Emmanuel Macron says Russia cannot count on the “fatigue” of Europeans

EU aid to Ukraine unblocked, Ukrainian intelligence chief Kyrillo Budanov threatens Russia “Multiplication” Attack on Russian infrastructure, Russian Defense Ministry says it shot down 11 drones over its territory… Le Figaro This Thursday, February 1 takes stock of the war in Ukraine.

Macron says Russia cannot count on the “fatigue” of Europeans

French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday estimated that Russia’s twenty-seven-year agreement on 50 billion euros in aid to Ukraine showed that it “Any fatigue» of Europeans.

“The message is clear: Russia cannot count on any fatigue from the Europeans in their support for Ukraine“, declared Mr. Macron after the summit in Brussels. “Our support for Ukraine has been one and unanimous since the beginning of the war“, he insisted.

Agreement by 27 EU countries for financial assistance of 50 billion euros

The 27 EU countries reached an agreement on Thursday on 50 billion euros in aid over four years for Ukraine, until then blocked by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, European Council President Charles Michael announced on Thursday. “Unit. All 27 leaders agreed on an additional envelope of 50 billion euros to support Ukraine within the framework of the EU budget. This agreement guarantees stable, predictable and long-term financing for Ukraine.wrote the manager at X (formerly Twitter) at the start of the extraordinary summit in Brussels.

The Ukrainian prime minister on Thursday welcomed the introduction of 50 billion dollars in aid to Ukraine from the European Union, after the Hungarian veto was lifted, which Kiev sees as one. “share” to one “General Victory” On Russia. “EU Member States once again show their unity and solidarity (…) to help the Ukrainian people resist the war” With Moscow, Denis Chmigalan declared on X (ex-Twitter). “Every vote of yours is an important contribution to our common victory”he added.

Twenty-seven agreements on $50 billion in aid to Ukraine “Proves once again the strong unity of the European Union”Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed Thursday, after lifting the Hungarian veto on the package. “It is very important that the decision was taken by all 27 leaders, which once again proves the strong unity of the EU”, he announced on X (formerly Twitter). This help “will strengthen long-term economic and financial stability, which is no less important than military aid” In Kiev against Russian aggression, he added.

Commission President Ursula von der Leyen gave the welcome “A Good Day for Europe” And Kyiv welcomed “share” A of the European Union “General Victory” On Russia. This provides for the possibility of convening a summit of heads of state or government every two years to examine the implementation of the multiannual European budget. European aid intended for Ukraine (33 billion loans and 17 billion donations) is included in the expansion of the EU budget until 2027. Support that Kiev desperately needs to keep its economy afloat, while an American aid package is blocked in Congress. “This is an important signal for Ukraine that the EU is behind you in the long run, until victory”Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas responded.

Orban says he received Hungarians “guarantee” money “Will not end in Ukraine”

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who lifted his veto on aid to Ukraine on Thursday, justified his change of heart by the fact that he had received “Guarantee” For the billions of euros given to Budapest and suspended by Brussels. “We were afraid that the funds owed to the Hungarians and currently frozen by the European Commission would end up in Ukraine”, he said in a video posted on his Facebook account. Gold “We got a guarantee” That this will not be the case, he added without further details, also welcomed the establishment of “Control Mechanism” On the use of Kiev’s money.

EU aid sends ‘very strong’ message to Putin, says von der Leyen

The 50 billion euro aid to Ukraine, decided on Thursday by the leaders of the 27, is a message “Too strong” For Russian President Vladimir Putin, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said. “I think this 50 billion euros over four years also sends a very strong message to Putin ahead of the second anniversary of his brutal invasion” of Ukraine, declared Ursula von der Leyen, following an extraordinary EU summit in Brussels.

Also readViktor Orbán’s influence over Europe is growing

Ukrainian intelligence chief threatened “Multiplication” Attacks on Russian soil

Ukrainian intelligence chief, Kyrylo Budanov, threatened this Thursday “Multiplication” Attacks targeting infrastructure on Russian soil, decision “useful” Or the Russians “Finally See the Reality of War”. “The number of attacks on Russian infrastructure is likely to increase. (…) I think this plan could include all of Russia’s major critical and military infrastructure.Kyrylo Boudanov suggested on Telegram. “The Russian civilian population is finally seeing the reality of war. It sees oil depots on fire, factories and factory buildings destroyed (…) all this is useful”Kyrillo justified Baudanov in a written message presenting an interview on American television CNN.

Also readRussian Bombing of Ukrainian Cities: What the Blitz on England Teaches Us

Ukraine requests US A-10 attack aircraft

Kyrylo Boudanov also speculated that the American A-10 Thunderbolt attack plane would help. “Bring on the military defeat” For Russia. They “Can significantly strengthen Ukraine’s capabilities on the front line (…) They can actually contribute to a military defeat of Russia”He mentioned these ground target attack devices with enormous reputation, he said on Telegram.

Zaporizhzhia: Employees of Ukrainian operator Energoatom denied access according to IAEA

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on Thursday it has decided to ban access to any employees of the Ukrainian operator Energoatom, a Ukrainian nuclear power plant in Zaporizhia, in the hands of Moscow’s forces. The UN body’s director general, Rafael Grossi, is expected on site next week, “The adjudicator will raise personnel issues and request information regarding this new announcement», according to a press release.

“The plant announced that no Energoatom employees would be allowed in the plant from this day.“, where now only former employees of the Ukrainian operator will workAdopted Russian nationality and signed a contract with a Russian operator», explains the IAEA. “It is important to have the necessary qualified personnel on site to ensure nuclear safety“, Mr. Grossi recalled, underlining that Europe’s largest power plant already had a workforce”drastically reduced» Since the beginning of the Russian invasion in Ukraine.

Currently, 4,500 people work under Russian authority and “940 applications are being examined”, according to figures provided to IAEA experts permanently present on site. Before the war, the plant had about 11,500 employees. In the hands of Russian troops since March 2022, the plant is at the center of the conflict: it is located in Energodar, on the banks of the Dnieper River which acts as a natural front line between the Russians and the Ukrainians. It has been targeted by fires and cut off from the electricity grid on several occasions, a precarious situation that regularly raises fears of a nuclear accident.

Russia says it has shot down 11 Ukrainian drones in border areas

The Russian Defense Ministry said it shot down 11 Ukrainian drones overnight and Thursday morning in Russian areas bordering Ukraine. “Last night, an attempt by the Kiev regime to carry out a terrorist attack with aerial drones on sites on Russian territory was foiled”.The ministry said in a statement. “Air defense intercepted and destroyed the drone over the region’s territory Belgorod (four drones) and Kursk (one drone)”He clarified.

Around 3:30 GMT, four more Ukrainian drones were destroyed over the territory of the Belgorod region and two drones were shot down over the Voronezh region, according to the same source. In recent months, Ukraine has stepped up its attacks in Russia but has generally focused on border regions such as Belgorod.

On December 30, the regional capital, Belgorod, suffered the deadliest attack on Russian soil since the start of the offensive on February 24, 2022. Twenty-five people were killed, a hundred were injured, and several hundred others were evacuated.