Here is the latest information from this Sunday regarding the conflict in Ukraine:
9:50 p.m. – The Russian ambassador in Washington denies any intention to invade Ukraine
The Russian ambassador in Washington refuted on Sunday on CBS any intention to invade Ukraine. “There is no invasion or any plan for it.” Russia intends to continue diplomatic efforts to resolve current issues, Anatoly Antonov said Ukraine’s ambassador to the United States, Oksana Markarova, also told CBS that her country would “work day and night to ensure prevent an invasion of Russia”. However, she added, the last few days showed that Russia has started provocations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
7:15 p.m. – Sophie Wilmès speaks on the crisis
“We have before us a Russia which is preparing to be able to invade (Ukraine, editor’s note) if it wishes” most “diplomacy must prevail in our relations with Russia“said Belgian Foreign Minister Sophie Wilmès on the set of RTL Info on Sunday evening. “Diplomatic channels are getting back on track and there is a shared will“to use them and”to work as quickly as possible towards a ceasefire“, adds the minister. More details in our article.
4:45 p.m. – The French and Russian foreign ministers will speak to each other on Monday
The heads of Russian and French diplomacy, Sergei Lavrov and Jean-Yves Le Drian, will discuss the escalation of tensions around Ukraine on Monday by telephone, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced on Sunday. “Sergei Lavrov was ready to have a phone conversation with his French counterpart today, but Le Drian mightn’t. Accordingly, telephone contact is scheduled for Monday“, said the spokeswoman for Russian diplomacy Maria Zakharova, quoted by Russian news agencies.
4:35 p.m. – Putin reiterated to Macron his intention to withdraw his troops from Belarus (according to a communication from the Elysée)
3:50 p.m. – Macron and Putin agree to try to reach a ceasefire
French Presidents Emmanuel Macron and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed on Sunday to do everything to quickly reach a ceasefire in eastern Ukraine, the Elysee Palace announced. The two leaders also agreed, during their telephone conversation, on “the need to favor a diplomatic solution to the current crisis and to do everything to achieve it“, added the French presidency, specifying that the Minister of Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian will meet his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov”in the next few days“.
3:45 p.m. – The American president says he is ready to meet Vladimir Putin
US President Joe Biden is ready to “meet“his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin”at any time, regardless of the format if it helps to avoid a war“in Ukraine, its head of diplomacy, Antony Blinken, told CBS on Sunday. The secretary of state also reaffirmed to CNN that the diplomatic route was still possible”until the tanks are actually in motion and the planes in the sky“.
3:35 p.m. – Putin reacts following his interview with Emmanuel Macron
Russian President Vladimir Putin questioned Sunday with Emmanuel Macron the “provocations“Ukrainians in the escalation of fighting with separatists in eastern Ukraine, while saying they want”intensifier“diplomatic efforts to settle the conflict. According to the Kremlin, Mr. Putin also asked, during this telephone conversation with his French counterpart, that NATO and the United States”take seriously“Russia’s security demands, at the heart of the current crisis between Moscow and the West.
3:15 p.m. – The Ukrainian president demands an “immediate ceasefire”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday called for the resumption of negotiations with Russia under the aegis of the OSCE and the establishment of a “cease fire immediately” in the East, following a telephone interview with Emmanuel Macron. “We demand the urgent convening of a meeting of the trilateral contact group (Ukraine, Russia, OSCE) and the establishment of an immediate ceasefire“, said Mr. Zelensky on Twitter.
11:47 am: Macron talks with Putin
As expected, French Presidents Emmanuel Macron and Russian President Vladimir Poutine spoke by telephone for 1h45, according to the Elysée Palace, this Sunday morning. The stated objective: to avoid a major war in Europe, at a time when Westerners fear more than ever a Russian invasion in Ukraine, announced the Elysée. Following this call, Emmanuel Macron called the Ukrainian president. More details in our article.
11:30 am: Belarus announces that Russian troops will stay for maneuvers
Belarus announces that joint military exercises with Russia conducted on its territory, which were due to end on Sunday, would continue due to the worsening of tensions in neighboring Ukraine.
10:26 am: Westerners cannot indefinitely extend “an olive branch” to Russia
Westerners cannot continue to extend “an olive branch” indefinitely as Russia escalates tension along the Ukrainian border, European Council President Charles Michel said on Sunday. “The big question remains: does the Kremlin want dialogue?” asked Mr. Michel at the Munich Security Conference.
10:21 a.m.: Johnson says Russia is planning ‘the biggest war in Europe since 1945’
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Sunday that Russia was preparing “what might be the biggest war in Europe since 1945”, at a time when Westerners fear more than ever a Russian invasion of Ukraine. “All signs show that the project has somehow already started,” said the British leader in an interview broadcast by the BBC.
10 a.m.: Macron-Putin last chance interview
French President Emmanuel Macron has a last chance interview with Vladimir Putin to try to avoid a Russian invasion of Ukraine. This interview scheduled for 10:00 GMT is maintained even as Kiev now calls on its Western allies to cease all “appeasement” policies towards Moscow, accused by Washington and Kiev of having massed 150,000 soldiers on the eastern Ukrainian borders.
9:54 am: Ukraine closes checkpoint leading to breakaway Donbass region
Ukraine has closed one of the seven checkpoints leading to the Donbass basin, a region plagued by pro-Russian independence desires, in the east of the country, the Ukrainian army announced on Sunday. The security of civilians wishing to cross this checkpoint cannot be guaranteed, according to the army.
8:25 am: the Red Cross says it is “very worried” regarding the fate of civilians
The International Red Cross has expressed concern regarding the fate of civilians in Ukraine, as exchanges of fire multiplied this weekend between the Ukrainian army and pro-Russian separatists in the Donetsk and Lugansk regions. Two drinking water stations supplying more than a million people broke down following the clashes.
2:34 am: Russia can attack Ukraine “at any time”, repeats Washington
Russia can launch an attack on Ukraine “at any time”, the White House repeated on Saturday. US President Joe Biden is scheduled to attend a rare meeting of the National Security Council on the Ukraine crisis on Sunday.
