UPDATE ON THE SITUATION – The delivery of heavy weapons and planes would fuel the conflict, also estimated the Kremlin, for which the “military operation” will continue.
About “absurdby Macron, searches against a background of corruption in Ukraine, Euro-Ukrainian summit, deliveries of long-range missiles, imprisoned Russian journalist… Le Figaro provides an update on the war in Ukraine this Wednesday 1er FEBRUARY.
Moscow denounces Emmanuel Macron’s “absurd” remarks
Russian diplomacy judged this Wednesday “absurdthat the French President, Emmanuel Macron, may think that the arms deliveries to Ukraine do not constitute an escalation. “It’s absurd“, Criticized in front of the press the spokesperson of the Russian diplomacy, Maria Zakharova. “Is the French president really certain that deliveries of heavy weapons, planes to the kyiv regime (…) will not lead to an escalation of the situation?“, she added. “I can’t believe this is grown-up logic“, she let go.
Read alsoParis hesitates to deliver Leclerc tanks to Ukraine
The diplomat was questioned at a press conference on comments by Emmanuel Macron on Monday January 30 concerning possible deliveries of fighter planes to Ukraine. The French president had stressed that each decision to deliver armaments had to respond to “criteria“, in particular that this does not “be not escalatory” And “not likely to touch Russian soil“. “By definition, nothing is excluded“, he added. France announced on Tuesday January 31 that it was going to supply Ukraine with 12 Caesar guns, in addition to the 18 guns of this type already delivered, but Paris is refusing at this stage to deliver its Leclerc tanks.
President Emmanuel Macron during a press conference, in The Hague, the Netherlands, January 30, 2023. LUDOVIC MARIN / AFP
There Poland ready to send fighter planes to Ukraine with NATO
Poland would be willing to send F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine if there is a consensus within NATO, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said on Wednesday. “If there was a decision by all (member states) of NATO, I would be in favor of sending these fighter planes”said Mateusz Morawiecki in an interview with the German daily Picture. “My assessment depends on what NATO member countries decide together,” he added, emphasizing the need for “strategic reflection of the whole of NATO” for such a decision.
On Monday, United States President Joe Biden categorically refused the idea of sending American F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, but other allies said they were ready to do so, including the Slovakia, which has Soviet Mig-29s, or the Netherlands, which has begun replacing its F-16 fleet with F-35s.
kyiv believes that Moscow could attempt a major offensive around February 24
Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov told BFM on Wednesday that Russia was preparing a major new offensive and warned that it could start as early as February 24. According to him, Moscow would have gathered thousands of soldiers and could “try something” to mark the anniversary of the initial invasion last year, as the Russian offensive bogged down in the east of the country. Oleksii Reznikov claimed that Moscow has mobilized no less than 500,000 soldiers for this purpose.
Last September, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a general mobilization of some 300,000 conscripts, necessary according to him to ensure “territorial integrity” from the country.
But Oleksii Reznikov believes that the real figure could be much higher. “Officially they announced 300,000 but when we see the troops at the borders, according to our assessments it is much more”, he declared on BFM.
Read alsoUkraine: why the delivery of Western tanks does not constitute an act of co-belligerence
Three killed in strike on apartment building in Kramatorsk
At least three people were killed when a Russian missile fired at an apartment building in Kramatorsk, eastern Ukraine, regional authorities said on Wednesday. “Two hours ago, the Russian occupier fired a missile at an apartment building in the city center”, said the governor of the region Pavlo Kyrylenko on the Telegram messenger. AFP journalists saw two bodies where relief workers were clearing the rubble. The governor said seven people were injured and other victims were likely to be found under the debris. The city of Kramatorsk is located in the eastern region of Donetsk.
Read alsoKramatorsk and Sloviansk under the threat of Russian bombs: the story of the special envoy of Le Figaro
Arms deliveries: the Kremlin warns Israel
Russia warned Israel on Wednesday against possible arms deliveries to Ukraine, after Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said “examine the question“. “Regarding arms deliveries (to Ukraine), countries are not classified according to geography. We say that all countries that deliver weapons must understand that we will consider (these weapons) as legitimate targets for the Russian armed forcesRussian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said of the possibility of Israeli supplies.
