2024-05-02 19:41:00
Every day, Midi Libre takes stock of the situation in Ukraine. This Thursday, May 2, 2024, discover the latest news around this conflict.
Emmanuel Macron once once more assumes the possibility of sending Western troops on the ground
Emmanuel Macron once once more assumed the possibility of sending Western troops on the ground to Ukraine, estimating in an interview published Thursday by The Economist that it would be necessary “ask yourself a question” Yes Moscow “was going to break through the front lines” and that kyiv was asking for it.
“If the Russians were to break through the front lines, if there was a Ukrainian request – which is not the case today – we should legitimately ask ourselves the question”the French president told the British weekly The Economist.
“To rule it out a priori is to fail to learn the lessons of the last two years”while NATO countries had initially ruled out sending tanks and planes to Ukraine before finally changing their minds, he added.
The French head of state created controversy at the end of February by affirming that sending Western troops to Ukrainian soil should not “be excluded” in the future.
What is chloropicrin, this chemical agent that the United States accuses Russia of having used?
The United States accuses Russia of using a chemical agent, chloropicrin, once morest Ukrainian forces, in violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), according to a State Department statement today. Wednesday May 1st.
“The use of these chemicals is not an isolated incident and is likely motivated by the desire of Russian forces to dislodge Ukrainian forces from fortified positions and make tactical advances on the battlefield.”writes the State Department in a press release published Wednesday May 1, 2024.
Additionally, Russia uses riot control agents as “method of war in Ukraine, also in violation of the convention”adds American diplomacy in this text.
At the same time, Washington announced on Wednesday a new wave of sanctions targeting Russian or foreign companies or individuals accused of participating in the Russian war effort in the invasion of Ukraine.
In addition to Russian defense companies, as well as Chinese entities, these sanctions also concern several research units and companies involved in Russian chemical and biological weapons programs.
“Russia’s continued disregard for its obligations under the CIAC is consistent with the operations to poison Alexei Navalny and Sergei and Yulia Skripal with Novichok-type nerve agents.”continues the State Department.
Russia has said it no longer possesses a military chemical arsenal, but the country faces pressure for more transparency over the use of toxic weapons it is accused of.
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), chloropicrin is a chemical that has been used as an agent of warfare and a pesticide and which, if inhaled, poses a health risk.
NATO condemns Moscow’s “malicious activities” on its territory
NATO countries said Thursday “deeply concerned regarding malicious activity” from Russia “conducted recently on Alliance territory”while ensuring that they do not “will not dissuade us from continuing to support Ukraine”.
In a press release, the Allies denounce “hostile state activities affecting Czechia, Estonia, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and the United Kingdom”. “The incidents in question are part of the intensification of activities that Russia is carrying out throughout the Euro-Atlantic area, and in particular on the territory of the Alliance, using intermediaries” .
“These include acts of sabotage, acts of violence, cyber activities, electronic disruptions, disinformation campaigns and other hybrid activities”they detail, adding that these “hybrid activities constitute a threat” for their safety.
“We will act individually and collectively in response to these actions and we will continue to consult closely”they continue. “We will ensure that the Alliance and Allies are prepared to provide deterrence and defense once morest hybrid activities or attacks.” “We condemn Russia’s attitude and call on it to respect its international obligations, as Allies do. Russia’s actions will not dissuade us from continuing to support Ukraine.”they conclude.
At the end of March, Prague revealed the discovery by Czech intelligence services of a network orchestrated by Moscow which spread pro-Russian propaganda on Ukraine via the Voice of Europe website, and is suspected of having corrupted MEPs. In the United Kingdom, authorities indicated in late April that a 20-year-old British man had been charged in London under the national security law for allegedly organizing attacks once morest “businesses related to Ukraine”.
The French Minister for Europe Jean-Noël Barrot recently indicated that France and other European countries were “shelled by Russian propaganda” in the run-up to the European elections, which will take place from June 6 to 9 in the EU.
New step towards a “special tribunal” to judge Russia
The Council of Europe has instructed its Secretary General to work on preparations for a “special court” in order to judge “the crime of aggression” of Russia once morest Ukraine, a “important decision” welcomed by kyiv.
According to the decision, consulted Thursday by AFP, the Committee of Ministers of the Council authorized Marija Pejcinovic Buric on Tuesday “to prepare all the necessary documents to contribute to the consultations on a possible draft agreement” between the Council of Europe and Ukraine, “Regarding the establishment of a Special Court for the crime of aggression of the Russian Federation once morest Ukraine”, which no international court currently has the power to judge. The text does not mention any timetable or specific deadlines.
The executive body of the Council of Europe, this committee is made up of the foreign ministers of the 46 member countries of the Council, including Ukraine. Russia was excluded from this organization, guarantor of the rule of law on the continent, just following launching its war once morest kyiv in February 2022.
The contours of this future tribunal are still very vague and Ms. Buric, whose mandate ends in September, will have to clarify the question of “Status” of the jurisdiction as well as a “possible draft agreement” on, in particular, “its financing”according to the text.
In a speech to the summit of leaders of the “core”, the coalition of countries in favor of the creation of this special court, had already indicated that the Council of Europe was ready to support international efforts with a view to the creation of such a jurisdiction. Other international tribunals have emerged in the past, such as that on Rwanda or the former Yugoslavia, under the aegis of the UN.
“I welcome the decision” of the Committee of Ministers, reacted to X Dmytro Kouleba, Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs, evoking a “important decision towards the implementation of the court”. In May 2023, the Council of Europe summit decided in Reykjavik to create an international register in The Hague intended to assess the damage caused by the war in Ukraine and to prepare the invoice which will one day be presented in Moscow.
For its part, the International Criminal Court (ICC), which cannot judge Russia for the crime of aggression, issued arrest warrants at the beginning of March once morest two leading Russian military officials. A year ago, she issued an arrest warrant once morest President Vladimir Putin for “illegal deportation” of Ukrainian children.
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