Russian forces “are not withdrawing but repositioning”. Here is the observation shared by both kyiv and NATO, via its secretary general Jens Stoltenberg. Moscow thus intends to strengthen its offensive on the Donbass region in eastern Ukraine, while maintaining “pressure on kyiv and other cities”.
A Russian official also accuses Ukraine on Friday of having carried out a helicopter attack against an “oil depot” in the city of Belgorod, in western Russia, about forty kilometers from the border. Ukrainian. The public company Rosneft, owner of the premises, told Russian news agencies that it had evacuated its staff there.
The Pentagon expects a “prolonged” conflict
This refocusing portends a “protracted” conflict, which could last for months, according to a senior Pentagon official. “If in fact they give priority to the Donbass region, (…) a region where they have not fought for eight years, a region where there are a lot of Ukrainian soldiers, who are very active, that could last a while,” Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told reporters.
Biden ‘skeptical’ of partial Russian troop withdrawal
US President Joe Biden also said he was also “skeptical” about Russia’s announcements of a partial withdrawal of its troops to focus the offensive in Ukraine on the Donbass region. He also felt that Vladimir Putin “seemed to isolate himself”, and said he had “indications that (the Russian president) has dismissed or placed under house arrest some of his advisers”, while saying he has no ” irrefutable evidence”.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian also argued that Russian forces in Ukraine show “no concrete element” of retreat or disengagement despite recent statements by the Kremlin on Thursday in an interview with the Figaro.
Russian withdrawal from Chernobyl
Russian troops have left the Chernobyl plant they had occupied since the start of the invasion of Ukraine on February 24, taking hostages, Ukrainian authorities announced last night.
Putin imposes to pay for gas in rubles
From this Friday, April 1, buyers of Russian gas from “unfriendly” countries will have to have accounts in rubles, otherwise Russia will not deliver them, President Putin announced yesterday.
Germany and France are “preparing” for a potential stoppage of Russian gas imports, the Europeans refusing the payment in rubles demanded by Moscow, reacted the French Minister of Economy Bruno Le Maire. European countries will continue to pay for Russian gas in euros and dollars as it is “written in the contracts”, assured German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Truce announced in Mariupol
The Ukrainian government was to send 45 buses yesterday to evacuate civilians from the besieged port of Mariupol (southeast), after Moscow announced a truce to allow their departure. Seventeen buses have already left for Mariupol, according to kyiv.
“The Russian Armed Forces will reopen a humanitarian corridor from Mariupol to Zaporozhye (220 km northwest) on April 1 from 10 a.m. Moscow time,” or 9 a.m. in France, the Russian Defense Ministry said. . The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said it was ready “to lead” these evacuation operations, provided it had the necessary guarantees.
Technological sanctions
Washington yesterday announced new sanctions against Russia, this time targeting the technology sector, in order, among other things, to prevent the circumvention of Western sanctions.
Russia has announced that it will ban European leaders and the majority of MEPs from entering its territory, in response to the punitive measures aimed at it.
Depardieu denounces “the crazy unacceptable excesses” of Putin
The French actor, who had praised Vladimir Putin in the past, denounced the “crazy unacceptable excesses” of the Russian leader, announcing that all the proceeds from his concerts scheduled for the beginning of April in a French theater “will go to the victims Ukrainians”.