Photo : CNS photo/Remo Casilli, Reuters
23 March 2022, Wednesday | NIAS Europe Daily Brief #156
War in Ukraine: Day 27
By Padmashree Anandhan and Ashwin Dhanabalan
War on the Ground:
Zelensky’s address to the Italian Parliament, targeted attacks
Zelensky’s address
On 22 March, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, in his address to the Italian parliament, reported on the situation of Mariupol. He said that there was “nothing left” in Mariupol apart from the ruins. Zelensky called Italy to freeze the assets of the Russian Oligarchs. He said: “Freeze all their property, accounts and yachts. Freeze all the assets of those who have influence, let them use it for peace. Support sanctions against Russia, a full trade embargo, starting with oil.” Second, he urged the ministers to impose a ban on Russian ships from entering Italy and asked to sanction all the banks of Russia. Third, he called in for help to remove Russian troops from the ground and stressed on “reconstruction of Ukraine.” Apart from this Zelensky mentioned that “For Russian troops, Ukraine is the gates of Europe, where they want to break in, but barbarism must not be allowed to pass.” In response, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi said that Italy wishes to see Ukraine as part of the EU and assured to provide military support to stop the massacres.
On 22 March, Zelensky, after talking with Pope Francis, asked for the Vatican to engage as a mediator to help end the war. He said: “The mediating role of the Holy See [the jurisdiction of the Pope] in ending human suffering would be appreciated.”
Ukraine Military advance
On 22 March, the Ukraine government claimed the killing of 15,000 Russian servicemen. Russian authorities on the contrary confirmed the death of only 500.
Continuing attacks and evacuation
On 22 March, the Mariupol’s council reported that Russian troops had attacked the city again with two large bombs, and the causalities are yet to be disclosed. According to the council: “Once again it is clear that the occupiers are not interested in the city of Mariupol. They want to level it to the ground and make it the ashes of a dead land.” Ukraine authorities reported that the north-eastern city of Ukraine, Kharkiv was attacked by Russia destroying thousands of residential buildings, killing more than 500 civilians. Apart from Kharkiv, the residential areas in the city of Odesa were also targeted by the Russian troops. On the same, Ukraine’s minister pointed out that Odesa being the strategic point in the war for Russia, the reason behind the attack of civilian buildings were due to its inability to proceed on the land. He also said that Ukraine’s troops were holding firm against Russia in the city of Odesa.
The Moscow View
Claims by Russia
On 22 March, a Russian newspaper was accused of hacking its website. It reported that after it published the casualty figures, it found the page to have been hacked as the figures mentioned started to turn into thousands. After BBC investigated the hack, it found that 557 Russian soldiers were listed to have died in the conflict. So far, Ukraine claims 14,000, while the US intelligence states 7,000 Russian soldiers to have died.
On 22 March, Deputy Head of the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations Alexey Serko reported that Russia had received an influx of 360,000 people from the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. He said: “Over 360,000 people have crossed the Russian border since 18 February, 22,000 of them have been staying in temporary accommodation centres, others left for relatives, some went back.”
On 22 March, TASS reported that the UNSC announced the reviewal of the usage of dangerous chemicals in Ukraine. Previously, on 19 March, Russian National Defense Control Center head Colonel General Mikhail Mizintsev announced that Ukrainian nationalists were found to be preparing ammonia and chlorine storage in the city of Sumy to poison the civilians when Russian forces entered.
The West View:
Responses from the US and Europe
The US
On 22 March, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan talked about the war in Ukraine at the White House. He claimed that Russia had set an objective before initiating its war and said that Russia planned on “subjugating Ukraine, enhancing Moscow’s power and prestige, and dividing the West.” However, he said: “Russia has thus far manifestly failed to accomplish all three objectives. In fact, it has thus far achieved the opposite.” Sullivan further predicted that the war would worsen more soon and mentioned: “There will be hard days ahead in Ukraine – hardest for the Ukrainian troops on the front lines and the civilians under Russian bombardment.”
On 21 March, US President Joe Biden addressed India’s stance in the war on Ukraine at the business leaders’ summit. He said India’s response to the war in Ukraine has been “somewhat shaky.” However, he praised the other Quad members saying: “The Quad is, with the possible exception of India being somewhat shaky on some of this, but Japan has been extremely strong -- so has Australia -- in terms of dealing with Putin’s aggression.”
The EU
On 21 March, The EU member disagreed with imposing sanctions on the energy sector of Russia. Germany stated that the bloc was too dependent on Russian oil to decide on an embargo. These calls for fresh sanctions came with the increasing civilian deaths and Russia’s siege and bombardment of Mariupol. EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell said: “what’s happening in Mariupol is a massive war crime. Destroying everything, bombarding and killing everybody in an indiscriminate manner. This is something awful.”
The UK
On 22 March, a UK official stated that Ukrainian military claims of a Russian shortage of food and ammunition were true. The official said: “If they were to send in weapons now, they would struggle to get them into theatre within weeks because they are so bad at this.” The official further mentioned that it was unlikely for Lukashenko to join the war. He said: “Lukashenko’s main concern is staying in power and this would be a threat, so I think he will try to avoid it.”
The Global Fallout
International implications of the Ukraine war
UN
On 22 March, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres talked about a possible ‘global hunger crisis’ as a repercussion of the war in Ukraine. Guterres said: “Continuing the war in Ukraine is morally unacceptable, politically indefensible, and militarily nonsensical.” He also spoke about Russia’s invasion of Mariupol and said: “Even if Mariupol falls, Ukraine cannot be conquered city by city, street by street, house by house.” He then called the war “unwinnable” and would eventually be brought to a peace table from the battlefield.
