In particular, Kiev signed a bilateral security agreement with the Netherlands on Friday, which, among other things, provides for military aid worth two billion euros for Kiev.
Published on March 1, 2024 11:15 p.m. Updated on March 1, 2024 11:31 p.m
Reading time: 4 minutes
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte during a press conference in Kharkiv, Ukraine, March 1, 2024. (HANDOUT / UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT'S PRESS SERVICE / AFP)
Ukraine and the Netherlands signed a bilateral security agreement on Friday, March 1, in Kharkiv (Ukraine), which specifically provides for two billion euros in military aid to Kiev, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced. In Russia, thousands of people attended Alexei Navalny's funeral in Moscow on Friday, despite the risk of arrest. Supporters of the political opponent, who died in a prison in the Russian Arctic, chanted “No to war!”, “We will not forget you!” or even “We will not forgive!” Here's what to remember from Friday.
A security agreement between the Netherlands and Ukraine
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte signed a security agreement with Ukraine on Friday during a trip to Kharkiv, the country's second city to fight the Russian invasion, Volodymyr Zelensky announced.
According to the Ukrainian head of state, this document, planned for a period of ten years, also sets the priorities of Dutch assistance in the areas of “anti-aircraft, artillery, naval weapons and long-range weapons”, with a focus on strengthening the Ukrainian Air Force.
“I am grateful to Prime Minister Rutte for this agreement, which will strengthen the defense of Ukraine, especially the city of Kharkiv, where we met today,” welcomed Volodymyr Zelensky.
Paris wants to do everything to prevent the collapse of Ukraine
France is doing everything to prevent a collapse of Ukraine without waging war against Russia, emphasized the head of French diplomacy, Stéphane Séjourné, on Friday at France Inter. “Everything we do is intended to avoid war and, of course, not to cause a certain level of concern for the French,” assured the Foreign Minister. The latter was asked about the possibility of sending Western troops to Ukraine, mentioned earlier this week by Emmanuel Macron.
“We have information (in this sense) that Russia will not stop,” the minister warned, referring to the fact that Moscow could invade other countries.
Emmanuel Macron will bring together party leaders on the issue of Ukraine
The head of state will bring together the leaders of the main parties in the Elysée Palace on Thursday morning to discuss “the situation in Ukraine,” AFP learned from the presidential office on Friday, confirming information from Le Figaro.
The meeting is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. It will take place in the format of the “Saint Denis meetings” that the president has led in recent months, with the leaders of the majority and opposition parties forming a group in parliament, the Elysée said. It should precede the debate in Parliament, followed by a vote on the issue of support for Kiev, at the request of Emmanuel Macron. The date for this debate has not yet been set.
The opposition largely criticized the head of state's recent positions regarding the possible deployment of Western troops to Ukraine.
Thousands of Russians at Alexei Navalny's funeral
Several thousand people were present at Alexei Navalny's funeral in Moscow on Friday. Many received flowers and some cried after the death of their Russian enemy in prison under difficult circumstances. After a brief ceremony in a church in which his remains were displayed in an open coffin according to the Orthodox rite, the opponent was buried at the Borisovo cemetery, according to AFP journalists.
Many people marched in front of his grave. Several thousand people gathered outside, forming a very long line, while riot police peppered the area with barriers. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov had warned of possible sanctions if people took part in an “unauthorized” demonstration at the funeral.
According to the specialized NGO OVD-Info, police made at least 128 arrests in 19 Russian cities during the day during rallies in honor of the former anti-corruption activist.
Paris and Berlin praised the “courage” of Russians who came to pay tribute
The American ambassador and her French and German counterparts visited the funeral site, as did three opposition figures still at large: Evgeni Roïzman, Boris Nadezhdine and Ekaterina Dountsova.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz praised the “courageous Russians” who dared to go to the funeral, “and thereby took a great risk – for freedom.” “It took courage to go and pay tribute to Alexei Navalny. Thousands of Russians didn't miss it. His legacy is there. Eternal memory,” wrote Emmanuel Macron in a message on the social network X.
The head of Russian diplomacy in Türkiye
Russian diplomat chief Sergei Lavrov began a two-day visit to Turkey. The Russian Foreign Minister attended the Diplomatic Forum in Antalya (South), an annual meeting to which countries friendly to Ankara are invited.
Since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Turkey has maintained close relations with the two warring parties and hosted direct negotiations between Moscow and Kiev twice in March 2022. “We must seriously look for ways to bring the parties together,” explained Turkish diplomacy chief Hakan Fidan in his opening speech at the Antalya Forum. “We are ready, as yesterday, to do everything we can to facilitate peace negotiations,” he added.