Ninth day of the war. The night heralds more bombings. Yesterday was another day of battle. And bombs, destruction and death. But also of meetings between diplomatic forces and negotiations.
The second appointment, which took place yesterday afternoon in the Brest forest, on the border between Belarus and Poland, led to the announcement of the establishment of humanitarian corridors for the evacuation of civilians, guaranteed by a temporary ceasefire in the affected areas. The minimum level of agreement has not been reached for the Ukrainian delegation, while Moscow has made it known that progress has been made. However, Vladimir Putin’s threats remain: “I will never go back on my declaration that Russia and Ukraine are one people.” Clear the intent to continue, not to take a step back. Yesterday, the Moscow army continued to carpet bomb, tightening the siege from Chernihiv in the north to Mariupol in the south, while Putin once again spoke of “anti-Russia” created by the West “. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Zelensky: “Only Putin can stop the war, I have to talk to him.”
Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron, who spoke yesterday with the Kremlin leader, underlines that Putin aims to “take control of all of Ukraine”. And “that the worst is yet to come.” In the background, the nuclear threat.
The talks will resume early next week, again in a secret area in Belarus, while the flow of refugees leaving Ukraine continues to grow. Estimates speak of a million people who have crossed the borders, towards the West.
The battle next to the nuclear power plant
Live updates hour by hour
From the Ukrainian defense minister to Putin’s adviser: who is sitting at the table in the new Moscow-Kiev talks
00.14 Ukraine: temporary protection for Ukrainian citizens in US territory
The Department of Homeland Security will allow Ukrainians in the United States to stay in the country with humanitarian support. CNN reports it. The aid, known as Temporary Protected Status, applies to people who would face extreme hardship if they were forced to return to their homeland, due to armed conflict or natural disasters. The form of protection is limited to persons already present in the United States.
00.07 Ukraine, Ministry of Defense: “20 Russian military vehicles destroyed”
The Ukrainian Defense Ministry said 20 Russian military vehicles were destroyed near the Hostomel air base. Videos posted on social media show Ukrainian soldiers walking in damaged and burning vehicles. CNN has geolocated and verified the authenticity of the videos in an area about five miles away from Hostomel airport.
00.05 am The UN: uncertainty about the number of civilian deaths in Ukraine
According to UN data, 249 civilians died in the Russian attack in Ukraine yesterday, not two thousand, as reported by sources in Kiev. UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric today drastically reduced the death toll in the time span from the beginning of the invasion on February 24 until midnight on March 2 local time. In addition to the 249 civilians killed, another 553 people were injured. The figures were collected by the UN Human Rights Office in Ukraine. “People are talking about ‘fog of war'”, commented the spokesman about the discrepancy: “I can only report the data that our colleagues on the spot believe they have verified and double-checked using all the right sources. I can only give UN data, others can have different numbers ».
Ukraine, Zelensky: “If Ukraine falls, it won’t be the only one”
00.01 Ukraine: France, aircraft carrier on a deterrent mission in Romania
In light of the “new situation” that has arisen with the war in Ukraine, the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier of the French Navy has left Cyprus approaching Romania in the Mediterranean Sea: the transalpine defense minister announced it to Bfm TV, Florence Parly, specifying that French planes will thus be able to fly “to the territory of Romania where they will have the opportunity to observe and dissuade” the Russians. “Our mission – Parly clarified in any case – is strictly dissuasive, we have no bellicose intention” “On Sunday the minister will travel to Romania to visit the approximately 500 French soldiers who are in the country as part of NATO.