Surprisingly, during the night, the news of the possible summit arrived, announced by French President Emmanuel Macron on the condition that “Russia does not attack” between the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, and the American president, Joe Biden. The two agreed to meet at the summit proposed by the head of the Elysée: “Presidents Biden and Putin have agreed to see each other at a summit”, the Elysée announced in a note adding that the talks will subsequently be extended to “all stakeholders “of the crisis. A news that, of course, has triggered a series of chain reactions. From the applause of other European leaders to the response of the markets.” The diplomatic solution is the best and only way out of the crisis and we are working on this »Says the EU High Representative for Foreign Policy, Josep Borrell, upon his arrival at the Foreign Affairs Council where he met with the Foreign Minister of Kiev, Dmytro Kuleba who – on the other hand – asked for« immediate sanctions on Russia ».
Ukraine crisis, the turning point overnight with Macron’s mediation: Biden will meet Putin
Alberto Simoni
The stationing of Russian troops in Belarus, however, will last a long time. At least according to the Belarusian government of Alexander Lukashenko, in great harmony with Putin, on the sidelines of the joint missile exercises that took place under the coordination of the two presidents. To report this news is the Financial Times, which emphasizes this aspect of the complex Ukrainian crisis, underlining that the troops amassed by Moscow in Belarusian territory on the borders of Ukraine do not seem destined for a withdrawal in the short term. Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts continue, but also skirmishes in the Donbass and Kiev, according to the City newspaper, appears “vulnerable”.
Biden-Putin Summit on Ukraine: oil and gold rush blocked, Stock Exchanges towards a positive start
Killed a militiaman and a civilian in Kiev
But the tension at the borders remains high. In the exchange of artillery shots with the Ukrainian army denounced by the self-proclaimed republic of Donetsk, in the Donbass, a civilian was also killed, as well as a militiaman. This was asserted by the pro-Russian secessionist militia, cited by the Russian agency Tass. The civilian is said to be a miner on his way to work and was shot while waiting at the bus stop. Meanwhile, the head of the self-proclaimed Lugansk People’s Republic (LPR) Leonid Pasechnilk has signed a decree on the voluntary mobilization of men over the age of 55. “Older men over 55 can join voluntarily,” the document reads. The decree entered into force at the time of signature. On February 18, the leaders of the LPR and the DPR, Leonid Pasechnik and Denis Pushilin, announced the evacuation of the residents of the republics in Russia, citing the growing threat of hostility. On February 19, a general mobilization was ordered in the Donbass republics.
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