Photo : AFP
Photo : AFP
War in Ukraine: Days 584 & 585
By Padmashree Anandhan
War on the Ground
On 01 October, Deutsche Welle reported on the exit of three cargo ships with agricultural products of 127,000 tones from Ukraine’s port. According to the report, the products were for China, Spain, and Egypt through the established humanitarian corridor in Black Sea.
On 01 October, IMF announced to hold meeting in Kyiv to discuss on a new finance programe for Ukraine. The programe is aimed to resolve the issues relating to balance of payment, debt sustainability and reforms to help Ukraine’s economic recovery. According to Ukraine’s economic minister, after a fall of 29.1 per cent in GDP in 2022, 19.5 per cent increase was observed in the GDP in 2023.
On 30 September, in an address Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine’s President highlighted the priority of Ukraine to win the war, and provide peace through cooperation. The forum held by Ukraine was attended by 250 defence companies, and 30 countries. He said: “We are interested in localizing the production of equipment necessary for our defense... and advanced defense systems used by our soldiers that give Ukraine the best results at the front today.”
The Moscow View
Claims by Russia
On 01 October, RT reported on the accumulating shipping containers from China in Russia due to increased trade. According to the report, close to 150,000 excess containers are present, but in terms of export into China from Russia was less. This has resulted in impact of container logistic businesses due to varied demand and supply. On the same Russia’s largest shipping company Fesco announced its new contract with one of Asia’s railway group which plans to monitor “China-Russia-China” shippers to expand its partnership. Since 2022, the trade between both has increased by 37 per cent.
On 30 September, Vladimir Putin, Russia’s President claimed that the people in four annexed districts, Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia had confirmed to be part of Russia. He argued that the war saved people from “nationalist leaders of Kyiv.”
On 30 September, Russia’s defence ministry claimed on destroying missiles launched in the Belgorod area. According to the report, nine missiles were shot down in Belgorod.
The West View
Responses from the US and Europe
On 01 October, Joe Biden, US President maintains a strong stance of support to Ukraine uninterruptedly. The statement comes after a deal was passed quickly on 30 September and it excluded assistance package to Ukraine. It was due to negotiation between the Republican and Democrats as resistance from the Republicans for military assistance to Ukraine increases.
On 30 September, Switzerland’s foreign minister announced the plan to help Ukraine in mine clearance operations with USD 100 million. According to the minister, only military aid remains out due to its neutrality policy, but it is “generous” in humanitarian aid. The plan is yet to be approved by the parliament and can be implemented only upon cease in hostilities.
On 01 October, NATO announced the deployment of surveillance aircraft in Lithuania. The agenda will be to monitor Russia’s military activity in the border zone and the aircraft is expected to detect missiles 100 kilometers away, to help in early warning. On 30 September, during the forum held in Ukraine, Jens Stoltenberg, NATOs Secretary General stressed the need for support for Ukraine and discussed the steps to improve NATO’s support.
On 30 September, Romania’s defence ministry claimed its findings on breach of airspace in a Russian drone attack towards Ukraine. According to the report, the army’s surveillance radar detected an unauthorized signal in its national airspace.
References
“Ukraine updates: Borrell visits Odesa, pledges support,” 30 September 2023
“Romania says possible airspace breach,” ansa.it, 30 September 2023
Jeff Stein, John Hudson, Ellen Francis, Serhiy Morgunov and Justine McDaniel, “Ukraine live briefing: U.S. government shutdown averted but Ukraine aid not included; Russia may have breached airspace, Romania says,” The Washington Post, 30 September 2023
Hanna Arhirova, “Ukraine hosts a defense industry forum seeking to ramp up weapons production for the war,” 30 September 2023
“Russia-Ukraine war updates: Evacuations ordered after Russian attacks,” Al Jazeera, 30 September 2023
“Video message on the occasion of the Day of Reunification of the DPR, LPR, Zaporozhye and Kherson regions with Russia,” Kremlin.ru, 30 September 2023
“Ukraine updates: Biden reassures Kyiv of US support,” Deutsche Welle, 01 October 2023
“Ukraine: Statement at the start of the staff visit in Kyiv, October 2023,” imf.org, 01 October 2023
“Russia can’t keep up with inflow of Chinese imports – Bloomberg,” RT, 01 October 2023