Macron claims Putin gave him personal assurances on Ukraine | First Thing

French president's statement that Russian leader vowed not to escalate crisis met with scepticism in Kyiv. Plus, A-ha moments could trigger fast climate action

Good morning.

The French president completed a whirlwind diplomatic mission to Moscow and Kyiv on Tuesday and said he had received personal assurances from Vladimir Putin that Russia would not worsen the crisis over Ukraine.

What else happened? Six Russian warships and a submarine passed through the Dardanelles strait on Tuesday, heading towards the Black Sea from the Mediterranean. The vessels - landing ships used for amphibious assault - began arriving in the Black Sea today.

Why have Macron's comments set alarm bells ringing? The French president seems to have stuck pretty faithfully to the script he had exhaustively agreed with his Nato partners. However, after the meeting he hinted at shifts in Nato's outlook that some members say should never be made in response to military intimidation.

What are the police doing to stop the blockade? Ottawa police said on Tuesday that 23 arrests had been made in relation to the unlawful demonstrations". The deputy police chief, Steve Bell, told reporters police had immobilized many of the heavy vehicles taking part in the blockade.