DIRECT. War in Ukraine: the Kremlin formalizes Xi Jinping’s visit to Russia from March 20 to 22
Poland donates four planes to Ukraine, major step in Western support
“This is a new step in Western military support for Ukraine,” notes Le Monde. It is indeed the first time that a member country of NATO has provided fighter planes to kyiv. These four MIG-29 fighter-bombers could be “quickly taken over by Kiev pilots, accustomed to flying on planes inherited from the Soviet era”, continues the daily.
Russia seeks to ‘regenerate its offensive potential’ while waiting for stock and troops
The British Ministry of Defense judges in its daily report published on Twitter that “Russia has one of the lowest rates of local offensive actions ever recorded since at least January 2023”. He judges in his note that it is probably because the Russian forces have “temporarily exhausted the combat power of the formations deployed to such an extent that even local offensive actions are not currently sustainable”, concluding that “the leaders will likely seek to regenerate the force’s offensive potential once personnel and ammunition stocks are replenished.”
Turkey should ratify Finland’s NATO membership
President Erdogan will meet his Finnish counterpart Sauli Niinisto this Friday afternoon according to the Turkish Anadolu agency. Turkey’s president said he planned to “deliver” on the promise made to Finland regarding its candidacy for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
Finland’s membership should allow the alliance to begin securing the area around the Baltic Sea to defend its Baltic members, who are often seen as potential targets of Russian aggression. Finland’s inclusion in the alliance would double the length of NATO’s border with Russia, which now accounts for only 6% of Russia’s land perimeter.
Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping will discuss their “strategic cooperation” next week
The visit, confirmed by Putin this morning, will take place from March 20-22. The two leaders are expected to discuss “deepening comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation between Russia and China” including “on the international stage”, the Kremlin said in a statement, adding that “important bilateral documents would be signed “.
A few months earlier, the Russian president had visited the Winter Olympics in Beijing. Xi and Putin then proclaimed their “limitless” friendship.
