EU refuses to pay for ruble gas, Russia expelled from the Champions League

On the 68th day of the war in Ukraine, Ukrainian authorities hope to further evacuate civilians in Mariupol. One hundred people were picked up on Sunday and taken out of the Azovstell steelworks. In parallel, bombings continue in the east of the country, killing at least eight civilians. This Monday is the point to remember.

Essential

• After the maintenance of one hundred civilians on Sunday from the Azovstale factory, the evacuation of civilians was to resume in Mariupol.
• At least eight civilians were killed in the Kharkiv and Donetsk regions
• EU energy ministers meet in Brussels and say they refuse to pay for gas in rubles
• Russian football teams will be banned from next season’s European Cups, including the Champions League
• Daily Podcast of Radio France The situation in Ukraine You can ask here

The situation on the military front

The Russian military dominates the east

The eastern part of the country is facing a slow advance of Russian forces, superior in numbers and better equipped with heavy weapons, even in the absence of the Russian army. “No significant regional gains recorded” According to the American Institute for War Studies (ISW).

The Russians are following this “Minor improvements” Towards the city of Lyman in the Donetsk region, but blocked by their enemies “Front row before February 24”According to ISW.

Eight civilians were killed

Eight civilians were killed in bombings in the Kharkiv and Donetsk regions on Sunday, four of them in the city of Lyman alone, near the front and under the direct threat of Russian advance, regional governors announced. “Russian shelling in Donetsk region: four civilians killed, all from Lyman”, Donetsk Regional Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko said in a telegram that seven civilians were wounded in the city where the Ukrainian army was due to leave recently.

A senior Ukrainian military official insisted “Difficult situation” In the east of the country, especially in the Isis and Sverdlovsk region, “The enemy has amassed most of his efforts and his most battle-ready troops.”

In the south, evacuation in Mariupol should resume

Ukrainian authorities planned new evacuations for residents of Mariupol on Monday, which evacuated after the first operation. The first public Azovstal factory besieged by Russian forces in this strategic port in southeastern Ukraine.

“More than a hundred civilians have already been evicted, first of all women and children”, Said the President. These civilians were expected in the town of Zaporizhia, 200 km northwest of Mariupol, and are under Ukrainian control even as the front line approaches.

“For the first time since the beginning of the war, this vital humanitarian corridor has been activated. For the first time, there is a two-day actual ceasefire in the area.” The steel complex, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zhelensky said in a video broadcast message on Sunday evening. “Finally!”

The teenager was killed during a strike in Odessa

A 15-year-old boy was killed and a boy was injured in a Russian attack on Odessa, according to municipal officials in the southern Ukrainian port city. “The building where five people were staying was damaged when a missile hit Odessa. A 15-year-old boy died and another minor child was taken to hospital.“, The city council announced in a telegram that it did not provide details about the fate of the other three occupants of the building.

According to Ukraine, two Russian patrol boats were destroyed

In the east, the Ukrainian military said it had destroyed two Russian raptor patrol boats near the island of Snakes in the Black Sea, which has become a symbol of Ukrainian resistance since the start of the Moscow invasion of Moscow on February 24. Russian Raptor-class patrol boats are one of the fastest spacecraft in the Russian Navy, reaching speeds of up to 90 km / h at full speed. They can carry up to 20 players in addition to a team of three.

The war will not end on May 9

As May 9 approaches, the governor of the Lugansk region says he expects a date when Russia will commemorate with great fanfare its victory over Nazi Germany in 1945. “Intensity of bombings”. But to those who foretold specific military action as May 9 approached, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov dismissed the matter.

“Our Army will not artificially adjust their operations on any date, including VE Day.”Sergei Lavrov said in an interview with Italian television Mediaset on Sunday. “The pace of action in Ukraine depends, above all, on the need to reduce potential risks to civilians and the Russian military.” He added.

Diplomatic situation and international reactions

The European Union refuses to pay for Russian gas in rubles.

