The Interview

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”.

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.

In an extraordinary show of dissent, journalist Marina Ovsyannikova held up an anti-war poster on Russian state television on Monday before being arrested, fined and later released by authorities. In an interview with FRANCE 24, she spoke out against Russian state "propaganda" and called for an end to the "fratricidal" war in Ukraine.

Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), spoke to FRANCE 24 about the serious concerns regarding the safety of Ukraine’s 15 nuclear plants following Russia’s invasion. Grossi said he has had constructive talks with the warring sides, who both agree that “something needs to be done” to safeguard the safety of the plants, but that the IAEA is still working on an agreement to ensure that the risk “of a nuclear accident is completely excluded”.

The Klitschko brothers, Vitali and Wladimir, spoke to FRANCE 24 from Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital now surrounded by Russian forces. The brothers called on the West to support Ukraine in any way possible, whether it be through stronger sanctions against the Russians or by sending military equipment. For them, the war in Ukraine goes beyond the country's borders: they say they are fighting to protect Europe, and to protect its democratic values.

In an interview with FRANCE 24, Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna confirmed an attack from Russian forces on a children's hospital in the city of Mariupol, saying "there is no doubt this has been a targeted attack". She also warned that Russia had shut off the Chernobyl nuclear plant and claimed that this was part of a series of reckless actions that increase the threat of a nuclear accident.

Estonian Foreign Minister Eva-Maria Liimets granted an interview to FRANCE 24. Her country is one of the five EU member states that border Russia. Liimets explained why Estonia strongly supports Ukraine’s bid to join the EU. She also warned that "we have to be very cautious" in talks with Russia, adding that "we have to be prepared for long-term instability in Europe" as a result of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

In an interview with FRANCE 24, European Commission Vice-President Maros Sefcovic condemned Russia's attack on Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant as "absolutely irresponsible" and called the Russian invasion of Ukraine an "absolutely senseless war". Sefcovic also welcomed Ukraine's bid for EU membership, saying that Ukrainians are "dying for European values […] we want them in".

In an interview with FRANCE 24, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court discussed the court's investigation into possible war crimes committed during Russia's war in Ukraine. Karim Khan expressed concern about civilians being targeted in Ukraine, warning that this constituted "a crime". Asked about possible ICC proceedings against Russian President Vladimir Putin himself, Khan said: "We'll see: is there individual criminal responsibility? And if there is, we will take the necessary action".