Talks between Zelenskyy and European leaders have started
Emmanuel Macron, Olaf Scholz and Mario Dragh have just started their interview in Kyiv with the Ukrainian head of state. Arriving at Kyiv railway station after almost a ten-hour train ride from south-eastern Poland, the French President said he would like to extend support to Kyiv “both for the present and for the future” until the 30th. At the end of this meeting, European leaders and heads of government hold a joint press conference.
British sanctions against Russian patriarch are ‘absurd, pointless’
“Attempts to intimidate the Patriarch of the Russian Church or force him to renounce his views are absurd, pointless, hopeless,” Vladimir Legoida, spokesman for the Russian Orthodox Church, said in a statement. “The church is – especially now – the last bridge, a means of communication that they are trying to destroy,” he added, denouncing “political forces that have made escalation of conflict and distancing from peace their main objective.” As part of a new wave of action, London on Thursday sanctioned Patriarch Kirill and Kremlin Ombudsman for Children’s Rights Maria Lvova-Belova for “forced adoption and transfer of Ukrainian children” in Russia. These measures include a ban on entry into UK territory and a freeze on their assets in the UK.
13:55
“Macron’s trip is an important show of support”
Emmanuel Macron traveled to Ukraine on Thursday morning with Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi. A long-awaited step that, however, was not to change the course of the war, as explained to us Christian Lequesne, professor of political science at Sciences-po Paris and specialist in particular on European issues. Maintenance.
13:36
Russia bans entry of 121 Australians from media and defence
This ban applies to “structures, businessmen, experts and journalists who form the Russophobic agenda” in Australia, Russia’s foreign ministry said in a press release. As early as April, Moscow had announced personal sanctions such as inadmissibility against Australian heads of state, including former Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and numerous ministers and parliamentarians.
13:23
Dmitry Medvedev tackles the visit of Macron, Scholz and Draghi
“European lovers of frogs, liverwurst and spaghetti love to visit Kyiv. Of no use. They promised Ukraine EU membership and old howitzers (…) and took the train home like they did a hundred years ago. All is well. But this will not bring Ukraine any closer to peace. The clock is ticking,” the Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of Russia wrote on Twitter.
13:13
Macron is a guest on TF1 tonight at 8pm
The Head of State will be responding to questions from Marie Chantrait at 8pm from Kyiv, as TF1 has just announced, which did not specify the outlines and topics covered during this interview. This interview is granted by the President three days before the second round of the general elections.
13:01
“We will rebuild everything,” assures Mario Draghi
The Russians “destroyed kindergartens, playgrounds. Everything will be rebuilt,” the Italian Prime Minister told the press after strolling the devastated streets of Irpin alongside Emmanuel Macron, Olaf Scholz and Klaus Iohannis.
12:55 p.m
Emmanuel Macron is greeted by Volodymyr Zelenskyy
The Head of State arrived at the Presidential Palace of Ukraine accompanied by Mario Draghi, Olaf Scholz and Romanian President Klaus Iohannis. He was greeted by the President of Ukraine, and the two men exchanged greetings.
12:44
Britain sanctions Patriarch Kirill
The 75-year-old head of the Russian Orthodox Church, who the EU recently declined to admit, was “sanctioned for his support of Putin’s war,” the Foreign Ministry said in a press release. These sanctions are part of a new round of retaliatory measures in response to the invasion of Ukraine.
12:33 p.m
Kremlin thinks Western arms shipments are ‘pointless’
“One would like to hope that the leaders of these three countries … are not only focused on supporting Ukraine and plan to continue to inundate her with weapons. This is completely futile and will only cause more damage to this country,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters as the three leaders left Irpin.
12:06
The rest of the program on site
According to the program of the Elysée, after the visit to the city of Irpin from 12.50 to 13.00 (11.50 in Paris), a welcoming ceremony must be held at the Mariinskyi Palace by President Zelenskyy.
Then, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:45 p.m., Emmanuel Macron, Mario Draghi, Olaf Scholz and Klaus Iohannis will meet Volodymyr Zelensky.
11:37
Slovakia donates Grad helicopters and missiles to Ukraine
Slovakia has donated one Mi-2 helicopter, four Mi-17 helicopters and thousands of Grad missiles to Ukraine, Defense Minister Jaroslav Nad announced on his Facebook account.
