Follow the evolution of the conflict in Ukraine throughout the day this Wednesday, March 23.
– 9:30 a.m.: End of the curfew for the city of kyiv, which will “never” surrender
While the curfew in kyiv ends this Wednesday, March 23 in the morning, the mayor of the city, Vitali Klitschko assured this Tuesday, March 22 before the Council of Europe: “In the worst case we will die, but never we will not surrender.”
He reiterated his remarks to our colleagues from France Bleu Occitanie, specifying: “Russian soldiers will never return to the city of kyiv and the Russian flag will never fly above our city. We prefer to die than to put ourselves at risk. knees.”
– 9 a.m.: “90% of Mariupol’s housing is damaged or destroyed”
Mariupol, the city that is constantly being bombed.
Alexei Arestovych, military adviser to Volodymyr Zelensky spoke this Wednesday, March 23 on BFM. He said that Mariupol’s population is suffering greatly: “90% of residential housing in Mariupol” is damaged or destroyed.”
“The goal of the Russians is to raze the city of Mariupol. They want to make an example of it.”
– 8:50 a.m.: Some 100,000 people still stranded in Mariupol
The city of Mariupol is besieged, largely controlled by the Russian Army but continues to be bombarded.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Wednesday March 23 that “nearly 100,000 people in inhumane conditions” are still stuck in this city “under total siege, without food, without water, without medicine, under constant bombardment”. .
– 8 a.m.: Joe Biden, the American president travels to Europe to decide on new sanctions against Russia
US President Joe Biden will travel to Brussels on Wednesday March 23 to discuss with European leaders Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the application of new sanctions against Moscow, some of which could target members of Parliament Russian, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Joe Biden will leave the White House at 8:40 a.m. US time (12:40 GMT) for Brussels, where he will take part in the NATO and G7 summits this Thursday, March 24 and will speak at a meeting of the European Council. .
He will then travel to Warsaw to meet Polish President Andrzej Duda.
Two sources said Joe Biden and his team were preparing new plans to impose sanctions against members of the Duma, the lower house of Russia’s parliament.
These measures should be announced this Thursday, March 24. According to the Wall Street Journal, 300 members of the Duma could be affected by these sanctions.
A White House spokesman said “no final decision has been made on who will be affected by the measures, or how many will be subject to sanctions.”
“We will have additional sanctions to announce which will be rolled out jointly with our allies this Thursday, March 24, when the president has an opportunity to speak with them,” the official said.
Jake Sullivan, the White House national security adviser, announced on Tuesday March 22 that the American president would have “the opportunity to coordinate the next phase of military assistance to Ukraine” when he is in Brussels.
“He will join our partners in imposing additional sanctions against Russia and strengthening existing sanctions to ensure strong enforcement,” he added.
– 7:45 am: The United States and its allies will discuss Russia’s membership of the G20
The United States and its Western allies are evaluating Russia’s membership in the Group of Twenty (G20) following its invasion of Ukraine, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters on Tuesday (March 22nd).
The possibility that an attempt to exclude Russia outright would be vetoed by the other members of the G20 – which notably includes China, India and Saudi Arabia – raises fears that some countries would prefer not to participate in the group meetings this year, the sources said.
“There have been discussions about whether it is appropriate for Russia to be part of the G20,” a senior G7 source said.
“If Russia remains a member, the organization will be less useful.”
Responding to the question of whether US President Joe Biden would bring up Russia’s membership in the G20, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said: “It can’t be business as usual in the international institutions and the international community”.
Joe Biden is due to leave Washington on Wednesday March 23 for Brussels, where he will take part this Thursday March 24 in the NATO and G7 summits and will speak at a meeting of the European Council.
A European source also confirmed talks on Russia’s status at upcoming meetings of the G20, whose rotating presidency is currently held by Indonesia.
“It was made clear to Indonesia that Russia’s presence at upcoming ministerial meetings would be very problematic for European countries,” the source said, adding that there was, however, no clear process for excluding a country. Poland expressed this Tuesday, March 22 its desire to replace Russia within the G20.
– 7:30 a.m.: Volodymyr Zelensky will address the French deputies by videoconference
After Italy, it will be in front of the French Parliament this Wednesday afternoon.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will address French MPs by videoconference this Wednesday afternoon, March 23, after speaking to the US Congress and the German Bundestag last week and to the Italian Parliament this Tuesday, March 22. .
– 7 a.m.: Zelensky says negotiations with Russia are difficult, sometimes confrontational
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Wednesday March 23 that negotiations with Russia aimed at ending the conflict in Ukraine were difficult and sometimes confrontational, but added: “Little by little we are moving forward”.
In a video address broadcast early Wednesday morning, March 23, Volodymyr Zelensky also said that 100,000 people were living in the besieged city of Mariupol in inhumane conditions, without food, water or medicine.
Although Russian and Ukrainian negotiators have spoken regularly, the two sides have indicated that any agreement is far from being concluded.
“We continue to work at different levels to encourage Russia to move towards peace. Ukrainian representatives take part in the discussions that are held every day. It is very difficult, sometimes confrontational”, declared Volodymyr Zelensky.
“But little by little, we are moving forward.” The Ukrainian president also accused Russian forces of attacking the port of Mariupol and thwarting attempts to evacuate civilians from the city.
“As of today, around 100,000 people are living in inhuman conditions in the city, completely blocked, without food, without water, without medicine, subject to constant bombardment,” he added.
