Photo : Ukrainian Airborne Forces Command/Handout/Reuters
11 June 2022, Saturday | NIAS Europe Daily Brief #225
War in Ukraine: Day 107
By Rishma Banerjee
Was On The Ground
On 10 June, Ukraine's defence ministry spokesperson, Oleksandr Motuzyank said that Russia is searching for weak points in Ukraine's defences near Sievierodonetsk, along the Siverskyi Donets River. This statement comes amidst continuous fighting in Sievierodonetsk. It must be noted that if Russia succeeds in capturing Sievierodonetsk and subsequently Lysychansk on the other side of the Siverskyi Donets river, they will have full control over the entire Luhansk province. Motuzyank also mentioned that the situation in Southern Ukraine was calmer than before. However, the spokesperson for Ukraine's forces in the south, Nataliya Gumenyuk said that Russia had about 40 crores of missiles targeted at Ukraine, even though she did not reveal how she obtained this information.
The mayor of Mariupol, Vadym Boichenko issued a warning about the potential spread of deadly and contagious diseases like cholera in the city. Mariupol which saw intense fighting between Ukraine and Russia's forces has had unclaimed and uncollected corpses which increases the risk of diseases. Boichenko said that there has already been an outbreak of dysentery and cholera and that the city has been placed under quarantine. He has also requested the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross to establish a humanitarian corridor so that residents without centralized water, gas, and electricity supplies can be evacuated.
The governor of Mykolaiv, Vitaliy Kim, informed via the Telegram app that Ukraine has conducted its 11th prisoner swap with Russia, since the beginning of the war. In the latest exchange, they swapped five captives from Russia for four Ukrainians.
The Moscow View
Claims by Russia
Foreign minister Sergei Lavrov addressed the issue of the death sentences of the two Britons and one Moroccan, who had fought against Russia, as a part of Ukraine’s army. He said: “At the moment, the trials you mentioned are being held on the basis of the legislation of the Donetsk People's Republic, because the crimes in question were committed on the DPR's territory.
Amidst increasing isolation by the West, Russia opened a new cross-border bridge with China. This bridge is to give an impetus in trade between the two countries and connects Blagoveshchensk in Russia to Heihe in China, across the Amur river. It is more than a kilometre long and as per the RIA news agency, cost around RUB 19 billion to build.
The leader of the Donetsk People’s Republic, Denis Pushilin, said that Ukraine’s fighters captured at the Azovstal steel plant will be put to trial by the end of the summer. He also mentioned that necessary documents needed for the trial were being prepared.
The West View
Responses from the US and Europe
On 10 June, the president of the European Union’s Parliament, Roberta Metsola, said that the parliament fully supports Ukraine’s EU bid. She mentioned this at the Copenhagen Democracy Summit.
The spokesperson to prime minister Boris Johnson said that Britain is condemning the death sentences levied on the two British nationals who were captured in the Donetsk People’s Republic. UK’s foreign secretary Liz Truss also spoke about the same issue and said that the act was a serious breach of the Geneva convention and that she will be speaking to Ukraine to secure their speedy release.
Germany’s health minister visited Lviv in Ukraine. He said that Germany will send medical aid to Ukraine, mainly in the form of prostheses, and the deployment of around 200 doctors. The minister also said that they will be setting up trauma centers specializing in treating burns and connecting some of Ukraine’s hospitals to a telemedicine service. Germany’s economy minister Der Spiegel announced that they are trying to revise their rules on arms export. This move is to make it easier for democracies like Ukraine to obtain German weapons while at the same time making it more difficult for autocracies to do so. A spokesperson from Germany’s government also addressed the death sentences of the foreign fighters in the Donetsk People’s republic and said that they were a “complete disregard for the basic principles of humanitarian international law.”
Responding to criticism that he faced for saying that it was important not to humiliate Russia, France’s president Emmanuel Macron said that France is unwilling to make concessions to Russia. A presidential official said that they want a Ukrainian victory, and for Ukraine’s territory to be restored. France’s Chief of the Defense Staff, Thierry Burkhard, initiated a phone call with Chief of the General Staff of Russia’s Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov. Reportedly, they spoke about the situation in Ukraine and in the Sahel region.
The Global Fallouts
Implications of the Ukraine war
The deputy chief of NATO, Mircea Geoana, addressed Sweden and Finland’s membership to the alliance at the Copenhagen Democracy Summit. He said that while he hoped that the two states could join NATO despite Turkey’s objections, he could not foresee any military threat for them from Russia.
