Situation on the ground, international reactions, sanctions: update on the invasion of Ukraine by Russia.
Maternity destroyed in Mariupol
A maternity and pediatric hospital in Mariupol, a besieged port in southeastern Ukraine, was destroyed by Russian shelling, a regional official said. “There are 17 confirmed injured among hospital staff,” he told Ukrainian television, adding that “there was no child” among the injured and “no death”, according to a first report.
The White House denounced a “barbaric” use of force against civilians, and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson called the bombing “immoral”.
Russian advance towards Kiev
Russian troops approached Kiev on Wednesday, columns of tanks being only about fifteen kilometers away, near Brovary. Thirty km from this locality, fighting also took place near Rusaniv, Ukrainian soldiers told AFP.
Russia has for the first time recognized the presence of conscripts in Ukraine.
Washington deploys two Patriot batteries in Poland
The United States has deployed two new Patriot anti-aircraft batteries in Poland, in line with its commitment to defend the territory of NATO countries, according to a senior Pentagon official.
Zelensky wants a quick decision on the Mig-29s
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on Westerners to “decide as soon as possible” on the issue of sending Mig-29 planes proposed by Poland. Warsaw had offered to make these planes available to the United States and then deliver them to Ukraine, but Washington deemed this proposal “not viable”.
Russia worried about a “very undesirable and potentially dangerous scenario”.
Chernobyl: “no major impact on security”
The power cut at the Chernobyl nuclear site has “no major impact on security”, said the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), informed of the problem by the Ukrainian authorities.
“Progress” in the negotiations
Russians and Ukrainians agreed on Wednesday to respect ceasefires around a series of humanitarian corridors to evacuate civilians, the Ukrainian government announced. Three thousand people were able to be extracted from Irpin and Vorzel, northeast of Kiev, according to the police.
Russia has seen “progress” in negotiations with Ukraine, a government spokeswoman said. Russia’s goals “do not include the occupation of Ukraine, the destruction of its state, or the overthrow of the current government”, she said, reaffirming that they were not targeting the civilian population.
To read :Kremlin Biceps: Putin shows the muscles but France stays out of the ring
Talks in Turkey
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov arrived in Turkey on Wednesday evening, where he is to meet his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba, for the first diplomatic meeting at this level since the invasion of Ukraine by Russia on February 24, said a Turkish official.
Aids
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has announced two billion euros to provide “targeted support for refugees, businesses and energy security”. The elected members of the American House of Representatives will decide on an envelope of nearly 14 billion dollars, which includes an economic and humanitarian component, but also weapons and ammunition.
The British government has indicated that it intends to continue its deliveries of anti-tank missiles to Ukraine. And Canada will send him additional military equipment.
EU expands sanctions
The Twenty-Seven have extended their sanctions against Moscow and Minsk following the invasion of Ukraine, in particular by targeting cryptocurrencies, sanctioning Belarusian finance and adding 160 Russian oligarchs and parliamentarians to their blacklist.
400 Ukrainians arrested in Kherson
The Russian army has arrested 400 Ukrainians protesting against the Russian occupation in the Kherson region of southern Ukraine, Ukrainian authorities have said.
Kherson, near the Crimean peninsula annexed by Moscow, was the first major city to fall into Russian hands on March 2.
Russia on the brink of default
The rating agency Fitch has again lowered its rating for Russian debt, a decision meaning that the risk of a sovereign default is in its eyes “imminent”.
Call from London to the G7
The United Kingdom has urged all G7 countries to “end their use of Russian oil and gas”, like London and Washington.
Any reproduction prohibited