Photo : g7italy.it
Photo : g7italy.it
WAR ON GROUND
On 26 November, Kyiv Independent reported on the 188 Shahed drones launched by Russia in an overnight attack against Ukraine. According to the Ukrainian Air Defence, 76 drones were intercepted while 95 were lost. It said: “During the overnight attack, Russia launched a record number of Shahed-type attack drones from the directions of Orel, Bryans, Kursk, and Primorsko-Akhtarsk in Russia.”
On 26 November, France24 reported on a meeting between ambassadors from Ukraine and NATO’s 32 members over Russia’s strike with the Oreshnik missile in Ukraine’s Dnipro region. They were set to meet in Brussels to discuss the new development. Russia’s President Vladimir Putin said that the strike was a response to Ukraine’s usage of the US and UK-made ATACMS weapons inside Russia. Ukraine is expected to get “concrete and meaningful solutions” following the NATO-Ukraine Council meeting. However, the diplomats did not develop solid solutions to the issue. Although the meeting was a platform to discuss the recent escalation in the war, the most that was expected was the re-emphasis on NATO’s stance to support Ukraine amidst warnings from Russia.
THE MOSCOW VIEW
On 26 November, Anadolu Agency reported on the statements of the head of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) Sergey Naryshkin at the 20th Meeting of Heads of Security Agencies and Intelligence Services of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). He said that Russia opposed “freezing the conflict with Ukraine” as it sought peace for its citizens and the European continent. He said that the Western countries now focussed on avoiding their “strategic defeat” rather than countering Russia. He also reiterated Russia’s approval to negotiate terms based on Putin’s arguments. Further, he urged the West to accept those conditions.
On 26 November, a Russian court demanded the arrest of a France24 journalist Catherine Norris Trent for illegally crossing into the Kursk region and reporting. Catherine and other reporters were allowed to report from the Ukrainian-held regions in Kursk. Russia has launched criminal proceedings against other Western journalists like CNN, RAI and Deutsche Welle as well. According to the Russian orders, the reporters would be arrested if they entered Russia.
THE WEST VIEW
On 26 November, the G7 foreign ministers issued a statement proposing unwavering support for Ukraine. Firstly, the joint statement encouraged the Ukraine Energy Sector Support undertaken during the G7+ ministerial meeting. This would help Ukraine with early recovery and energy resilience by guarding the energy grids during winters. The ministers blamed Russia for intensifying its attacks on Ukraine and its nuclear threats. Apart from that, they condemned Russia’s torture of Ukrainian prisoners of war which went against the principles of the UN Charter. They also expressed their disapproval of the deployment of North Korean troops and the use of Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI) to support its war with Ukraine. Finally, they concluded that they aimed to formulate a “comprehensive, just and lasting peace” as per the fundamentals of international law.
On 26 November, Politico reported on the statements of UK’s Foreign Secretary David Lammy over the possibility of sending troops to Ukraine. He confirmed that the UK would not send troops to Ukraine. He said: “We stand ready and continue to support the Ukrainians with training particularly, but we are not committing U.K. troops to the theatre of action.” These comments came amidst the visit of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to France. According to Le Monde, the UK and France “revived their discussions” on troops during the meeting. Lammy further said that the UK would provide medical training and military presence around the embassy but not UK troops.
On 26 November, the BBC reported on the capture of a British man allegedly fighting for Ukraine. The man, identified as James Scott Rhys Anderson from Banbury, Oxfordshire is 22 years old and was found in Russia’s Kursk region. Anderson in 2023 joined Ukraine's International Legion which was made for foreign volunteers to serve in the military. According to a Russian court, he had “participated in hostilities in the territory of the Kursk region.” He was condemned for allegedly carrying out “terrorist acts and being a mercenary” which would result in his criminal prosecution. He would be sentenced to a maximum of 20 or 15 years in prison as per his charges. The court also said that the decision could be appealed. According to Anderson, he joined Ukraine's International Legion which was made for foreign volunteers to serve in the military.
On 26 November, the NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte visited Greece. He encouraged Greece to provide further support to Ukraine. Rutte praised Greece for signing a bilateral security agreement with Ukraine which would help step up training for F16 Ukrainian pilots and technicians. He called for the delivery of critical military equipment to Ukraine which could change the course of war. He added that NATO’s deterrence and defence should also be kept in check through defence investment and production.
References
“Ukraine war latest: Russia launches record 188 drones against Ukraine overnight, Air Force says,” The Kyiv Independent, 26 November 2024
“NATO and Ukraine hold talks over Russia's new hypersonic missile,” France24, 26 November 2024
“Russia ‘categorically opposes’ any proposals to freeze conflict in Ukraine: Intel chief,” Anadolu Agency, 26 November 2024
“Russian court orders arrest of FRANCE 24 journalist who reported from Kursk,” France24, 26 November 2024
“UK: We’re not sending troops into Ukraine ‘at this time’,” Politico, 26 November 2024
“Russia confirms capture of British man accused of fighting for Ukraine,” BBC, 26 November 2024
“G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting Statement,” US Department of State¸ 26 November 2024
“Press statement by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte with the Prime Minister of Greece, Kyriakos Mitsotakis,” NATO, 26 November 2024