“We know that the Russians want and can attack the entire territory of Ukraine.” This is the warning issued by Étienne de Poncins, French ambassador to Ukraine, guest this Saturday night on BFMTV on the 150th day of the conflict. A statement that comes a few hours after new Russian attacks against the port of Odessa, a strategic city on the Black Sea, but at the center of the agreement signed the day before on the resumption of cereals blocked by the conflict.
“The Russians said that they would not focus only on Donbass,” continues the diplomat, echoing the statements of the head of Russian diplomacy who stated that Russia is no longer focused “only” on the east of the country.
There is “risk of bombing throughout Ukraine”
“The Russians have not given up on their goals,” explains Étienne de Poncins, adding that Odessa “is one of them.” This Black Sea city was a favorite target of the Kremlin at the beginning of the conflict. It is the largest city and the most important port on the entire Black Sea coast and therefore crucial for trade.
“The Russians are targeting Odessa to make the connection with their troops in Transnistria”, in neighboring Moldova, the ambassador judges.
According to him, these attacks are not necessarily a surprise since there is “a risk of bombing throughout Ukraine from February 24”.
“A bad sign” for the grain deal
If the Kremlin denies being at the origin of the shootings, it intervenes the day after the signing of an agreement aimed at resuming Ukrainian grain exports, given the risk of shortages in the rest of the world. “It’s a bad sign,” laments Étienne de Poncins on our antenna.
For the French ambassador to Ukraine, these attacks do not mean that it is impossible to implement the agreement, just as its implementation will not prevent the bombings in Odessa.
Ukrainians ‘can win the war’
“We must prepare ourselves for a long war”, repeats Étienne de Poncins since “neither of the two adversaries wants to surrender”. The opportunity to salute the “resistance” and “resilience” of the Ukrainian people:
“The Ukrainians are not willing to give up even an inch of their territory (…). They can win the war or at least stop the Russian offensive, they have already done it”, greets our interlocutor.
It remains to be seen whether the Ukrainian forces will be able to retake the occupied territories.
Source: BFM TV
