Ukraine, Moscow: 'Terrorist act from Kiev'. Zelensky: 'Lifting sanctions favours Putin'

The British and French ambassadors to Russia were convened today at the Foreign Ministry, which presented them with a protest over a bombing by Ukrainian forces on the Russian region of Bryansk carried out with French-British Storm Shadow/Scalp missiles, with a death toll of 8 killed and 40 wounded according to local authorities. The Foreign Ministry, quoted by the Ria Novosti news agency, demanded that Paris and London express "unequivocal condemnation of the terrorist attack by the Ukrainian armed forces on Bryansk", saying that a refusal on their part would be considered an act of "solidarity with terrorist methods".

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky went to Paris for talks with President Emmanuel Macron on ways to increase pressure on Russia. In this context Zelensky stated that the lifting of US sanctions "is not conducive to peace". "I think that the lifting, even temporary, of sanctions would strengthen Russia's position," the Kiev leader said, arguing that "the more Russia has money to finance the war machine, the more it also has means to send drones to the Middle East" and "destabilise" the situation further. Furthermore, in a meeting with journalists, the Ukrainian predecessor specified that "even just this relaxation on the part of the United States could provide Russia with some $10 billion for the war".

"The context of rising oil prices must not in any way lead us to revise our policy of sanctions against Russia: it is the position that the G7 has maintained, and it is obviously the position of France and Europe." Thus, the French president reiterates the hard line against Moscow, despite the spreading conflict in the Middle East. For the head of state Russia "is wrong" if it thinks that "the war in Iran can offer it a moment of respite". A position at odds with the American lifting of certain sanctions. Macron then assured 'strongly and clearly' that the €90 billion loan promised by EU leaders to Ukraine will be 'maintained'. Commenting on Hungary's blocking of disbursements, the French head of state said that "it is the duty of each nation to keep the promises made and the political commitments made by everyone in December" even if disagreements emerge. Budapest has gone against the loan and is demanding that Ukraine quickly reopen the transport of Russian oil via the Druzhba pipeline to Hungarian territory, which was damaged, according to Ukrainian authorities, by an attack by Russia.

At the end of the meeting between Zelensky and Macron, the Ukrainian president expressed his satisfaction with the outcome of the discussion: 'We talked about bilateral projects, the SAFE programme. All this represents significant potential that can strengthen both our states and the whole of Europe'. Zelensky went on to thank France for its help during the conflict and said they had reached agreements to strengthen defences: 'Ukraine is grateful for French defence support all these years. And today we have identified a step and specific solutions that can give a concrete result. This applies to both air defence and combat aviation'.

Meanwhile, on the ground, Russia launched 127 attack drones against Ukraine in the night of 12-13 March, more than 80 of which were Shahed type. This was announced by the Ukrainian Air Force, adding that it shot down or neutralised 117 of them. Authorities reported eight drone and one missile impacts on seven sites, as well as downed drone debris on five sites.