The Interview

In an interview with FRANCE 24, Ukraine's Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova discussed the alleged war crimes committed by the Russian military in Ukraine. Venediktova warned that she expects to find "evidence of genocide" in the besieged eastern city of Mariupol. She also warned that "huge numbers of people" are being deported to Russia, including children. The prosecutor general said that "sexual crimes" have taken place in all occupied areas of Ukraine and have targeted women, including even elderly women, but also men and children. Venediktova explained that more than 7,000 war crimes investigations have already been opened.

In an interview with FRANCE 24, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba urged France and President Emmanuel Macron to call atrocities committed by Russian forces in Ukraine a "genocide”. Macron earlier this week refused to use the term, a decision that Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky called "painful". Kuleba welcomed the latest weapons deliveries from Kyiv's international partners, especially from the US, but urged Germany to supply Ukraine with heavy weapons. The top diplomat also conceded that the future of the war will be decided "on the battleground" and not at the negotiating table.

In an interview with FRANCE 24, Russian theatre and film director Kirill Serebrennikov said that what was happening in Ukraine is indeed "a war" and that Russia "quite obviously" started it. In his native Russia, the conflict is being called a "special military operation" and describing it as a war is against the law. Serebrennikov said the "tragedy" in Ukraine breaks his heart and expressed concern that the war could transform into "hatred" [...] and destroy our hearts, our lives, our careers, everything". The director also criticised the boycott of Russian artists by Western countries.

Indian mystic and visionary Sadhguru is making a 100-day motorbike journey from Europe to India to raise awareness of soil erosion. He told FRANCE 24's Delano D'Souza why he feels his mission is important for humankind. With more than half of agricultural soils are already degraded, Sadhguru warned that "there is no alternative to soil". He also described his own personal journey, saying that he does not see himself as a guru.

The town of Bucha has become the "symbol" of massacres by Russian troops and "compromise with Russia is impossible after Bucha", Ukraine's former president Petro Poroshenko told FRANCE 24 in an interview from Kyiv. Poroshenko added that Vladimir Putin "wants to have all of us dead", calling the Russian leader "the devil". He also called for an unconditional ceasefire before any talks, a stance currently at odds with the official Ukrainian position.

Exiled Russian dissident Ilya Ponomarev gave an interview to FRANCE 24 from Kyiv. The former Russian lawmaker was the only member of the Douma to vote against the annexation of Crimea back in 2014 and now lives in Ukraine. He predicted that "Putin will be gone soon", arguing that the Russian president has "definitely lost the war" in Ukraine and that "no dictator who has lost a war can stay in power". Asked about the suspected war crimes in Bucha that have shocked the world, Ponomarev claimed that the killings were most likely the results of "panic" by retreating Russian forces, rather than carefully planned.

In an interview with FRANCE 24 and RFI on Wednesday, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said talks between Russian and Ukrainian envoys had led to various declarations but "no action", adding that it was time Russia made some moves toward conciliation. He also warned of an "appalling" situation unfolding in the port city of Mariupol in southern Ukraine.

Leonid Volkov, a top aide to jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, spoke to FRANCE 24 from the Lithuanian capital Vilnius on Tuesday. He expressed concern about the safety of his boss, who was recently sentenced to nine more years in prison, saying that the world “should keep an eye on him”.

Back in June 2021, Switzerland sentenced Liberian warlord Alieu Kosiah to 20 years in prison for war crimes. Speaking to FRANCE 24, Alain Werner, a Swiss lawyer and the director of the NGO Civitas Maxima, hailed a "historic" verdict for both Liberia and Switzerland. He also shared his thoughts on international justice more broadly, almost two decades after the start of the International Criminal Court.

Igor Zhovkva is the deputy head of the office of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and also his chief diplomatic adviser. In an interview with FRANCE 24, Zhovkva underlined Zelensky's willingness to talk to Russian President Vladimir Putin in a bid to end the war in Ukraine, but stressed that Russia had until now rejected such an offer. Zhovkva also said that Ukraine wants "guarantees" from the United States and major European powers regarding its future security.