Photo : Euronews
Photo : Euronews
By Fleur Elizabeth Philip
WAR ON THE GROUND
On 30 May, Deutsche Welle reported on the UN under the Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Rosemary DiCarlo's statement on ending attacks in Ukraine. She said that there was little to no hope that the negotiations would lead to a halt in the fights between the two regions. The 355 drone attacks by Russia were a sign showing the rate at which the war can escalate into severe destructive levels. Further escalation could aggravate the devastation of the people and endanger the ongoing peace efforts. She added that the cautious hope that she had, months ago, has been eradicated.
On 29 May, Ukrinform reported that Ukraine is using an AI-based “mother drone” in combat for the first time. The AI drones are capable of launching two drones within 300 kms of enemy territory. Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister for Innovation and Digital Transformation, Mykhailo Fedorov, announced the development of the new drone and said that, they are launched on the battlefield. Ukraine’s Brave 1 developed the new system, which enhances the attack on Russia with precision and creates maximum impact.
On 29 May, Ukrinform reported that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz discussed the possibility of the deployment of the long-range Taurus missiles. Zelenskyy said that the Taurus missiles will help Ukraine, and this topic is currently under private talks and hence cannot be further discussed. He emphasised diversifying the defence production, helping finance the defence sector, and pressuring Russia economically and politically. He pointed out the importance of strengthening the defence cooperation with Germany, following the agreement by both countries on the development of long-range missiles.
THE MOSCOW VIEW
Claims by Russia
On 29 May, Russia’s Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov said that Russia was ready for the second round of the peace talks on 02 June. This comes following their largest aerial attacks on Ukraine. He also said that he had talks with the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and explained their proposals before the upcoming peace talks. The agreements were designed based on the phone call between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on 19 May. During the phone call, Putin rejected the idea of a ceasefire immediately, promised that they would draft a memorandum for the future agreement, while Ukraine prepares one. The memorandum has not been shared with Kyiv so far.
On 29 May, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters that there has been no confirmation on Ukraine’s part, and they need to wait for their response, and only then would the peace talks go smoothly as planned. Following the phone call between Trump and Putin, Russia and Ukraine have agreed on drafting memoranda that will be discussed in Istanbul. Lavrov said that the memorandum has been finalised, but raised his suspicion on signing deals with Ukraine, claiming it as “legitimacy issues,” citing that Zelenskyy’s term as President is not valid anymore.
On 30 May, Global Times reported that the Chinese Envoy has called on Russia and Ukraine to maintain the momentum of the peace talks. Russia and Ukraine have agreed on the second round of peace talks, and China’s Deputy Permanent Representative for the UN, Geng Shuang, said that China express their hope for positivity and supports all developments towards peace. He told the Security Council that the violence shows no progress, and the civilian casualties are rising. The complex dynamics between Russia and Ukraine cannot be resolved overnight. Both parties must demonstrate political will, maintain the peace talks, and address the root cause of the crisis in the form of a dialogue. They must abide by international humanitarian law and refrain from attacking civilians and the infrastructure.
THE WEST VIEW
Responses from the US and Europe
On 29 May, Ukrinform reported that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved the eighth review of the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) Agreement and provided Ukraine with USD 500 million. Ukraine’s Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal has announced that the IMF have approved a loan for Ukraine. Since March 2022, total disbursements to Ukraine have reached over USD 10 billion. He expressed his gratitude to the National Banks and the IMF for their constant support and their partnership. The EFF agreement has helped maintain the economic stability in Ukraine since the war against Russia.