Since the start of the war on February 24, which generated the largest movement of refugees in Europe since the Second World War, France has spent more than 490 million euros to offer an “unprecedented reception scheme”, in the words of the Home Office. In detail, almost 220 million euros were spent “under the allowance for beneficiaries of temporary protection” granted to Ukrainians, about 260 million “under accommodation” and 10.1 million ” under day care and transport”, detailed Place Beauvau to AFP.
Information to remember:
- France has spent nearly 500 million euros to accommodate the 100,000 Ukrainians in the territory.
- China presented a peace plan to Moscow. kyiv stresses that they were not consulted by Beijing.
- South Africa is defending its controversial naval exercises with Russia.
- Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez traveled to kyiv on Thursday to express his support for Ukraine.
UN General Assembly demands ‘immediate’ withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine
On the eve of the anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the UN General Assembly on Thursday demanded an “immediate” withdrawal of Russian troops, calling for a “just and lasting” peace. The resolution received 141 votes for, seven against, and 32 countries abstained, including China and India.
Zelensky says Ukraine will ‘triumph’ over Russian terror
Ukraine “has not cracked” and “will triumph” over Russian troops and “terror”, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday, on the eve of the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of the country.
“We have not cracked, we have overcome many hardships and we will triumph. We will hold accountable all those who have brought this evil, this war on our land”, he affirmed in a message published on the social networks.
Beijing presents its “peace plan”, the head of the UN denounces the Russian “affront”
China presented its vision for the “political settlement” of the conflict in Ukraine on Wednesday in Moscow, as the UN secretary general denounced the “affront to our collective conscience” caused by the invasion a year ago. of Ukraine, at the opening of the General Assembly. Kyiv and its allies, for their part, hope to gather the widest possible support for a resolution to be considered the same day by the UN General Assembly calling for a “just and lasting peace”, a year after the start of the Russian invasion.
“The first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine represents a dark milestone, for the Ukrainian people and for the international community. This invasion is an affront to our collective conscience,” said Antonio Guterres, repeating his fears of escalation of the conflict.
Russia’s response to the West, through the voice of the Russian ambassador Vassili Nebenzia from the rostrum of the General Assembly, was not long in coming: “In their desire to inflict a defeat on Russia of all possible ways, it is not only Ukraine that they can sacrifice, they are ready to plunge the whole world into the abyss of war,” he said.
Beijing did not consult kyiv while preparing its peace plan, says Ukrainian official
The Chinese government did not consult Kyiv while preparing its Ukraine peace plan, which was supposed to be released this week, a senior Ukrainian official said on Wednesday. “China did not consult us,” said the official, who requested anonymity to several media outlets, including AFP. Beijing has promised to publish its “political solution” proposal this week, in time for the first anniversary of the outbreak of the Russian offensive in Ukraine on February 24, 2022.
The head of Ukrainian diplomacy, Dmytro Kouleba, who met his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Germany, revealed on Tuesday in Brussels that the latter had “informed him of the key elements of the Chinese peace plan”. “We are waiting to receive this text to study it in detail, because we cannot draw conclusions after only an oral presentation”, added Dmytro Kouleba.
South Africa defends controversial naval exercises with Russia
South Africa’s military has defended its decision to host controversial naval drills with Russia and China that began on Wednesday, shortly before the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and are worrying Westerners. “There is a difference between the military and the political,” said General Siphiwe Sangweni, head of joint operations within the South African armed forces, during a press conference at the port of Richards Bay (east).
The army is “guided by the government” but must also learn new skills from other armies to protect the country and contribute to international peacekeeping missions, he said. “Other countries will certainly have a different approach than us” to these joint exercises with Russia and China, but “each country is sovereign and has the right to manage things as it considers they should be”, said he pointed out. “Cooperation and coordination with all the other armies is something very important to us,” added General Sangweni.
South Africa announced last month the organization of these joint exercises with the Russian and Chinese navies “with the aim of sharing operational skills and knowledge”, specifying that Russia was the pilot country.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez visits Kyiv
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez traveled to Kiev on Thursday to express his support for Ukraine, a day before the first anniversary of the start of the Russian invasion, he announced on Twitter. “I am back in Kiev, a year after the start of the war. We will stand with Ukraine and its people until peace returns to Europe,” he wrote in this message in Spanish and Ukrainian, accompanied by video images where we see him getting off a train in Kiev.
According to the Spanish government, Mr. Sanchez was received in kyiv by the Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister, by the Ukrainian Ambassador to Spain and by the Spanish Ambassador to Ukraine. He is to be received during the day by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
This surprise visit by Mr. Sanchez to Kiev, the second since the start of the war, comes after that of American President Joe Biden on Monday and that of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Tuesday. On the eve of Mr. Sanchez’s visit, the Spanish government announced on Wednesday that it would donate six Leopard 2A4 tanks to Ukraine and could deliver more “if necessary”.