The Russian invasion

The Russian invasion|The response of the outside world. Vladimir Putin in conversation with Emmanuel Macron on February 7, 2022. AP  

 

Johnson's former adviser: He called Macron "cunt" 

 

During the run-up to Russia's large-scale invasion of Ukraine, the then Prime Minister of Great Britain was very angry with French President Emmanuel Macron. That is what Johnson's former advisor Guto Harri says according to AFP. 

 

Johnson was irritated by Macron's meetings with Putin before the war and his criticism of Britain not taking in enough refugees when the war began. 

 

According to Harri, Johnson is said to have called Macron a "cunt" and a "lismer".  

 

- We need to hump the frogs properly. I'm going to have to knock him out, Johnson is said to have said according to Harri.

 

 

 

The Russian Invasion|The Battles

Analysis: Confounding Ukraine? Maybe that's the plan

There has long been speculation that Ukraine will launch a fierce counterattack against Russia in the spring. But now that spring is here, Ukraine seems to be carrying out only a few minor attacks. CNN's Nick Paton Walsh writes in an analysis that the attacks should be seen as indications that something bigger is about to happen.  

He also writes that it is completely understandable if you as an outsider get confused, as it can be an important part of the plan. 

"The purpose of this confusion is clearly to keep Moscow off balance, unable to judge whether each new attack is the beginning of the offensive or just a single attack," he writes. 

El País' Laura Navarro Soler and Luis Sevillano Pires write in their analysis that it may take until mid-June before the offensive takes off at full speed. They write that there are advantages to striking from several sides at the same time, as was done when large parts of Kharkiv were liberated last winter. 

"It forces the Russian military to redeploy its troops and use up ammunition," they write.