Photo : United24
Photo : United24
By Neha Tresa George
WAR ON THE GROUND
On 22 October, The Moscow Times reported on the Russian drone attack in the northeastern Ukrainian region of Sumy. The overnight attack had led to the death of three people including one child. According to the regional authorities, more than two dozen Iranian-designed drones were found in Sumy. Ukrainian Air Force revealed that around 60 drones were detected in the Ukrainian airspace. Sumy, which lies across the Kursk region was experiencing increasing bombardments from Russia according to the local officials.
On 21 October, The Korea Times reported on the statements of Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine, calling for a response to the alleged North Korean deployment in Russia. In his address, he said: “This is a challenge, but we know how to respond to this challenge. It is important that partners do not hide from this challenge as well.” He added that Russia and its allies should be stopped to end the war. The head of Ukraine's Main Directorate of Intelligence stated that they were waiting for the North Korean troops to show up for the first units in the Kursk direction. They were also unsure about the number of soldiers who would be equipped.
On 22 October, France24 reported on Ukraine’s declining population since Russia’s invasion in 2022. Florence Bauer, Eastern Europe head at the UN Population Fund said that its population had declined by eight million with the birth rates being one of the lowest in the world. The current birth rate was one child per woman against the 2.1 children per woman to maintain a stable population. Bauer said that the war had impacted the villages with older populations, depopulated ones and couples unable to start families. She added that exact estimate could only analysed with a full census at the end of the war.
On 22 October, Anadolu Agency reported on the response from South Korea over the alleged deployment of North Korean troops in Russia. It had vowed to launch “phased measures” and urged Pyongyang to “immediately withdraw troops from Russia.” North Korea and Russia have not responded to the allegations although they defended their right to strengthen their military relations. NATO was seeking more information to confirm the development.
THE WEST VIEW
Responses from the US and Europe
On 22 October, the European Parliament approved new macro-financial assistance (MFA) up to EUR 35 billion worth loan to help Ukraine against Russia during 2024 and 2024. 518 voted in favour while 56 voted against it along with 61 abstentions. The loan was part of the G7 package promised back in July. These MFA loans depended upon Ukraine’s continuous commitment to uphold its democratic measures, human rights and policy conditions to be underlined in an MoU. The Council intends to adopt the proposal after the Parliament’s vote. It will come into effect after its publication in the Official Journal of the EU.
On 22 October, ABC News reported the closure of a Russian consulate in Poland. Radek Sikorski, Poland’s foreign minister said that this was in response to the “Hybrid war actions against Poland and its western allies” in the form of acts of sabotage which included arson attacks, alleged to be sponsored by Moscow. He said that Poland had the right to take “decisive actions” if it did not end. The consent for the Russian Consulate in Poznan was withdrawn and its personnel were restricted from coming to Poland. He added that around 20 sabotage investigations were ongoing. In response, Maria Zakharova, the Russian Foreign Ministry spokeperson promised “A painful response to yet another hostile act.”
On 23 October, Deutsche Welle reported on the statements made by Alexander Stubb, Finnish President, upholding NATO security against the backdrop of the Ukraine-Russia war. He said: "I think it's very important that NATO has a strong deterrence, and that deterrence is based on troops, it's based on missiles, and it's based on a nuclear deterrence." He highlighted that Finland would be a security provider to NATO with its largest military capabilities across air, sea and land. It also urged the EU to invest in defence and to swiftly respond to the growing demands of emerging threats. He also promised Finland’s support to Ukraine and expressed his interest in Ukraine being a member of NATO.
On 22 October, POLITICO reported on a potential bill of USD 20 billion share of the G7 loan, set to be approved by the US. According to Janet Yellen, Treasury Secretary of the US: “We’re 99 percent there and it’s nailing down just a couple of relatively small things.” The loan would give a chance to the G7 nations to provide longer-term funding for Ukraine’s war efforts. On the G7 loan from the Russian frozen assets in the EU, Yellen said that she was confident that the money remained locked and would be serviced by the Russian assets.
References
“Germany, UK plan closer security and defense coordination,” Deutsche Welle, 23 October 2024
“Russian Drone Attacks Kill 3, Including Child, in Ukraine’s Sumy Region,” The Moscow Times, 22 October 2024
“South Korea vows 'phased measures' over North Korea-Russia military ties,” Anadolu Agency, 22 October 2024
“Parliament approves up to €35 billion loan to Ukraine backed by Russian assets,” Europarl, 22 October 2024
“Ukraine's population declined by 8 million following Russia's invasion, UN says,” France24¸ 22 October 2024
“US ‘very close’ to finalizing $20B share of G7 loan to Ukraine, Yellen says,” Politico, 22 October 2024
“Poland alleges Russian sabotage, closing one of Moscow's consulates,” ABC News, 22 October 2024
“Zelenskyy calls on allies 'not to hide', respond to North Korean involvement in war,” The Korea Times, 22 October 2024
“Finland's president says NATO key to EU security, US power,” Deutsche Welle, 22 October 2024