[Article publié le mardi 19 novembre 2024 à 09h05 et mis à jour à 10h37] On the thousandth day of Russian aggression against Ukraine, the heads of diplomacy of six major European countries meet in Warsaw. During this meeting, “we will discuss possible decisions in the face of these dramatic events on the other side of our eastern border and on the other side of the Atlantic », Declared the head of Polish diplomacy Radoslaw Sikorski on Monday in Brussels.
For Berlin, the Warsaw meeting constitutes “the expression of a close necessity but also of close coordination between the key partners of the European Union”, Kathrin Deschauer, spokesperson for the German Foreign Ministry, told the press on Monday.
“There is great common concern about the security situation in Europe and above all the situation in Ukraine,” she added.
“The Russians are also very active elsewhere than in Ukraine” (General Philippe Adam)
Among the topics discussed by Polish Foreign Ministers Radoslaw Sikorski, German Annalena Baerbock, French Jean-Noël Barrot, Italian Antonio Tajani and, by video conference, Spanish Manuel Albares and British David Lammy, will also be “Europe’s defense identity and how to strengthen it “, Polish diplomatic spokesperson Pawel Wronski told AFP.
The future head of European diplomacy, the Estonian Kaja Kallas, will also take part in the discussions in Warsaw. The Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Andriï Sybiga, was also invited to Warsaw but will at this time be traveling between the United States and Ukraine, where he must attend events linked to the thousandth day of Russian aggression.
American missiles
This Warsaw meeting takes place two days after US President Joe Biden authorized kyiv to use long-range American missiles on Russian territory. A decision announced by the American media and confirmed to AFP by an American official. If officially confirmed, this decision would constitute a major strategic change a few weeks before Donald Trump's return to power.
Poland, a loyal and fervent ally of kyiv, welcomed this measure:
“To the entry of North Korean troops into the war and the massive Russian missile attack, President (American Joe) Biden responded with language that V. Putin understands,” said the head of Polish diplomacy Radoslaw Sikorski on Sunday on X, stressing that the victim of an attack had “the right to defend oneself”.
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French President Emmanuel Macron judged this decision on Monday “quite good”, on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro. His Minister of Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot reaffirmed that the firing of French missiles by Ukrainian forces on Russian soil remained “an option”.
Also on Monday, Berlin, which refuses the delivery of long-range missiles requested by kyiv, announced its decision to provide 4,000 sophisticated drones to Ukraine. Social Democratic Chancellor Olaf Scholz, at the head of a minority government, justifies his refusal to deliver his long-range Taurus missiles to kyiv by fear of an escalation between Russia and the West.
Russia warns of escalation
For its part, the Kremlin warned Monday against a new escalation and promised a “appropriate” response in the event of long-range missile attacks against Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the decree on Tuesday expanding the possibilities of using nuclear weapons.
“Among the conditions justifying the use of nuclear weapons is the launch of ballistic missiles against Russia”according to this decree.
The Russian president warned at the end of September that his country could now use nuclear weapons in the event of “massive launch” air attacks against Russia. But also that any assault carried out by a non-nuclear country, like Ukraine, but supported by a power with atomic weapons, like the United States, could be considered as aggression “joint”potentially requiring the use of nuclear weapons.
Furthermore, the Kremlin has assured that its army will defeat the forces of kyiv. “ The military operation will continue » until the realization « set goals “, declared the spokesperson for the Russian presidency, Dmitry Peskov. He then referred to Moscow's demands: a Ukrainian surrender, the transfer of territories currently occupied or even the promise that kyiv will not join NATO. Western military aid to kyiv “ cannot have any effect on the outcome of the operation. This continues and will be completed “, he added.
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Limited strikes
According to media reports, the American green light could nevertheless be limited to strikes against the Russian region of Kursk partially controlled by the Ukrainian army and where North Korean troops would be deployed. On the battlefield in eastern Ukraine, Ukrainian soldiers, forced to give up ground almost every day, are doubtful.
For the first time in several weeks, the presidency announced a trip by Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday to the front, closest to the fighting, to Pokrovsk, then to Koupiansk, another hot spot into which the Russians briefly penetrated last week. L’Ukraine also affirmed on Tuesday that she would not submit ” Never “, despite his profound difficulties on the battlefield.
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The sustainability of American support was also called into question by the election of Donald Trump, whose statements during the presidential campaign made Kiev and its supporters fear that he would seek to make Ukraine make unacceptable concessions. for her. Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose troops are advancing, warned that any discussion on a cessation of hostilities could only be based on the “new territorial realities”.
In recent weeks, Russia has begun to intensify its deadly strikes on civilian areas in its neighbor, a tactic seen by many in Ukraine as an attempt to break morale in preparation for possible negotiations. A Russian missile attack in broad daylight on Monday left at least ten dead and 47 injured in Odessa, a port city on the Black Sea, according to the authorities.
(With AFP)
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