Every day, Midi Libre takes stock of the situation in Ukraine. This Thursday, November 28, 2024, discover the latest news around this conflict.
Scholz spoke with Zelensky for the first time since his exchange with Putin
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz assured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of Germany's military support on Friday in their first official telephone contact since the chancellor's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. “I agreed with Zelensky that we would remain in contact, including with a view to possible paths towards a just peace”wrote Olaf Scholz on X.
A German government spokesperson said the exchange had been “constructive” and that Volodymyr Zelensky had thanked the German government for its support, particularly in matters of air defense. This is the first official call between the two leaders since the exchange of more than an hour between Olaf Scholz and Vladimir Putin on November 15, then criticized by Volodymyr Zelensky who accused the chancellor of opening the “Pandora's box”.
Russia leads sabotage campaign of “staggering recklessness” in Europe
Russia leads sabotage campaign in Europe “astoundingly reckless” while intensifying its nuclear doctrine to frighten other countries and dissuade them from supporting Ukraine, the head of British foreign intelligence said on Friday. Richard Moore, head of the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6). In a speech at the British Embassy in Paris on Friday he said that if Russian President Vladimir Putin succeeded in reducing Ukraine to a vassal state, he would not stop there.
“Our security – British, French, European and transatlantic – will be put at risk,” he declared. “We recently uncovered a stunningly reckless Russian sabotage campaign in Europe, even as Putin and his cronies resort to the nuclear sword to sow fear about the consequences of aiding Ukraine.”he said.
Faced with undecided European allies and possible skeptics from the future Donald Trump administration in the United States regarding support for Ukraine, the head of MI6 believes that the cost of inaction would be much higher. “The cost of inaction would be infinitely higher. If Putin succeeds, China will face the consequences, North Korea will be emboldened and Iran will become even more dangerous”at-il having you.
Richard Moore's statements follow those of other Western intelligence chiefs who warn of intensifying Russian sabotage. NATO and Western intelligence services have accused Russia of being behind a growing number of hostile activities in the Euro-Atlantic region, ranging from repeated cyberattacks to arson attacks linked to Moscow.
Russia denies these accusations. Ken McCallum, the head of Britain's domestic security intelligence service (MI5), said in October that the GRU, Russian military intelligence, was “on a permanent mission to sow disorder” in the UK and Europe.
Sources familiar with U.S. intelligence told Reuters this week that Russia could expand its sabotage campaign against European targets to increase pressure on the West for its support of kyiv.
Nicolas Lerner, the head of the General Directorate of External Security (DGSE), for his part welcomed Franco-British cooperation in intelligence matters. “I would also like to indicate how the action of the French and British services has enabled us in recent years to detect, anticipate and react jointly against all renewed forms of Russian aggression and particularly of the Russian services towards us. “, he said.
Ukraine awaits a formal invitation from NATO to join its ranks
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha sent a letter to his NATO counterparts urging them to invite Kyiv to join the Atlantic Alliance when they meet next week in Brussels, a first step towards formal membership. “I urge you to approve the decision to invite Ukraine to join the Alliance, as one of the conclusions of the meeting of NATO foreign ministers on December 3-4, 2024”writes Andriy Sybiha in this letter seen by Reuters on Friday.
The NATO treaty emphasizes that the alliance is open to membership by any “European State likely to promote the development of the principles of this Treaty and to contribute to the security of the North Atlantic region.” The States “interested”, like Ukraine, must demonstrate their desire to join and await in return an invitation which must be accepted unanimously by NATO members. If unanimity is achieved, membership negotiations can begin.
