Photo : Reuters
Photo : Reuters
By Ken B Varghese
WAR ON THE GROUND
On 16 May, Ukraine accused Russia of killing and arresting civilians in the northeastern Kharkiv area in Volchansk town where the Russian forces conducted a ground assault earlier. Igor Klymenko, Interior Minister of Ukraine said: “Russians are taking the civilians as prisoners.” According to the report from Ukraine intelligence, the Russian military was attempting to gain control not allowing the local residents to evacuate and began abducting people and driving them to basements. In response, regional police had launched an investigation regarding on the “war crime.” Nearly 9000 people have been evacuated from Ukraine since the ground assault by the Russians. In February 2022, some areas of Ukraine were taken control by the Russians forces, and has been charged with murdering the civilians.
THE MOSCOW VIEW
Claims by Russia
On 16 May, RT reported on the West warned to IMF on seizing Russia’s money could result in undermining the global monetary system. The UK, the US and the EU had blocked an estimate of USD 300 billion in assets that belong to the Russian Central Bank since the start of the Ukraine conflict. While the US and some of the EU countries have suggested confiscation of these assets to finance the war in Ukraine and future development. Remaining countries were against it as such a move could tighten EUR, but rest of the west proposed to appropriate only the interest on the assets which could lead to legal difficulties. According to Julie Kozak, IMF spokeswoman: “It's important for the fund that any action taken have sufficient legal basis and does not undermine the functioning of the international monetary system.” When asked about the plans for the Russian frozen assets, the IMF has repeatedly warned told the western nation to be cautious with Russian assets. This has caused a rift in the G7 and EU political Elite. Out of USD 300 billion of the Russian frozen assets, the US holds only USD six billion. While Russia has repeatedly warned on seizing the funds as a theft and risk of serious action taken.
On 16th May, Putin and Xi opposed the seizure of Russian assets by the west. In the joint statement following the meeting: “Condemn initiative aimed at seizing foreign countries assets and property, and underline such countries' right to apply retaliatory measures in accordance with the international law.” Russia and China pledged to provide mutual protection to each other foreign property. They also formed a document to describe the practice of confiscating other nation’s financial resources as going through the counters to established legal norms. Putin's first state visit since he was sworn in as president the fifth time. While speaking with Putin, Xi described ties between China and Russia as a “model of relations between large power and neighbouring states, characterised by mutual respect, friendship and mutual benefit. Russia also made a statement that if the Russian assets are confiscated.”
On 16 May, RT reported on Maria Zakharova, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson statement on Russian authorities not recruiting Indians to sign the contracts to join the Russian military. This was in response to the question asked by the Indian media regarding the video of Indians allegedly deployed to the war zone of the fight between Russia and Ukraine, Maria also stated that she does not have any information regarding these videos. She added: “As for recruitment, none of the officials are involved in this.” She added that Russia will look into this information. Earlier, India Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested four people who are involved in a human trafficking network activity across India, primarily targeting gullible youth on the promise of offering high pay check jobs abroad. Thes traffickers have been operating as an organisation network and were luring young Indian nationals through social media and also through their local agents for highly paid jobs in Russia and that recruited people who hoped to get better jobs would be later trained and deployed to the combat zone against their wishes. According to the investigation, the human trafficking network is spread over different states in India and beyond. One of the main accused was identified as Nijil Jobi Bensam working on a contract basis as a translator. He was believed to be one of the main members in the network which recruits Indians in the Russian military.
THE WEST VIEW
Responses of the US and Europe
On 16 May, the US Department of State announced sanctions on five Russia based individuals and entities. The move comes as these entities were linked to the transfer of military equipment and components between the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and Russia in violation of the UN arms sanction on the DPRK. It found Russia to have increased its reliance on the DPRK for arms and ballistic missiles to target Ukraine. This led to several sanctions over the past years targeting the Russia- DPRK relation and highlights continued arms transfers and increased cooperation between Russia and DPRK. Russians had already used more than 40 DPRK produced ballistic missiles and arms.
On 16 May, Jen Stoltenberg Secretary General welcomed Ingrida Šimonytė Prime Minister of Lithuania at the NATO Headquarter in Brussels to discuss for the Washington Summit which includes strengthening deterrence and deference and supporting Ukraine. Stoltenberg commented on Lithuania's interest in allied security and confirmed to host a multinational battle group, NATO’s Baltic Air Policing Mission, and excellence for energy security. Stoltenberg also praised Lithuania’s commitment to spend three per cent of the GDP on defence from 2025.
On 16 May, in the NATO Military Committee in Chiefs of Defence Session, 32 Allied Chiefs of Defence focused on implementation of new defence plans, NATO warfighting transformation and continues to support Ukraine. The Chiefs of defence also met in the NATO-Ukraine council with the Ukrainian military leadership. Admiral Rob Bauer stressed that “NATO is stronger and readier than it has ever been and growing stronger by the day. We have it within ourselves to build on the ground breaking works that has already been done.” In the first session focused on warfighting transformation saw the Chiefs of Defence Meets with General Philippe, Supreme Allied Commander Transformation (SACT). Where it focused on the future of multi-Domain operation, adaption of NATO’s Command and control and the NATO defence Planning process. This was followed by the meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council in the Chiefs of defence format. Major General Anatoliy Bargylevych, the chief of staff of Ukrainian Armed force briefed the NATO chiefs on reaffirmation their stand and continued to support Ukraine.
References
“Ukraine accuses Russia of detaining, killing civilians in Kharkiv,” Firstpost, 16 May 2024
Mathew Miller “Imposing Sanctions in Response to DPRK-Russia Weapon Deals,” US Department of State, 16 May 2024
“Secretary General welcomes Lithuanian Prime Minister to NATO,” NATO, 16 May 2024
“NATO Chiefs of Defence discuss the strengthening of NATO’s defence plans,” NATO, 16 May 2024 16 May, 2024
“IMF warns West against seizing Russia’s money,” RT, 16 May 2024
“Russia and China oppose seizure of foreign assets,” RT, 16 May 2024
“90% of Russia-China transactions in national currencies,” RT, 16 May 2024