► The French Minister of Foreign Affairs is in kyiv
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot arrived in kyiv on Saturday, the French embassy in Ukraine confirmed to AFP.
“Today I am going to Ukraine. Support, again and again, for Ukraine’s resistance against Russian aggression”the minister declared on X on Friday evening, the day before his first visit to the country.
Mr. Barrot arrived in kyiv while the capital is on anti-aircraft alert due to the threat of Russian attack drones of Iranian design. He will spend the weekend in the country to meet his counterpart, Andriï Sybiga.
► New exchange of prisoners between Ukraine and Russia
Russia announced on Friday that it had exchanged 95 Ukrainian prisoners of war for the same number of Russian prisoners, after negotiations carried out under the aegis of the United Arab Emirates.
“Thanks to this negotiation, 95 Russian soldiers were released”indicated the Russian Ministry of Defense. “In exchange, 95 Ukrainian prisoners of war were released”. The exchange has not yet been confirmed by Ukrainian authorities.
The two sides have already exchanged hundreds of prisoners since Russia’s attack on Ukraine in February 2022, following deals negotiated through the Emirates, Saudi Arabia or Turkey.
► Biden, Macron, Scholz and Starmer affirmed on Friday their ” determination “ to support Ukraine
Joe Biden, Emmanuel Macron, Olaf Scholz and Keir Starmer affirmed on Friday their ” determination “ to support Ukraine in its war against the Russian aggressor so that it obtains “just and lasting peace”in a joint statement released after a meeting in Berlin.
American, French, German and British leaders commit to “continue to support Ukraine in its efforts to ensure a just and lasting peace, based on international law, including the United Nations Charter, as well as respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity”they indicated after their meeting in Berlin held on the occasion of a whirlwind visit by American President Joe Biden.
► North Korea sends soldiers, Ukraine’s allies worried
According to the South Korean National Intelligence Service (NIS), North Korea has decided to send up to 12,000 troops to help Russia. The NIS released detailed satellite images showing, according to it, the first deployment of these soldiers.
For British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, if the presence of North Korean troops in Russia were confirmed, it would demonstrate “the level of despair” on the Moscow side. “Russia is weakening”added Keir Starmer, insisting that allies remained “absolutely resolved” to support kyiv. In Paris, the spokesperson for the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs Christophe Lemoine estimated that “North Korea’s increased cross-cooperation and military support for the Russian war effort in Ukraine (was) very worrying”.
