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THE ESSENTIALS

  • Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu on Sunday hailed "strong" ties with Moscow during a meeting with President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin. He added that relations between Russia and China have "already entered a new era."
  • Vladimir Putin signed Friday a law facilitating the mobilization of Russians in the army by sending the summons electronically, while they had to be delivered by hand until now. The text provides for sanctions for citizens who refuse to be summoned.
  • On the occasion of Orthodox Easter, the Russian paramilitary group Wagner released 130 Ukrainian prisoners

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06:50: The head of Ukrainian diplomacy expected in Iraq

Dmytro Kuleba, head of Ukrainian diplomacy, is expected this Monday in Baghdad for his first visit to Iraq since the beginning of the conflict in his country. The minister is scheduled to meet with his Iraqi counterpart Fouad Hussein and Prime Minister Mohamed Chia Al-Sudani.

06:45: Beijing's ambivalent game

During his visit to the Kremlin, Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu conveyed President Xi Jinping's "cordial greetings" to Vladimir Putin. Li Shangfu's visit to Russia, which is scheduled to last until April 19, comes after Xi Jinping's visit to Moscow in March. At this summit, the two presidents had displayed their good understanding, posing as strategic partners determined to resist American hegemonism.

Since the beginning of the Russian offensive in Ukraine, Beijing has said it is officially neutral and has never publicly condemned Moscow. Xi Jinping has never spoken to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. However, at the end of February, China published its 12-point position on the Ukrainian crisis, in which it formally called for respect for the sovereignty of all countries - including Ukraine. Firmly opposed to any attack on civilians, Chinese diplomacy also advocates peace talks and urges stakeholders not to use nuclear, bacteriological or chemical weapons.

06h30 : Welcome to this new Live

Hello everyone. As every day, the editorial staff of 20 Minutes is mobilized to give you the latest information on the conflict. Yesterday, Vladimir Putin was once again able to highlight Beijing's support for him. Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu personally came to the Kremlin, where he was received by the Russian president. "We have very strong ties, which go beyond the military-political alliances of the Cold War era" and are "very stable," the minister said during the meeting, which was broadcast on Russian television.

"This is my first visit abroad since I took office as defence minister. I specifically chose Russia, in order to emphasize the special nature and strategic importance of our bilateral relations," he also insisted. His visit is scheduled to last until April 19.

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