
MOSCOW, Feb 21Russian President Vladimir Putin and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron had another telephone conversation on the situation in Ukraine, Dmitry Peskov, press secretary of the head of the Russian state, said. Before that, they talked on Sunday. «Yesterday, around 1 a.m., on the initiative of <…> Macron, the second telephone conversation of the leaders of Russia and France took place in a day. <…> The presidents continued to discuss the situation around Ukraine,» the Kremlin spokesman said. According to him, the leaders «emphasized the need to continue the dialogue between foreign ministries and political advisers.» «Contacts between Russia and France at the level of foreign ministers are also possible in the near future,» Peskov added. The telephone conversation on Sunday afternoon took an hour and 45 minutes. Then the parties agreed to work on organizing a meeting of the trilateral working group on Ukraine in the coming hours, the Elysee Palace reported.February 19, 11:15 InfographicHow the situation in Donbas developedInfographicViewThe conflict in eastern Ukraine has been going on for eight years, during which time, according to the UN, more than 13,000 people have become victims, and about 44,000 more have suffered. De-escalation is being discussed at contact group meetings. The Minsk agreements are taken as a basis, which provide for a constitutional reform, a ceasefire and the withdrawal of heavy weapons from the line of contact. At the same time, the Ukrainian authorities have now concentrated most of the army on the border with the self-proclaimed DPR and LPR and regularly fire on militias, including using prohibited equipment . Tensions in the Donbass are fueled by the United States and other NATO countries, which supply Ukraine with weapons and military instructors. Moscow has repeatedly urged to stop pumping the region with weapons, as this could provoke Kiev into military adventures. In recent days, the situation on the line of contact has seriously escalated, the DPR and LPR began to evacuate civilians to Russian regions and announced a general mobilization.The development of the situation in the Donbass — in the online report >>Shooting, explosions and evacuation of refugees. What is happening in the Donbass
This week the situation on the line of contact has seriously deteriorated. The DPR and LPR report increased shelling by the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
On the photo: a car damaged by an explosion in the center of Donetsk.
1 of 12
This week, the situation on the line of contact has seriously deteriorated. The DPR and LPR report increased shelling by the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
In the photo: a car damaged by an explosion in the center of Donetsk.
Because of the threat of invasion from Kiev, the DPR and The LPR began the evacuation of citizens to the Rostov region. First of all, this applies to women, children and the elderly.
2 of 12
Due to the threat of invasion from Kiev, the DPR and LPR began the evacuation of citizens to the Rostov region. First of all, this applies to women, children and the elderly.
Explosions occurred on one of the gas pipelines in Lugansk. "Luganskgaz" called them Ukrainian sabotage. On February 18, unidentified persons also blew up the car of the head of the People's Militia Department of the DPR.
3 of 12
Explosions occurred on one of the gas pipelines in Lugansk. "Luganskgaz" called them Ukrainian sabotage. On February 18, unidentified persons also blew up the car of the head of the People's Militia Department of the DPR.
On the photo: mass evacuation of civilians from the Donetsk People's Republic.
4 of 12
On the photo: mass evacuation of civilians from the Donetsk People's Republic.
The head of the DPR, Denis Pushilin, said that President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky could soon order the military to go on the offensive and implement a plan to invade the territory of the DPR and LPR.
6 out of 12
More than 13,500 people have already been evacuated from the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic.
< p> The heads of the DPR and LPR announced a general mobilization.
7 of 12
The heads of the DPR and LPR announced a general mobilization.
"People's militia, the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, emergency services are ready to rebuff Ukraine. Whatever the scenario, events develop, we will be able to contain the aggression of Kiev. We must unite our efforts",” Pushilin said.
8 of 12< p>"People's militia, the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, emergency services are ready to repulse Ukraine. Whatever the scenario, events develop, we will be able to contain the aggression of Kiev. We must combine all efforts", said Pushilin.
143 temporary accommodation centers have been prepared in the Rostov region.
9 out of 12
143 temporary accommodation centers have been prepared in the Rostov region.
On the photo: a law enforcement officer of the DPR communicates with the driver at the checkpoint "Uspenka" in the Donetsk region.
10 of 12
On the photo: a DPR law enforcement officer talking to a driver at a checkpoint " ;Uspenka" in the Donetsk region.
According to DPR intelligence, Kiev's goal is to squeeze the Russian-speaking population into Russia and gain control over the entire territory of Donbass.
11 of 12
According to DPR intelligence, Kiev's goal is to squeeze the Russian-speaking population into Russia and gain control over the entire territory of Donbass.
The DPR also stated that the Ukrainian security forces expect a massive strike of artillery, aircraft, helicopters and drones to destroy military and civilian facilities, as well as to block Donetsk, Luhansk, Gorlovka and Alchevsk.
12 of 12
The DPR also stated that the Ukrainian security forces are counting on a massive strike of artillery, aircraft, helicopters and drones to destroy military and civilian facilities, as well as to block Donetsk, Luhansk, Gorlovka and Alchevsk.
1 of 12
This week, the situation on the line of contact has seriously deteriorated. The DPR and LPR report increased shelling by the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
On the photo: a car damaged by an explosion in the center of Donetsk.
2 of 12
Because of the threat of invasion from the Kiev, the DPR and LPR began the evacuation of citizens to the Rostov region. First of all, this applies to women, children and the elderly.
3 of 12
Explosions occurred on one of the gas pipelines in Lugansk. "Luganskgaz" called them Ukrainian sabotage. On February 18, unidentified persons also blew up the car of the head of the People's Militia Department of the DPR.
4 of 12
On the photo: mass evacuation of civilians from the Donetsk People's Republic.
5 of 12
The head of the DPR, Denis Pushilin, said that President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky could soon order the military to go on the offensive and implement a plan to invade the territory of the DPR and LPR.
6 of 12
More than 13.5 thousand people have already been evacuated from the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic.
7 of 12
The heads of the DPR and LPR announced a general mobilization.
8 of 12
"The People's Militia, the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, emergency services are ready to rebuff Ukraine. Whatever the scenario, events develop, we will be able to contain the aggression of Kiev. We must combine all efforts", — said Pushilin.
9 out of 12
143 temporary accommodation centers have been prepared in the Rostov region.
10 from 12
In the photo: a law enforcement officer of the DPR communicates with the driver at the checkpoint "Uspenka" in the Donetsk region.
11 out of 12
According to DPR intelligence, Kiev’s goal is to squeeze the Russian-speaking population into Russia and gain control over the entire territory of Donbass.
12 out of 12
In the DPR, too stated that the Ukrainian security forces expect a massive strike of artillery, aircraft, helicopters and drones to destroy military and civilian facilities, as well as to block Donetsk, Luhansk, Gorlovka and Alchevsk.
Published: Olga Fomchenkova