“This aid to Ukraine, like all previous deliveries, will be reimbursed from the European Peace Facility, which is a strong expression of the European Union’s solidarity with Ukraine,” added Jaroslav Nad.
11:25
“You have to imagine the heroism of the army and the population”
At the end of this visit to Irpin, Emmanuel Macron spoke of “war crimes” and the “massacres” that took place in that city. “You have the marks here, the stigmata of barbarism,” he explained. He also recalled military, financial and humanitarian support to Ukraine.
The French President also reiterated that “Ukraine must be able to resist and win.”
11:12
Images of the destruction of Irpin presented to European leaders
Images of the destruction of Irpin were shown to European leaders visiting this martyred city. This visit is now over. The heads of state will return to Kyiv to meet President Zelenskyy at the Presidential Palace.
11:06
“I am impressed by the will of the Ukrainians to rebuild”
On the fringes of Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Irpin, Etienne de Poncins, the French ambassador to Ukraine, said he was impressed by the will of Ukrainians to rebuild the country. Although the city of Irpin was 75% destroyed, almost 30,000 Ukrainians returned to the city.
10:44
Zelensky absent from Irpin
Emmanuel Macron, Olaf Scholz and Mario Draghi and the Romanian President visit the scene of heavy fighting with the Russians in Irpin. After all, President Zelenskyy, who was supposed to be there to greet them, is not there.
10:35
Japanese low-cost airline Zipair is changing its logo
Japanese low-cost airline Zipair, a subsidiary of Japan Airlines, has announced it will abandon its Z-shaped logo, the letter used by the Russian army in Ukraine. “I think some people might be wondering if they saw this logo without explanation,” said Zipair President Shingo Nishida.
10:17
France wants to restore Ukraine’s territorial integrity
“We are for a complete victory with the restoration of the territorial integrity of all areas captured by the Russians, including Crimea,” a French diplomatic source said.
09:53
A press conference at 2 p.m.
A press conference by Emmanuel Macron, Chancellor Scholz and Mario Draghi is scheduled for the early afternoon in Kyiv around President Zelenskyy. They will be accompanied by their Romanian counterpart.
09:49
Warning sirens in Kyiv
While Macron, Scholz and Draghi are still in their hotel in the Ukrainian capital, several bomb threats and warning sirens sounded in Kyiv.
09:35
Chancellor Scholz promises to help Ukraine ‘as long as it lasts’
Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who arrived in Kyiv on Thursday with his Italian counterpart Mario Draghi and French President Emmanuel Macron, promised in an interview with the daily Bild that he would help Ukraine “for as long as necessary”.
During this visit, “not only do we want to show our solidarity, we also want to make sure that the aid we are organizing – financial, humanitarian, but also in terms of arms – continues,” he said.
09:20
Emmanuel Macron will go to the city of Irpin
The head of state will travel to the city of Irpin, where heavy fighting took place at the beginning of the Russian invasion. War crimes took place in this city.
08:44
On Ukraine’s accession to the EU
France does not want an accelerated accession procedure. “We need to open negotiations and give candidate status, we need to give this signal to Ukraine. A country at war today, which I hope must rebuild itself as soon as possible tomorrow, will need time to reach certain standards that are essential for its accession to the EU, particularly in relation to the “Respect for Human Rights”. , says Clément Beaune, Minister Plenipotentiary for European Affairs, on France Info. It is a process “that will take a long time,” he admits. “It will be necessary to support Ukraine financially and politically.”
08:43
“A message of unity and support,” Macron said
Stepping off the train at the Kyiv train station, Emmanuel Macron said he was coming to deliver a “message of unity and support”. “We carry a message of European unity. With my counterparts we will meet President Zelenskyy, both to go to a theater of war and to hold the planned talks.” The President also stated that with Olaf Scholz and Mario Draghi they would previously meet their Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy “to a theater of war ” walk.
08:40
Macron, Scholz and Draghi arrived in Kyiv
Macron, Scholz and Draghi arrived in Kyiv. It is “a very important day for Ukraine, for Europe,” declared Catherine Colonna, French Foreign Minister, as she stepped off the train.