Ukraine continues the moment of diplomatic offensive, after its president’s tour of four European capitals. Prime Minister Denis Shmyhal represents the country at the Council of Europe Summit in Iceland; First Lady Olena Zelenska met South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol in Seoul; and Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk is on a business trip to Norway. As far back as Kiev, a Chinese diplomatic representative was expected to discuss a political way out of the war, on the day a group of African countries announced a similar initiative.
It is unclear whether Volodymyr Zelensky had already reached Kiev on the train journey when the capital was attacked for the eighth time this month. The aim of the initiative that took him to Rome, Berlin, Paris and London was to obtain more weapons for his army to attack the invader and recapture territory, as is happening on a small scale around Bakhmut, in the east of the country. According to Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar, Ukrainian forces have recaptured about 20 km2 around Bakhmut in recent days, although opposing forces in the center have advanced. During a visit to the front, the commander of the ground forces, Oleksandr Syrskyi, said that the mercenaries entered that city “like mice in a mousetrap”.
If the means of attack are insufficient, the air defenses – at least in Kiev – have seized the opportunity to neutralize all 18 Russian missiles, including six Kinzhal, which Russia says are hypersonic, with a speed five times that. sound. Moscow, on the other hand, denies launching “that much” of Kinzhal and claims to have hit all targets and even destroyed a Patriot anti-aircraft system. According to CNN, citing a US official, the Patriot was hit, but not destroyed.
Giorgia Meloni, Olaf Scholz, Emmanuel Macron and Rishi Sunak, leaders Zelensky has met in recent days, are in Reykjavik to participate in the Council of Europe summit. It is the fourth time in almost 75 years of existence that this Strasbourg-based organization has met in this form.
A year after Russia’s expulsion and Belarus’ suspension, dignitaries from 46 countries are meeting to discuss how to help Ukraine and hold Russia legally responsible for the destruction and crimes committed in that country. coalition with fighter jets to Kiev. Talks continuing Friday at the G7 summit in Japan will continue in other ways with the leaders of Italy, Germany, France and the United Kingdom (and the EU).
Also in Asia, Ukraine’s first lady traveled to South Korea to pressure that country to change its policies after specifically asking for air defense and mine clearance systems. Despite being one of the largest arms producers (the ninth largest), it refuses to export arms and ammunition to countries at war.
More recently, President Yoon has shown openness to sending military aid, but only in response to hypothetical Russian action. “We say to everyone: give us the resources and we will kick the criminal out of our house,” Zelenska said in an interview with Yonhap news agency.
Another diplomatic initiative was announced by the South African president. Cyril Ramaphosa said he would go to Kiev and Moscow with five other African leaders “as soon as possible” to discuss a solution to the war. Pretoria, which did not condemn Russia’s actions at the UN, was accused a few days ago by the US of supplying arms to Moscow.
Chief Justice Arrested
In an unprecedented operation in Ukraine, the president of the Supreme Court has been arrested on suspicion of corruption. Vsevolod Kniaziev, 43, and another unnamed person are suspects in a $2.7 million bribery case.
According to National Anti-Corruption Office (NABU) director Semen Kryvonos, billionaire Kostiantyn Zhevago has attempted to bribe top judicial authorities to retain control of a mining company in dispute with former shareholders. Zhevago is currently in France, where he was arrested on suspicion of money laundering and embezzlement. Kiev asks for his extradition. Ukraine, a country with endemic corruption, must show results in this area in order to move closer to the European Union.
indecisive Russia
The Kremlin spokesman said his country had not yet made a decision on extending the Black Sea grain deal, which expires tomorrow, and allowed Ukraine to export more than 30 million tons of grain. “There are many unanswered questions about our part of the agreement,” said Dmitri Peskov. Moscow laments the knock-on effects of Western sanctions on shipping and insurance companies, as well as banks.
American tanks in Germany
The M1 Abrams tanks that the United States promised to send to Ukraine at the same time Germany announced it was sending its Leopards have already arrived on German soil. The 31 main battle tanks are located at the US military base in Grafenwohr, in Bavaria, where training of 250 Ukrainians is expected to begin over two and a half months in the coming weeks. Washington had said the tanks would not arrive in Ukraine until the fall, but delivery could theoretically be brought forward.
Source: DN
