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Live: Biden to meet eastern NATO allies as Putin scraps participation in nuclear pact EU

US President Joe Biden meets leaders of NATO’s eastern flank on Wednesday to show support for their security after Moscow suspended a landmark nuclear arms control treaty. Biden arrived in Warsaw after a surprise visit to Kyiv just days ahead of the anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. Follow FRANCE 24’s live blog for all the latest developments on the war in Ukraine. All times are Paris time (GMT+1).

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Message to Moscow: Biden’s surprise wartime visit to Kyiv EU

The president of the United States has visited Kyiv ahead of the first anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine. We ask about the drama and the logistics of a visit kept secret until Joe Biden was on the ground, one punctuated by air raid sirens. How different from a year ago when Biden was derided on the world stage over the messy US pullout from Afghanistan? What standing does the US have today?

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Kosovo’s PM ‘very optimistic’ that agreement with Serbia could happen this year EU

FRANCE 24 spoke to Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti, as Kosovo celebrates 15 years of independence. Kurti is due to meet Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic in Brussels on February 27 and said he was “very optimistic” that an agreement leading to full normalisation between the two countries could happen “this year”. He regretted that relations between Kosovo and Serbia “are not normal” and claimed Belgrade isolated itself by “not delinking (…) from the Kremlin”.

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Finnish President Sauli Niinisto: ‘We are not afraid of Russia’ EU

Finnish President Sauli Niinisto spoke with FRANCE 24’s Marc Perelman during the Munich Security Conference. The president discussed Finland’s plans to join NATO, whether Western leaders misjudged Russian President Vladimir Putin prior to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and whether there is a risk that Russian military action will expand further into Europe.

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Live: China ‘considering’ supplying weapons to Russia, US warns EU

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Sunday that China was considering providing weapons including ammunition to Russia in its war against Ukraine. Earlier on Sunday, France said it will begin delivering the armoured vehicles it has promised Ukraine by next weekend. European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said in a speech at the Munich Security Conference that the West must provide more military aid to Ukraine and speed up its delivery. Follow our live blog for all the latest developments. All times are Paris time (GMT+1).

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Odesa, a defiant city on the strategic shores of the Black Sea EU

A seaside resort with a rich multicultural past, Odesa was one of the early targets of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February, 2022. But the port city mounted its defenses and the mayor, who once had a reputation for being pro-Russian, transformed himself into an uncompromising Ukrainian patriot. With its vital port again functioning – albeit in slow motion – the city keeps up its resistance as it awaits better days.

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Kharkiv’s year of war: ‘A bomb can fall on your home any time – and your life is over’ EU

Ukraine’s northeastern city of Kharkiv put up a fierce resistance when Moscow’s forces launched their full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022. Russian troops eventually withdrew back to their side of the border, 40 kilometres north of Ukraine’s second largest city. But one year on, the people of Kharkiv are still living under the constant threat of Russian missile strikes.

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The EU’s naivety about global competition is over: France’s secretary of state for Europe (Part 1) EU

Europe is becoming more aware of itself as an economic and trading power – that’s the message from France’s secretary of state for European affairs, Laurence Boone. She talks about the new tools the EU has given itself to take on unfair competition, especially from Chinese companies, but she also downplays the warnings of a possible conflict with the United States over subsidies. Boone also outlines the latest moves when it comes to sanctions on Russia and EU support for Ukraine and Moldova.

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Iceland: A feminist paradise? EU

Is Iceland the best place to be a woman? Our reporter visits the island nation which prides itself on being a champion of feminism, to see if it is a gender equality paradise. Also an end to sexism in toy advertisements in Spain after its government introduces a code of ethics which prevents ads from declaring a toy is for a particular gender. Plus we meet the South African visual activist who’s determined to record the country’s queer history through art and photography.

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