Dozens of thousands of Maroupolians, in the south-east of Ukraine, are deprived of water and electricity for days in a reduced city in the state of ruins.
Le Monde with AFP and Reuters
This is an unprecedented operation announced by the French President, Emmanuel Macron, Friday, March 25th. “We are going, in connection with Turkey and Greece, launch a humanitarian operation, to evacuate all those who wish to leave Maroupol,” he said after a European summit in Brussels, stating have to talk about the subject with Russian President, Vladimir Putin, “within forty-eight to seventy-two hours”
“We are driving it. There have been very concrete discussions with the Mayor of Maroupol and all those who are present on the Ukrainian authorities”, said the French president, at a conference of Press.
“I hope to be able Engage the maximum stakeholder in this operation “, continued the French president, ensuring” in capacity “to drive this evacuation” in the next few days “.
m. Macron said that the “teams of the Elysée” had traded Friday with the Mayor of Maroupol, “city of more than 400,000 inhabitants who no longer today than 150,000 inhabitants” living “in dramatic situations”.
More than 2,000 civilians were killed in Maroupol, according to a last assessment provided by the town hall. According to the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, some 100,000 people are still blocked in this strategic port of the Azov Sea who is besieged by Russian troops.
- Common Purchasing of Energy Products
The leaders of the twenty-seven since Thursday in Brussels have given a mandate to the European Commission to make common purchase of energy products and reflect on a better dissociation of gas and electricity prices, said Friday Mr. Macron.
“The grouped purchase, the ability to define together long contracts is the best instrument for lowering the price of our gas,” said the French president at a press conference in Brussels.
- Food: Initiative to help the most endangered countries
European leaders also announced the launch of an EU initiative to mitigate the food shortages caused by the Ukraine, “Wheat Grenier of Europe”, in the most affected countries.
Inspired by the Vovid-19 International Vaccine Distribution Program, this program, baptized “Farm”, including increased transparency of global stocks, to provide a supply to the most endangered countries and to encourage production. In the weakened regions, according to the conclusions of the EU Summit.