International press review
In the spotlight: Westerners gathered in Brussels to counter the Russian offensive in Ukraine
Audio 05:09
In the foreground: US President Joe Biden (L) British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, In the background Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi (L) and French President Emmanuel Macron on March 24 in Brussels.
AP - Thibault Camus
By: Véronique Rigolet Follow
4 mins
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This is the objective of this "
diplomatic marathon
", which opens in Brussels under the leadership of Joe Biden "
to display the unity of Westerners and maintain pressure on Russia
", with a new set of sanctions, explains the
Guardian after a month of an "
extremely brutal
" invasion
of Ukraine.
From the EU summit to the G7, via the NATO summit, European and allied leaders will consult each other while keeping in mind the painful images of “
surrounded Ukrainian cities, relentlessly pounded by Russian forces
”, “
the ghosts of Mariupol, the martyr city
”, headline
La Repubblica
which, as all of the international press reports “
the condemnation of the United States
”, which now accuses “
the Russian troops of war crimes”
.
"
But increasing the pressure on the Kremlin as the atrocities in Ukraine worsen is now proving more complicated
", analyzes the
Guardian
like
El Pais
which underlines that after the very "
strong concerted sanctions
" taken since the start of the war "
Europe refuses to completely corner Putin's regime by imposing a total or partial embargo on Russian energy imports
".
An embargo which would be "
yet decisive
" to bring Putin to his knees, still regrets the Spanish daily.
More lenient, the
Wall Street Journal
stresses for its part "
the extreme dependence of Germany and many Europeans on Russian oil and gas
”.
"
Joe Biden should therefore not insist on the question
", also argues the
Guardian
, which quotes one of the American president's advisers for whom the emphasis will be placed "
on new sanctions, but above all on a stricter application of the already existing sanctions
”.
►
To read also: War in Ukraine: NATO equips its forces against a nuclear, chemical or biological attack
Russia imposes payment in rubles for gas deliveries
No more payments in dollars or euros – in response to Western sanctions, the Kremlin counterattacks by announcing that Russia “
will now only accept rubles for payment of oil and gas imports
”, reports the
Suddeutsche Zeitung
, way to sanction "
hostile states
", mainly European countries "
which have frozen Russian assets in recent weeks
".
“
Beyond the political coup, the Kremlin thus aims to open the currency tap that Western sanctions have closed
,” explains
El Pais
.
“
A way to revive the completely decimated Russian currency
”, also underlines the
Guardian
which explains "
that by paying in roubles, the Europeans will support the course of the Russian currency and will in fact cancel part of the effects of the sanctions
".
The German government is already denouncing "
a breach of contract
", underlines the
Suddeutsche Zeitung
, a "
real provocation against Germany
", and the Europeans.
Putin more and more isolated, after the departure of influential advisers
"
As Russia stalls in Ukraine, dissent settles on Putin's leadership
", headlines the
New York Times
which, like all the international press, reports the departure of the influential Anatoly Chubaïs, former Minister of the Economy, “
father of post-Soviet privatizations
” who therefore “
left his post as Putin's special envoy for the Climate
”, explains the
Financial Times
because
of “his opposition to the war
”.
"
He is the highest official to flee Russia since the invasion of Ukraine
," notes
El Pais
, a departure that comes "
just a few days after that of former Deputy Prime Minister Arkadi Dvorkovich
,” adds the
Times
, which also reports “
the mysterious disappearance of powerful Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of Staff Valery Guerasimov.
” , who have not been seen in public for 15 days.
Disappearance which comes at a time when “
Putin would be furious with the security services
– says the
Times
again – “
because they would not have provided reliable information on his decision to send troops to Ukraine
”.
►
To read also: Russia: Anatoly Chubais resigned from his post as Kremlin adviser and left the country
Death at 84 of Madeleine Albright, America's first female Secretary of State
Unanimous tribute from politicians and the international press to salute the former head of American diplomacy.
"
A force that reversed the course of history
," said Joe Biden.
"
Madeleine Albright, who fled Czechoslovakia as a child, suffered Nazi and Communist repression
", underlines the
Washington Post
before becoming "
a brilliant analyst of world affairs
".
Just a month ago, she already denounced "
Putin's historic fault
", in a column republished today by the
New York Times
where she condemned in advance an invasion which would materialize "
Putin's infamy by leaving his country isolated, economically crippled and strategically vulnerable to a stronger and more united Western Alliance
.
►
To read also: Madeleine Albright, first female US Secretary of State, dies at 84
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