Photo : US Embassy in Ukraine
Photo : US Embassy in Ukraine
By Neha Tresa George
WAR ON THE GROUND
On 23 August, First Post reported on the casualties caused by Ukraine’s incursion into the Kursk region of Russia. According to the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation, Ukraine’s offensive in the Kursk area led to the death of 31 civilians and injured 256. The number was estimated from the date of 05 September, marking the beginning of the attack. An official from Russia claims that 131,000 civilians had fled from the region due to the attack. He noted that around 120 people, including children, were forcefully detained in a camp in the town of Sudzha. However, Ukraine had rejected these claims.
On 24 September, Zelenskyy met with a bipartisan delegation from the US Congress against the backdrop of the UN General Assembly. Senators like Ben Cardin, Dan Sullivan, Christopher Murphy, and Gregory Meeks attended the meeting. Firstly, Zelenskyy thanked the representatives of the US for their support. Apart from that, he gave a detailed update on the war on the ground, the Kursk incursion, the urgent need for Ukrainian personnel and defence and military packages. The ministers discussed Zelenslyy’s plan for victory in detail. He said: “This is a very specific plan on how to strengthen Ukraine without any decisions or pressure from Russia. This plan does not depend on any decisions made by Putin.” They also discussed the reconstruction of energy capabilities in the coming year. Meanwhile, Zelenskyy urged the western countries to tighten the sanctions against Russia.
On 23 September, Zelenskyy met Olaf Scholz, the Chancellor of Germany in New York. He thanked Scholz for all the military and humanitarian aid provided to Ukraine. Since the war, Germany has granted assistance worth EUR 35 million. The leaders discussed the security in Ukraine and agreed on collaborating on international formats towards the implementation of peace. Zelenskyy added that Ukraine would not compromise on the integrity of the international community.
On 23 September, Zelenskyy visited the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant in the US which is completely dedicated to fulfil Ukraine’s defence requirements. The plant produces components for artillery and mortar shells, particularly 155 mm shells. On his visit, Zelenskyy spoke with the plant’s management and employees and thanked the US for the prompt delivery of defence packages. He also discussed plans to start joint weapons production and potential American investments in Ukraine’s defence industry.
On 23 September, Zelenskyy met with Josh Shapiro and Bob Casey, the Governor and Senator of Pennsylvania and discussed agreements on regional cooperation between the countries. He said: “I thank the leaders of the American states for their willingness to develop regional cooperation with Ukraine. The implementation of joint economic projects will help restore the destroyed infrastructure and create jobs.” Ivan Fedorov, the Head of the Zaporizhzhia Regional State Administration signed an agreement on the cooperation between the Zaporizhzhia Regional State Administration and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The agreement included communication between state authorities, scientific and civil society organisations and businesses. Zelenskyy also noted that Pennsylvania being a hub of weapons and military equipment is a priority for Ukraine.
On 24 September, Zelenskyy met with Fumio Kishida, President of Japan on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. He awarded the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, I class to Kishida and expressed his gratitude for the financial and humanitarian assistance of EUR 12 billion. He also emphasised the imposition of sanctions against Russia. The leaders discussed cooperation with G7 and EU partners to secure the USD 50 billion from frozen Russian assets. Kishida also informed on the new energy assistance package including transformers and generators set to be provided to Ukraine.
THE MOSCOW VIEW
Claims from Russia
On 23 September, RT reported on the statements made by Dmitry Peskov, Press Secretary of the Russian President on the victory plan proposed by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine’s President. According to Peskov, there was not enough information available to properly evaluate the “victory plan.” He said: “If some information appears from official sources, of course we will study it.” He added that Russia had a “reserved attitude” to the plan due to the unreliable and contradictory information spreading through the media sources. Dmitry Polyansky, Russia’s first deputy permanent representative to the UN, said Russia had no clue about the plan's contents. Zelenskyy is set to present the plan before Joe Biden, the US President, members of Congress, and the presidential candidates- Donald Trump and Kamala Harris.
THE WEST VIEW
Responses from the US and Europe
On 24 September, ANI reported on the statements made by Peter Pellegrini, President of Slovakia on the peace negotiations in the Ukraine-Russia conflict. At the 79th United Nations General Assembly in New York, he said that peace negotiations could only be attained through the participation of “big players” like India, China and the US. He expressed his interest in the ‘compact for the future’ adopted at the “Summit of the Future” in the UN to address 56 ongoing conflicts around the world. He added that Slovakia had always called for peace negotiations to end the war. He also noted the importance of peace resolution and called for quick action.
On 23 September, The Washington Post reported on remarks made by Mariana Katzarova, a UN-backed human rights expert, on the domestic violence caused by former Russian convicts. According to her, some 170,000 convicted former Russian criminals with commuted prison sentences were sent to fight in the Ukraine-Russia war. She noted that they return after committing serious violations of human rights including rape, murder, sexual violence and killings of women and children. She added: “There is no law in Russia distinctly criminalising domestic violence or gender-based violence.” She also informed on the increasing number of deaths amongst women due to domestic violence.
On 24 September, Reuters reported on the statements made by Josep Borell, the EU foreign policy chief on the weakening energy capabilities of Ukraine against the backdrop of war. He condemned Russia for attacking Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and thereby pushing the country to darkness. While speaking with the EU foreign ministers and G7 ministers, he urged the western countries to support Ukraine with electricity production capacity. In addition, he condemned both Russia and Iran for escalating the war with new weapons. He also advised Ukraine to improve its military position for the smooth conduct of peaceful negotiations.
References
“Kremlin comments on Zelensky ‘victory plan’,” RT, 23 September 2024
“India can play important role in peace negotiations: Slovak President Peter Pellegrini on Russia-Ukraine conflict,” ANI, 24 September 2024
“31 civilians killed, 256 wounded in Kursk: Russia on Ukraine’s military campaign,” First Post, 23 September 2024
“Volodymyr Zelenskyy Met with the Chancellor of Germany,” President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, 23 September 2024
“Volodymyr Zelenskyy Met with Members of the U.S. Congress,” President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, 24 September 2024
“President Visited Scranton Army Ammunition Plant,” President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, 23 September 2024
“Zaporizhzhia Region and Pennsylvania State Concluded a Cooperation Agreement,” President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, 23 September 2024
“Energy Support and Stepping Up Sanctions Against Russia: Volodymyr Zelenskyy Met with Fumio Kishida.” President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, 24 September 2024
“West must boost aid to stop Russia plunging Ukraine into the dark, Borrell says,” Reuters, 24 September 2024