The day was marked in particular by the exceptional interview of President Volodymyr Zelensky granted to several European media, including France Télévisions, in which he affirms that Ukraine once once more rejects “an ultimatum” from Russia.
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Twenty-six days following the beginning of the Russian invasion in Ukraine, the bombardments continued, Monday, March 21, on the main Ukrainian cities: kyiv, Kharkiv, Mariupol, Odessa, Mykolaiv… In an exceptional interview given to several European media, including France Televisions, and broadcast on Monday, President Volodymyr Zelensky assured that Ukraine once more rejected “an ultimatum” from Russia.
“We are forced an ultimatum and we are given the dots to fill in to end the war. It is incorrect. And it won’t get us anywhere.” defends the leader in this interview. “That’s why I said we won’t accept this ultimatum until we no longer exist.” Franceinfo summarizes what to remember from the day’s developments.
Mariupol devastation a ‘major war crime’, says European Union
The head of European diplomacy Josep Borrell denounced on Monday the destruction committed indiscriminately by the Russian army in the besieged city of Mariupol. “What is happening in Mariupol is a major war crime. Indiscriminate shelling is devastating the city and killing everyone” he accused, ahead of a meeting of EU foreign and defense ministers on reviewing new sanctions once morest Moscow. Ukraine does not “will not lay down their arms and will not leave the city” besieged port of Mariupol (South), said its Deputy Prime Minister, ignoring a Russian ultimatum.
Facebook and Instagram banned in Russia for ‘extremism’
A Moscow court has banned American social networks Facebook and Instagram in Russia. The Russian security services (FSB) had earlier demanded the ban “immediate” American social networks Facebook and Instagram, accusing them of activities “directed once morest Russia and its armed forces”. A prosecutor had also asked for the prohibition of Meta, “due to clear signs of extremist activity”.
New curfew in Kyiv
Russian troops are still seeking to encircle kyiv, where a new curfew was introduced on Monday from 6 p.m. GMT (7 p.m. in Paris) until Wednesday 5 a.m. GMT (6 a.m. in Paris) On Monday, a bombing of the Retroville shopping center, northwest of the capital, killed at least eight people, according to Ukrainian authorities. The Russian army claimed that this shopping center was vacant and was used as an arms and ammunition depot.
Nazi camp survivor killed
Nazi concentration camp survivor Boris Romantschenko was killed in the bombing of the building where he lived, in Kharkiv, in northeastern Ukraine, the German Buchenwald and Mittelbau-Dora Memorial Foundation announced on Monday. She shared her “horror”.
