War in Ukraine: Vladimir Putin "made a complete miscalculation", according to Joe Biden

Russia claimed responsibility on Tuesday for new "massive" strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure for which the G7, meeting urgently, promised to "hold to account" Russian President Vladimir Putin. At the UN, the United States is leading an all-out offensive to rally as many countries as possible to adopt a resolution, currently under discussion, condemning the annexation of Ukrainian regions by Moscow.

Faced with a new escalation in the war at the start of the week, France announced that it would strengthen its military presence on NATO's eastern flank in the coming weeks, with additional troops equipped with tanks and armored vehicles.

Already on Monday, Russian bombardments on a scale unmatched for months had hit kyiv and other cities in Ukraine, killing at least 19 people and injuring 105 and sparking an international outcry. On Tuesday, Russia, which has suffered many military setbacks recently, continued its firing, on a smaller scale, striking in particular very far from the front the energy installations in western Ukraine.

"Since this morning, 28 enemy missiles have been launched, 20 of which have been shot down. More than 15 drones, mainly Iranian attack drones, almost all of them have been shot down," Ukrainian President Volodymyr said in his evening address. Zelensky. The Head of State also hoped for "progress from our partners on the issue of anti-aircraft and anti-missile defences". The Ukrainian General Staff reported Russian air strikes, cruise missiles and multiple rocket launchers on more than 20 towns and villages across the country.

Deploring, in a press release, "the Russian strategy of deliberate escalation", the G7 condemned "in the most vehement possible way" these "indiscriminate attacks against innocent civilian populations", which are "a war crime". The G7 promises to "hold President Vladimir Putin to account".

"In view of the situation on the eastern flank of NATO, in view of the violence of the fighting in Ukraine, in this war led by the Russian Federation, the President of the Republic has decided to enhance our defensive posture", added argues, Tuesday, the French Minister of the Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu during a hearing before the Defense Committee of the Senate. As part of a NATO mission in Romania, currently 350 French soldiers strong, but also Belgians and Dutch, France intends to deploy in the coming weeks a dozen armored infantry vehicles (VBCI) and a dozen of Leclerc tanks in this country, announced Mr. Lecornu.

This announcement comes after two days of heavy shelling in Ukraine by the Russian army, carried out "against civilians and civilian infrastructure", according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who estimated that Vladimir Putin still had the means for a "escalation". In a tweet written in French, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis welcomed "an important gesture (...), a sign of solidarity between the allies".

"I think he's a rational person who clearly misjudged" the situation, US President Joe Biden said of Vladimir Putin in an interview with CNN. "He thought he was going to be welcomed with open arms (...) and I think he made a complete miscalculation," he added of his Russian counterpart.

Asked about the possibility of meeting the Russian president at the next G20 summit, Joe Biden said he had "no intention of doing so", while specifying that "it depends (had)" on what his counterpart wishes to speak. Asked about the possibility of Vladimir Putin using nuclear weapons, Joe Biden replied: "I don't think he will. But I think it's irresponsible of him to talk about it".

"We believe the time for neutrality is past," State Department spokesman Ned Price said Tuesday. "There can't be neutrality in a situation like this," he told reporters.

The member countries of the UN are debating in the General Assembly a resolution presented by Ukraine and co-drafted by the European Union, which the West hopes will make it possible to demonstrate the isolation of Russia and the President Vladimir Putin on the international stage. According to diplomatic sources, a vote could take place on Wednesday or "probably Thursday".

In the meantime, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is increasing calls to foreign leaders in order to rally as many countries as possible. He had already pleaded for the adoption of this resolution during a tour of Latin America last week, in Colombia, Chile and Peru.