Read alsoWar in Ukraine: why Israel refuses to deliver arms to kyiv
Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, in Jerusalem, Monday, January 30, 2023. POOL / REUTERS
US defense company offers Ukraine two advanced drones for a token dollar
A US defense company said on Wednesday it wanted to supply two sophisticated combat drones to Ukraine for just a token dollar, and called on the US government to approve the deal. General Atomic Aeronautical Systems, a subsidiary of General Atomics, said it had been urging Washington for months to deliver to Ukraine its powerful Gray Eagle and Reaper drones (also called “killer drones”), used by the American armed forces during surveillance and targeted attack operations in Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq and other conflict areas.
These drones, which can travel long distances at medium altitude, are among the technologies that would strengthen Ukraine’s defense capabilities in the war between it and Russia, according to the manufacturer. The United States has provided Ukraine with several small combat and surveillance drones, but none have the advanced technologies and long-range capabilities of General Atomics’ devices.
“Since the beginning of the Russian invasion, we began to look for ways to meet the demands of the Ukrainian forces with our products, in particular the Reaper MQ-9 and the Gray Eagle MQ-1C”, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems chief executive Linden Blue said in a statement. The company is therefore ready to hand over two of its training drones, a ground control station and other equipment, for a symbolic dollar. The manufacturer also offered to train the Ukrainian forces for free in its machines.
Ukraine tackles corruption, the ‘enemy within’
Ukraine on Wednesday launched a wave of searches targeting administrations, officials and personalities, the authorities ensuring that the fight against corruption is a priority in the context of the war effort and Western aid. The head of the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU), Vassyl Maliouk, indicated that he was carrying out, on the orders of President Volodymyr Zelensky, a campaign to “deal a blow to the enemy within”. “This is only the first step”he claimed, “and we’re not going to stop there”he insisted, swearing to “put the handcuffs” to those who have “the audacity to hurt Ukraine”.
Ukrainian authorities said they raided the home of billionaire Igor Kolomoiski, former interior minister Arsen Avakov and the Ukrainian tax authorities, while the customs department was sacked. Senior officials from the Ministry of Defense also received visits from investigators. The raids come a week after a series of senior officials were sacked in the wake of a bribery scandal over army supplies, the first major scandal since the Russian invasion nearly a year ago. .
Read alsoUkraine tries to curb the scourge of corruption
Seizure of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine, in kyiv, Ukraine, on January 23, 2023. – /AFP
Deliveries of long-range missiles will not curb the Russian offensive
“It won’t change the course of events.The Kremlin was clear that the potential delivery of longer-range missiles to Ukraine would in no way affect the continuation of the Russian offensive in the country. Missile supplies with a range of 150 km would leadtowards a heightening of tensions, towards an increase in the level of escalation. We see it, it would mean extra effort for us, but it won’t change the course of events, the special military operation will continueRussian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
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EU wants to train 30,000 Ukrainian soldiers, doubles initial target
The European Union wants to train 30,000 Ukrainian soldiers, doubling its initial target, to help kyiv deal with the Russian invasion, a European official announced on Wednesday. The Twenty-Seven set up a program in November aimed at training 15,000 Ukrainians in its various member states. “This figure will probably be reached before the end of the second quarter of this year and there will be a new training target of 15,000 Ukrainian soldiers by different European countries”said the official, on condition of anonymity.
“This will bring the number of soldiers trained in this framework to 30,000”, he added. The trainings take place in several European countries, with a main center of the mission located in Poland, a country bordering Ukraine. The new goal, which will be formally announced at an EU-Ukraine summit scheduled for kyiv on Friday, comes as the Americans and Europeans are stepping up their military support for Ukraine.
Read alsoFaced with a conflict destined to last, the EU wants to train 15,000 Ukrainian soldiers
Ukrainian lawmaker urges Washington to sanction purchase of Russian energy by China and India
A Ukrainian lawmaker on Wednesday urged the United States to sanction China and India if they continue to buy Russian energy, calling for full solidarity against the invasion of his country. In Ukraine, some fear a tough stance on oil purchases could push China further into Russia’s arms, said Oleksandr Merezhko, who heads the Ukrainian parliament’s foreign affairs committee. “I try to explain that this is not the problem. China is not afraid of Ukraine, China is afraid of US sanctions”he told members of the Association of Journalists Accredited to the State Department, during a visit to Washington.
“Which means that the United States can and should deter China from helping Russia and, preferably, put in place secondary sanctions to prevent China from financing the Russian economy and military machine by buying oil and Russian gas.” Oleksandr Merezhko, who said he lived in New Delhi, called for similar measures against India. These two immense countries, very dependent on foreign countries in terms of energy, have historical links with Russia.