References
Léonie Chao-Fong, Samantha Lock and Martin Belam, “Russia-Ukraine war: what we know on day 107 of the invasion,” The Guardian, 10 June 2022
“Ukraine says Russia looks for weak points in Ukrainian defenses near key river,” Reuters, 10 June 2022
Max Hunder, “Cholera and other diseases could kill thousands in Ukraine's Mariupol - mayor,” Reuters, 10 June 2022
“Ukraine conducts 11th prisoner exchange with Russia,” Reuters, 10 June 2022
“Russia's Lavrov says Britons and Moroccan sentenced to death committed crimes in Donetsk,” Reuters, 10 June 2022
“Russia and China open cross-border bridge as ties deepen,” Reuters, 10 June 2022
“Nationalists from Azovstal to stand trial by end of summer — DPR leader,” TASS, 09 June 2022
“European Parliament "firmly behind" Ukraine's EU candidate bid -President Metsola,” Reuters, 10 June 2022
Alistair Smout, “Britain, U.N. official condemn Donbas death sentences against British soldiers,” Reuters, 10 June 2022
Jamie Grierson and Andrew Roth , “Liz Truss speaks to Ukraine about Britons’ death sentences for fighting Russia,” The Guardian, 10 June 2022
Alexander Ratz and Zuzanna Szymanska , “Germany pledges medical aid to Ukraine,” Reuters, 10 June 2022
“Germany plans new arms exports rules, easier exports to Ukraine - Der Spiegel,” Reuters, 10 June 2022
“Foreign fighters' death sentence shows Russia's disregard for rights, Berlin says,” Reuters, 10 June 2022
“France in no mood to make concessions to Russia, presidency says,” Reuters, 11 June 2022
“Russian, French military chiefs discuss situation around Ukraine,” TASS, 09 June 2022
“No signs of Russian threat to Sweden, Finland -NATO deputy chief,” Reuters, 10 June 2022
IN BRIEF
By Ashwin Dhanabalan
THE CZECH REPUBLIC
Prague’s finance minister sets its 2023 budget deficit target below this year’s plan
On 10 June, the Czech Republic’s finance minister Zbynek Stanjura stated that he would reduce the 2023 deficit to keep fiscal plans on track. This comes as the war in Ukraine has affected the economic growth of the Czech Republic. The country has increased its defence spending and allocated more funds for refugees. Stanjura said the country’s budget would be below the 2022 plan of USD 12.04 billion. He added: “So far, there hasn’t been a reason to change the priorities in the government’s programme, with the exception of trying to speed up raising defence spending to 2% (of GDP).” (Jan Lopatka and Jason Hovet, “EXCLUSIVE Czech minister plans lower 2023 deficit to keep fiscal plans on track,” Reuters, 10 June 2022)
FRANCE
Macron’s centrist bloc to win the parliamentary elections
On 10 June, the Ifop-Fiducial poll stated that incumbent president Emmanuel Macron’s centrist bloc is set to win the parliamentary elections. The poll surveyed about 913 people and estimated that 44 per cent of them voted in favour of Macron, while 25 per cent voted for the left-wing “Nupes” bloc, and 22 per cent voted for the far-right Rassemblement National party. However, 54 per cent abstained from the vote. This comes as France is about to hold its parliamentary elections on 12 and 19 June. (“Macron’s bloc expected to win French parliament vote,” Reuters, 10 June 2022)
THE UK
Legislators plan on presenting the post-Brexit Northern Ireland bill on 13 June
On 10 June, the UK announced that the legislation would present a unilateral revision of the post-Brexit trade arrangements with Northern Ireland. This would be presented to the parliament on 13 June, risking a possible trade war and backlash from Brussels. In May, European Commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic stated that Brussels would respond to the UK’s decisions with all possible measures. The US, too, has been involved in the issue as House of Representatives speaker Nancy Pelosi mentioned a possible halt of the US-UK trade deal if London proceeds with the legislation. (“Risking EU clash, Britain pushes post-Brexit Northern Ireland bill,” Reuters, 10 June 2022)
REGIONAL
Eurozone raises its interest rates by 0.25 per cent
On 10 June, the European Central Bank (ECB) stated that it plans to raise the interest rates of the Eurozone for the first time in 11 years. This comes as the war in Ukraine has caused soaring inflation in the Eurozone. The ECB stated it would increase the interest rates by 0.25 per cent in July and plans on further increasing them by the end of 2022. The ECB further said: “High inflation is a major challenge for all of us. The [ECB] governing council will make sure that inflation returns to its 2% target over the medium term.” (“Eurozone interest rates set to rise for first time in 11 years,” BBC, 10 June 2022)
INTERNATIONAL
Belgium’s King Philippe publicly denounces racism in the colonial past
On 09 June, Belgium’s King Philippe lamented the colonial rule’s racism that was meted out in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He added: “This regime was one of the unequal relations, unjustifiable in itself, marked by paternalism, discrimination, and racism.” King Philippe is on a week-long visit to DR Congo and is set to meet with President Félix Tshisekedi. This was the king's first visit to Congo, and he reaffirmed his deepest regrets over one of the bloodiest colonial rules in Africa. (Emery Makumeno and Cecilia Macaulay, “Belgian royals in DR Congo: King Philippe laments racism of colonial past,” BBC, 10 June 2022)