Energy ministers of EU countries met urgently on the Russian gas issue. The European Union refuses to pay in rubles to buy gas from Russia, the European Commission and the French presidency of the Council warned after the meeting.

Moscow’s demand to pay for the purchase of rubles “Unilateral and unjustified change of contracts and its rejection is legal”Said Energy Commissioner Kadri Simpson. This was confirmed by the Minister of Environmental Change in France, Barbara Pompey, who chaired the meeting “Option to Respect Contracts”.

… and preparing for a break with Moscow

“We must be prepared to suspend supplies” On Russian gas, the European Commissioner warned. “There are no immediate risks to supplies”The Commissioner promised. “But we can not replace the 150 billion m3 of gas purchased from Russia by other sources. This is not acceptable.”She agreed.. “We can manage to change 2/3 of Russia’s gas supply”She clarified.

Russia’s gas supplies to EU countries and Turkey fell sharply between January and April 2021 compared to the same period in 2021, Gasprom reported, while China exploded, rising 60.% year-on-year, citing the gas company.

The European Union has finalized a phase-by-phase embargo on Russian oil

The European Commission is set to finalize a sixth round of sanctions against Russia on Tuesday. These new sanctions should include a ban on the purchase of Russian gas. “There is a political will to stop buying oil from Russia. Steps and decisions on the withdrawal will be taken next week as a phase.”A European official involved in Sunday’s debate said he did not rule out the possibility “Implementing is not easy”.

Two landlocked European countries, Hungary and Slovakia, rely on Russian pipelines. They have no ports and are not connected to any European pipeline. The EU also wants to avoid a global rise in oil prices.

Washington accuses it of wanting to “annex” pro-Russian territories

The United States has reported “Very reliable” Russia wants to organize accordingly “Mid-May” Polls for “Try to connect” The “Republics” Pro-Russian separatists from Donetsk and Lukansk in eastern Ukraine. “According to the latest information, we hope that Russia will try to unite the Donetsk People’s Republic and the Lukansk People’s Republic.”Michael Carpenter, the U.S. ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, told reporters in Washington. “This information shows that Russia wants to create a new referendum” In this sense, he added.

Israel has strongly condemned Lavrov’s comments about Hitler

In a similar interview with Italian television Mediaset, he was asked about Russian claims aimed at war. “Tenacify” When Ukrainian President Zhelensky was Jewish, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov made a shout: “I may be wrong, but Hitler also had Jewish blood.”.

His Israeli envoy, Yair Lapid, condemned the comments “Slanderous, unforgivable and a terrible historical error“, And summoned the Russian ambassador “Clarification”.

Russia were eliminated from the next European Cup

UEFA has announced that the Russian club will not participate in European Cups next season, such as the Champions League, Europa League or Europa League conference. Russia has also been excluded from the next women Europe. Portugal will take place there.

Denmark and Sweden reopen embassies in Kiev

Denmark announced the reopening of its embassy in Kiev in a show of support for Ukraine during a surprise visit by its Foreign Minister Jeppe Cofot. “The reopening of the doors of the Danish embassy today is a very strong sign of Danish support for Ukraine and the Ukrainian people.”He said in a statement.

“On Wednesday, the Swedish embassy will reopen in Kiev (…) Sweden will continue to side with Ukraine”Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde announced on Twitter.

Humanitarian situation and solidarity with the Ukrainians

Sylvie Vardan publishes a record in support of Ukraine

At age 77, singer Sylvie Varden says she will release a record whose proceeds will be donated entirely to UNICEF for the benefit of Ukraine. “I was shocked to see pictures of these Ukrainian people trying to escape under the bombs. Inevitably, It brought me back to many images Intense feelings of my childhood “, Sylvie Vardon expressed optimism in a press release. A story that echoes his own. When she was 8 years old, she left Bulgaria under Soviet occupation, With his parents and his brother Eddie. That was in 1952. “We have only one DNA. We did not escape the war, but escaped from a brutal dictatorship. Although the situation is very different, I understand the feelings of the Ukrainian people.” Says the singer. Find out In this article.