Russia starts shelling large parts of Ukraine with rockets in the morning. The international community is mostly shocked. The G7 countries agree on a special meeting. In France there are signs of a reassessment of the situation.
French President Emmanuel Macron has sharply criticized Russia’s attacks on cities in Ukraine. “Russia’s deliberate attacks on the entire territory of Ukraine and against civilians represent a profound change in the nature of this war,” he said, according to media reports in France’s Château-Gontier. He will meet his diplomatic and military advisers in Paris to take stock of the situation. Macron had already called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the morning and expressed his great concern.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz also phoned Selenskyj after the attack and assured the solidarity of Germany and the other G7 countries. Government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said the G7 states wanted to consult with Zelenskyy in a video conference tomorrow, Tuesday. In addition to Germany and France, the international community also includes Great Britain, Italy, Japan, Canada and the USA.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg condemned the attacks on civilian targets and pledged continued support for Ukraine. He spoke to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and “condemned Russia’s horrific and indiscriminate attacks on civilian infrastructure in Ukraine,” he tweeted. NATO will continue to support Ukraine in “fighting against the Kremlin’s aggression for as long as necessary,” Stoltenberg wrote.
British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly called the attacks unacceptable. “This is a demonstration of Putin’s weakness, not strength,” he tweeted. Austria’s Chancellor Karl Nehammer tweeted that the attack showed “that Putin is continuing the spiral of escalation. In this extremely dangerous situation, it is important to take steps towards de-escalation again. Even if it currently seems hopeless: the goal must be to return to the negotiating table. “
According to a spokesman, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is “deeply shocked” after the Russian airstrikes. These are “another unacceptable escalation of the war”. As always, civilians paid the ultimate price.
India calls for an end to fighting in Ukraine. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it was very concerned about the escalation of the conflict. The government believes the hostilities are benefiting no one and must end immediately, a spokesman said. There is an urgent need to return to the path of diplomacy and dialogue. India stands ready to support any de-escalation efforts. China also called for relaxation. “We hope that the situation will de-escalate soon,” said Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning
