LAST UPDATE: 19.20
The confrontation in Ukraine seems to be at a crossroads, after the invasion of Russia last Thursday.
While Fighting erupts especially in the north and south-east of the country between Russian and Ukrainian military forces and A meeting of Russian and Ukrainian delegations is expected in Belarus -after the relevant confirmation by V. Zelenski- Russian President Vladimir Putin has put the country’s nuclear powers on alert.
Ukraine’s “unconditional” talks with Russia, according to CNN, which cites the Ukrainian Deputy Interior Minister, will begin tomorrow, Monday.
The talks could offer some room for de-escalation in the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine from several directions, Reuters notes.
The conversations will take place on site near the border of Belarus with Ukraine. “We agreed that the Ukrainian delegation will meet with the Russian one without conditions “on the Ukrainian-Belarusian border, near the Pripyat River,” Zelensky said in a statement. Zelensky and the President of Belarussaid the Ukrainian president.
Putin’s nuclear threats
President Vladimir Putin has ordered that Russia’s nuclear forces be put on high alert amid tensions with the West over its invasion of Ukraine, the Associated Press reported.
Speaking at a meeting with top officials, Putin said that top NATO forces had made “aggressive statements” against Russia, while the West had imposed harsh economic sanctions on Russia and on him.
Putin has ordered the Russian Defense Minister and the head of the General Staff of the Army to place the nuclear forces in a “special combat service regime”.
“Western countries are not only unfriendly to our country in the economic field, but also top officials from leading NATO members have made aggressive statements against our country,” Putin said.
According to the website of the Ministry of Defense, the strategic forces “are designed to prevent an attack on Russia and its allies, and to neutralize the attacker, including the war on nuclear weapons,” Ria Novosti reported.
The order raises the threat that tensions with the West over the Russian invasion of Ukraine could lead to the use of nuclear weapons.
The Russian leader threatened this week that he would retaliate harshly against any state that intervened directly in the conflict in Ukraine.
Fourth day of conflict
It is recalled that for the 4th day the Russian invasion of Ukraine without falling into the hands of Putin’s army Kiev. In fact, yesterday, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced the “extension” of the attack “to all “directions inside the country, as Russian-Ukrainian contacts proceeded to hold talks,” the Russian side said.
The Russian military announced today that it had surrounded two major cities in southern Ukraine, Kherson and Berdyansk, while the “light vehicles” of Russia have invaded the Kharkiv, according to the Ukrainian local governor.
THE Russian side gives deadline to Ukraine until 3 p.m. (4 pm Greek time) to agree on a meeting in the city of Gomel, Ria Novosti reports.
Ukraine has agreed to talks in Belarus, according to Russian media, which Zelensky confirmed.
At the same time, British Foreign Secretary Liz Tras stressed that if the Russians are serious about negotiating, they should withdraw their troops from Ukraine.
At the same time the “Community for Global Interbank Economic Communication” (SWIFT) is preparing to implement in the coming days the new measures decided by Western countries, which are targeting some Russian banks in retaliation for Moscow’s attack on Ukraine.
At the same time to 10 Greek civilians killed in eastern Ukraine have arrived, according to announcements of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which has already sent step to the Russian Embassy in Athens.
Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron yesterday called on his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko to demand the immediate withdrawal of Russian troops from his country.
Earlier, One after another, Western countries (USA, Germany, Holland, etc.) announced the supply of weapons to Ukraine in order to strengthen its defense against the Russians.
Athens sends defense material to Kiev
A meeting under the Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis was held today at the Maximos Palace with the participation of the Minister of National Defense Nikos Panagiotopoulos and the Chief of General Staff Konstantinos Floros.
The Prime Minister was briefed on the military image in Ukraine. With his decision, Greece responds to the request of Ukraine, in consultation with its allies in NATO, its partners in the EU. and showing its practical solidarity with the tested Ukrainian people, it sends within the day, defense equipment with 2 C-130 which will depart for Poland.
According to information, Greece is sending to Ukraine ammunition, Kalashnikov rifles and launchers.
Also during the day, significant humanitarian aid will be sent, which will be accompanied by the Deputy Minister of National Defense, Nikos Hardalias. The meeting was also attended by the Secretary General of the Prime Minister Grigoris Demitriadis and Ambassador Anna-Maria Boura.
Attacks in Kiev
Russian missiles reportedly hit the area last night. Vasilkiv in the Kiev region, as Moscow’s military invasion of Ukraine continues.
“The enemy wants to destroy everything around here,” said Vasilkiv Mayor Natalia Balasinovic.
Photos and videos that have seen the light of day show huge flames rising in the sky.
According to a post made in the Telegram by the adviser of the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Anton Gerastshenko, the missiles hit Vasilkiv and a fire broke out, without any information about the victims so far.
Just minutes before 1 p.m., a loud explosion was heard near the bridge area Paton in the Ukrainian capital.
Blasting of a natural pipeline in Kharkov
Earlier, Russian military forces blew up one gas pipeline in Kharkov, as reported by Reuters, citing Ukrainian government officials.
A video released via the Telegram platform shows a large fire mushroom after the explosion.
Reuters says it is unclear at this time how important the pipeline was and whether the blast could disrupt gas supplies to areas outside the city or country.
Despite the ongoing attack, Ukraine continues to supply Europe with Russian gas.
The footage shows a gas pipeline on fire in Kharkiv after a Russian attack.
Video: State Special Communications Service of Ukraine pic.twitter.com/owuSoKqoFA
– The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) February 27, 2022
Macron to Lukashenko: Withdraw Russian troops
Meanwhile, the French president Emanuel Macron asked his Belarusian counterpart yesterday, Saturday Alexander Lukashenko to demand the immediate withdrawal of Russian troops from his country, which are taking part in the Moscow attack on Ukraine, as announced by the press office of the French presidency.
The French president spoke of a “unilateral and unjust war” and stressed the need to work with the international community to send humanitarian aid to Ukraine.
“Belarus should refuse to become a vassal of Russia and a de facto accomplice in the war against Ukraine,” Macron was quoted as saying by the French presidency.
In a telephone conversation between the two leaders, Lukashenko allegedly described as “fake news” the reports about the development of Russian nuclear weapons on the territory of Belarus.
SWIFT: It is preparing to implement in the coming days the new measures decided by Western countries
The Community for Global Interbank Economic Communication (SWIFT) said on Saturday that it was preparing to implement in the coming days the new measures decided by Western countries, which target some Russian banks in retaliation for Moscow’s attack on Ukraine.
“We are cooperating with the European authorities,” SWIFT said in a statement, detailing the details of the banks that would be subject to the restrictions.
Earlier in the day, the EU, the US, Britain and Canada decided to exclude some Russian banks from the SWIFT system, stressing, among other things, their determination to impose measures “which will further isolate Russia in the international financial system”, noting that the measures would implemented in the coming days.
Macron message in Greek about the death of 10 expatriates
French President Emanuel Macron expressed his grief over the death of ten expatriates in Ukraine in a post on Twitter, emphasizing “Tonight we think with grief of Greece, which lost ten expatriates unjustly”.
In particular, in the post he made in Greek, the President of France states: “It is not only the people of Ukraine who are mourning today because of the war caused by Russia, but all the peoples of Europe. Tonight we are sadly thinking of Greece, which lost unjustly. ten expatriates living in Ukraine, near Mariupol. ”
It is not just the people of Ukraine who are mourning today because of the war waged by Russia, but all the peoples of Europe. Tonight we think with sadness of Greece that unjustly lost ten expatriates who lived in Ukraine near Mariupol.
– Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) February 26, 2022
Source: Capital
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