16:43
Danish national killed in combat in Mykolaiv
A 25-year-old Dane was killed in Ukraine, his family said on Saturday, according to a statement from the Danish Foreign Ministry.
According to Danish public television TV2, which announced his disappearance on Thursday evening, he was serving in the international legion in the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
According to him, he was part of a group of eight soldiers involved in fighting in the city of Mykolaiv on Tuesday. Six of them would not have survived.
“Based on the information available, the family has identified the person concerned, who they therefore believe to be dead,” Danish diplomacy wrote in an email to AFP, explaining the “dialogue” with the family.
15:27
Zelenskyi says he is “grateful for the French humanitarian aid” and welcomes the “continuous dialogue” maintained with Macron
Volodymyr Zelenskyi hailed the “continuous dialogue” that has been held with Emmanuel Macron after he exchanged views with the French leader over the phone again this Saturday about the Russian invasion.
The Ukrainian President said he was “grateful for the French humanitarian aid” as well as for “his decision to expand the work of the French mission to help investigate crimes committed by the Russian Federation”.
He also assured that he had exchanged views with his French counterpart on “Ukraine’s road to EU membership”.
15:01
According to online betting sites, Ukraine is a big favorite to win Eurovision
As a side effect of the conflict, Ukraine is now the big favorite to win the Eurovision Song Contest in 15 days and holds 42% of the odds, according to website Eurovision World, which summarizes major online betting sites, while Russia was left out of the contest.
Ukraine is well ahead of Italy (14% chance of winning) and Sweden (10%).
France, represented by the Breton groups Alvan and Ahez, is in 13th place.
14:13
The bodies of three men who were visibly tortured were found buried near Boutcha
The bodies of three men who were visibly tortured and shot dead were found in a grave near Boutcha on Friday, with their hands tied and their eyes blindfolded, Kiev police said on Saturday.
“The victims were tortured for a long time (…) In the end, each of them was shot in the temple,” said Kiev police chief Andrii Nebytov in a statement.
>> Find our article on the subject.
14:12
Macron reiterated to Zelensky his desire to actively work on “restoring Ukraine’s sovereignty.”
Emmanuel Macron reiterated to his Ukrainian counterpart his desire to work actively to “restore the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine” during a phone call this Saturday, BFMTV learned from the Elysee.
He also recalled France’s willingness to contribute to an agreement providing security guarantees for Ukraine.
14:01
Macron reiterated to Zelenskyy his “deep concern” about the ongoing Russian attacks in Ukraine
Emmanuel Macron once again told Volodymyr Zelenskyy his “deep concern” about the continuation of the Russian bombing in Ukraine during a telephone call this Saturday, BFMTV learned from the Elysée.
The French leader said he was particularly concerned about Thursday’s shooting in Kyiv when the UN chief was visiting and the situation in Mariupol, despite his repeated calls on Vladimir Putin to respect international humanitarian law.
13:56
Macron promised Zelenskyy that France would continue to help him gather evidence of war crimes
In addition to continuing military and humanitarian aid, Emmanuel Macron promised during a phone conversation with Volodymyr Zelensky this Saturday that the mission of French experts would help collect evidence to fight impunity and strengthen the work of international justice in relation to crimes committed enable in the context of the Russian aggression will expand its mission in Ukraine, BFMTV learned from the Elysée.
13:24
Macron promises Zelenskyy to “strengthen” military and humanitarian aid to Kyiv.
Emmanuel Macron promised Volodymyr Zelenskyy to “increase support to Ukraine in defense weapons and humanitarian aid” during a phone call this Saturday, BFMTV learned from consistent sources.
For his part, the Ukrainian President thanked the 615 tons of material that had already been sent.
>> You can read our article with all the details about the conversation between the two men here.
13:17
“We are ready” in the event of a Russian gas embargo: Thierry Breton calls for “crescendo” sanctions against Moscow
Thierry Breton, EU Commissioner for the Internal Market, assured France Inter on Saturday that the EU was “ready” for a possible embargo on Russian gas, which is not relevant at the moment.
“From day one, we prepared with my teams (…). We import 155 billion cubic meters of Russian gas a year, we immediately started to create a plan just in case,” he assured.
However, the EU Commissioner advocated a “crescendo” implementation of the sanctions against Russia in the European interest. “Today we are dependent” on Russian gas, he reminded.
12:47 p.m
The telephone exchange between Macron and Zelenskyy has begun
As expected, the telephone exchange between Emmanuel Macron and Volodymyr Zelenskyy began this Saturday, BFMTV learned from the Elysée.
No information has been filtered about the content of their discussions at the moment.
10:56
Emmanuel Macron and Volodymyr Zelensky will speak by phone at 12 p.m.
Emmanuel Macron and Volodymyr Zelenskyy will be on the phone this Saturday afternoon, BFMTV learned from the Elysée.
8:55
Russian foreign minister calls on NATO and US to stop arming Ukraine
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov urged NATO and the United States to halt arms sales to Kyiv if they are “really interested in solving the Ukraine crisis,” in an interview published this Saturday by the official New China Agency “.
“A steady stream of weapons of all kinds has entered Ukraine through Poland and other NATO countries,” Sergei Lavrov said.
“If the United States and NATO are really interested in resolving the Ukraine crisis, then first of all they need to wake up and stop supplying arms and ammunition to the Kiev regime,” added the head of Russian diplomacy.
>> You can read our article on the subject here.
8:43
Russian offensive in Donbass lagging behind, Pentagon says
The Russian offensive in Donbass, which is progressing “slowly and unevenly” due to resistance from the Ukrainian military, has lagged behind, a senior Pentagon official said on Friday.
“They were at least several days late,” said a senior official, who asked not to be identified.
“They don’t move very fast,” he said. “A few kilometers a day is the maximum they can do because they are being pushed back by the Ukrainian army.”
>> Read our article on the situation in Donbass.
8:33
Kyiv claims “tactical successes” despite the “difficult” situation in the north-east of the country
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy acknowledged that the situation in this north-eastern region, where Russian forces have refocused their offensive, is “difficult”. “But our military is making tactical gains,” he said.
This is particularly the case in Rouska Lozova, a village north of Kharkiv taken over by the Ukrainians, from where Russian troops say they bombed the city. The village was liberated after intense fighting and more than 600 residents were evacuated, according to Ukraine’s Defense Ministry.
8:25
Violent explosions in Kharkiv at night
In the night from Friday to Saturday, heavy explosions were heard in Kharkiv, the country’s second largest city, which were shelled by Russian artillery for weeks.
According to the Kharkiv regional military administration, on Friday these bombings resulted in at least one death and several wounded.
8:22
Pentagon accuses Putin of “depravity” and “cruelty.”
The Pentagon on Friday accused Vladimir Putin of “depravity” and “cruelty” in the behavior of Russian forces in Ukraine, where they are accused of killing civilians, including children.
“It’s difficult to look at certain images and imagine that a serious leader could do that. (…) I don’t know his mental state, but I think one can speak of his depravity,” said the US Defense Department spokesman John Kirby at a news conference.
>> All his statements can be read here.
8:19
Hello, everyone!
Welcome to this directive dedicated to the Russian invasion of Ukraine on the 66th day of the conflict.