Did you miss the latest events on the war in Ukraine? 20 Minutes takes stock for you every evening. Between the strong declarations, the advances on the front and the results of the fighting, here is the essential part of this Saturday, November 30, 2024, the 1011th day of the war.
News of the day
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he was ready on Friday to accept NATO protection guarantees initially limited to territories controlled by kyiv in order to “end the hot phase of the war” led by Russia. Volodymyr Zelensky has suggested he is willing to wait before reclaiming areas occupied by the Russian army – almost a fifth of the country – if such a deal could provide security for the rest of Ukraine and end in combat.
“If we want to end the hot phase of the war, we must bring under the aegis of NATO the territory of Ukraine that we control,” the president told the British channel Sky News, according to a translation in voice-over of his words in English. “This is what we need to do quickly, and then Ukraine can get the other part of its territory back through diplomatic channels,” he added.
Sentence of the day
« “We don’t play Russian roulette with Germany’s security” »
Was the play on words intentional on the part of Olaf Scholz? The German Chancellor in any case insisted on the need to keep a “cool head” on the subject of the war in Ukraine, while the subject is at the heart of the electoral campaign in Germany. The unpopular chancellor and the leader of the conservatives Friedrich Merz, favorite in the polls to succeed him, clash through meetings.
Friedrich Merz is in favor under certain conditions of a delivery of German Taurus missiles to kyiv, making it possible to strike deep into Russian territory. A red line for Olaf Scholz, who opposes his American, French and British allies on this point, in a pacifist country crossed by a significant pro-Russian current of opinion. Under his mandate, Germany became the second largest arms supplier to Ukraine, but at the cost of much hesitation.
The number of the day
107. Like the number of people arrested in Georgia during a new pro-EU demonstration. Several large rallies have taken place since Thursday to protest against the government's decision to postpone discussions on membership of the European Union, in the midst of the post-electoral crisis.
This former Soviet republic in the Caucasus has been in turmoil since the legislative elections of October 26 won by the ruling party, Georgian Dream, accused of pro-Russian authoritarian drift. This election is denounced as tainted with irregularities by the pro-European opposition which is boycotting the new Parliament.
Today's trend
The regime is getting even tougher in Russia. Moscow police raided several party venues on Saturday and arrested the director of a travel agency catering to gay male customers, under laws criminalizing “LGBT propaganda,” Russian state media reported. The police raids came a year to the day after Russia's Supreme Court banned the “international LGBT movement,” paving the way for arrests and prosecutions of the country's already repressed queer community.
The Kremlin has hardened its conservative rhetoric since the war against Ukraine began nearly three years ago, casting the conflict as a battle against the West and its values. Human rights groups say the country is waging an unprecedented crackdown on LGBT+ people, with many owners of queer party venues arrested and anyone associated with promoting LGBT+ rights prosecuted.
