other critical products for the states of the continent, thus contributing to ensuring their food and energy security
".
Russian President Vladimir Putin during the Russia-Africa International Parliamentary Conference, in Moscow, Russia, March 20, 2023. SPUTNIK / REUTERS