Sudan
On 22 March, the Save the Children aid group warned of an exacerbated economic and humanitarian crisis in Sudan as the wheat imports are at risk due to Russia’s invasion. The war has disrupted shipments from Russia and Ukraine, and these two countries account for nearly 30 per cent of the global wheat exports. The aid group says this would especially impact Sudan, where a military coup had taken over the country in October 2021. Save the Children’s Chief Operating Officer David Wright said: “Sudan is in a particularly vulnerable position because 86-87 per cent of its wheat imports is coming from Russia and Ukraine combined…almost 20 million people, or almost half the country, being food insecure.”
East Africa
On 22 March, a report by the charitable organisation Oxfam warned that millions of people in East Africa are at a risk of extreme hunger because of the price hike caused by the War in Ukraine. Furthermore, the report added that there was a possibility of a lack of rain this March which could cause a drought. Kenya, Somalia, and Ethiopia are currently experiencing the driest weather in the last 40 years. Oxfam’s International Executive Director Gabriela Bucher said: “Areas of Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan and beyond are experiencing an unfolding full-scale catastrophe. Even if the rains do arrive this month, full recovery will be near impossible unless urgent action is taken today.”
Southeast Asia
On 22 March, a report by the BBC mentioned how the Southeast Asian region would feel an “economic pinch” due to the war in Ukraine. Store owners have been facing a crisis with supplies as food and drink stocks from across Eastern Europe have halted. A Russian supermarket owner in Singapore mentioned: “Our products from Ukrainian suppliers will likely stop,” However, she said, she would eventually diversify her supply chain to avoid delays in shipments due to the war.
References:
“BBC Live,” BBC, 22 March 2022
“Ministry reveals over 360,000 people poured into Russia from Ukraine, Donbass,” TASS, 22 March 2022
“UN Security Council to discuss chemical incidents in Ukraine — Russian mission,” TASS, 22 March 2022
“Ukraine war is 'unwinnable', UN chief says,” The Guardian, 22 March 2022
“UN chief calls for an end to Russia’s ‘absurd war’ in Ukraine,” Al Jazeera, 22 March 2022
“Millions in East Africa risk extreme hunger - Oxfam,” BBC, 22 March 2022
Monica Miller & Derek Cai, “South East Asia feels economic pinch of Ukraine war,” BBC, 22 March 2022
“Ukraine war's impact on wheat threatens hunger in Sudan: Aid group,” The Economic Times, 22 March 2022
“Russia has ‘failed’ to achieve objectives in Ukraine, US says,” Al Jazeera, 22 March 2022
Ingrid Melander and Sabine Siebold, “EU split on Russia oil sanctions, mulls other steps,” Reuters, 22 March 2022
Lorne Cook, “EU slams 'war crimes' in Ukraine, mulls fresh sanctions,” Associated Press, 22 March 2022
Julian Borger, “A UK official said the Ukrainian military claim that the Russian invasion army has only three days of food and ammunition left “sounds entirely plausible,” The Guardian, 22 March 2022
“Biden says India response to Ukraine war 'somewhat shaky', praises Quad, NATO,” The Hindustan Times, 22 March 2022
IN BRIEF
By Emmanuel Royan
SWEDEN
Large scale mining might disturb Reindeer Herding
On 22 March, the Swedish government granted a concession to mine on a large scale to the Jokkmokk mining company. In response, activists argued that mining in the region will affect the reindeer herding practices and the indigenous Sami people of that region. Jokkmokk Iron Mines, a subsidiary of Beowulf Mining, first applied for the Kallak mine nine years ago. Even with the government's concession, the company must still obtain approval from a Swedish environmental court and meet other criteria. One of the conditions stated that initial construction must be initiated at specific times of the year to have the least impact on reindeer herding. (“Sweden gives green light to controversial iron mine,” Deutsche Welle, 22 March 2022)
THE UK
Assange gets married in prison amid extradition trials
On 23 March, Wikileaks founder Assange wed his former colleague Stella Morris at Belmarsh Prison. The US government is seeking Assange's extradition to stand trial on 18 espionage counts for WikiLeaks' release of US military records and diplomatic cables more than a decade ago. Journalists or photographers were not allowed inside the prison to witness the wedding due to security reasons. Moris’ wedding dress was adorned with a silvery inscription of his words, and her long veil was embroidered with messages such as "valiant", "relentless", and "free enduring love" to support Assange’s cause. (“WikiLeaks' Assange to get married in prison,” Reuters, 23 March 2022)
Inflation hits highest after three decades
On 23 March, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) released February's Consumer Price Index value, which showed inflation of 6.2 per cent, the highest since 1992. As global commodity and energy prices soar, caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The UK now has the second-highest annual inflation rate among the Group of Seven countries, trailing behind the US. Although UK’s KPMG Chief Economist Yael Selfin said that the figures will influence the Bank of England to continue raising interest rates, she further added that if the prices are stabilized by 2023, the inflation may decrease to two per cent. (Andy Bruce, “UK inflation hits 30-year high of 6.2% as Sunak readies response,” Reuters, 23 March 2022)
REGIONAL
The US and the UK decide to drop mutual tariffs
On 22 March, the US agreed to withdraw the Section 232 tariff on the UK. The UK too responded by dropping retaliatory tariffs on imports. The Section 232 tariffs were imposed on the UK steel and aluminium imports by Former US President Trump, citing National Security. Part of the agreement requires any China-owned UK steel companies to audit their financial records to assess any influence of the Chinese government and share the results with the United States. US Trade Representative Katherine Tai and UK International Trade Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan reached an agreement after two days of trade talks in Baltimore. (“US to drop UK steel and aluminum tariffs,” Deutsche Welle, 22 March 2022)