Photo : South Korea's Ministry of National Defense/ The Korea Herald
20 July 2022, Wednesday | NIAS Europe Daily Brief #258
War in Ukraine: Day 146
By Padmashree Anandhan
War on the Ground
On 19 July, first lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska met first lady of the US, Jill Biden where both met the Ukrainian residents in the US and the USAID administrator. The USAID, is one of the partners to Ukraine which supports the Ukrainians in terms psychological under the Psychosocial programme. Zelenska stressed on the continuity of the programme.
Ukrainian Agrarian Policy and the first deputy minister issues a statement on receiving of extra supply of sacks to store grains up to 200,000 tonnes from international allies. With the scheduled supply Ukraine will be able to store grains and use it for loading or unloading purposes for rest of the year. The statement also covered the harvest data of Ukraine, where 67 million tonnes of grain crops are due be harvested for the year.
On 19 July, Ukraine member of parliament released a statement announcing the dismissal of Ukraine’s spy agency Iryna Venediktova. The decision comes after 650 cases were filed over treason collusion charges.
The Moscow View
Claims by Russia
Russia’s Council member, Vladimir Dzhabarov commented on Estonia for portraying as a bigger player and for going against its neighbour Russia. The comments come in response to Estonia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs accusation of the EU for its double standards on Estonian citizens.
On 19 July, RT reported that the Transnistrian President Vadim Krasnoselsky had proposed for giving security guarantees to Luhansk and Donetsk regions in the 5+2 peace dialogues. Krasnoselsky said: “There are political representatives, there is the president, there are other Moldovan officials who should now be talking and finding compromises on the issues that are currently not being solved. The agenda of the talks is known by everyone quite well, and it still holds true.” The proposal comes as a way to solve the dispute between the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic (PMR) and Moldova. Since the start of the war PMR is found to be experiencing series of explosions and has a history of holding friendly relations with Russia.
The Russian representative in the LPR region, Leonid Slutsky issued a warning that Russia will opt for stricter demands when negotiations with Ukraine resume. He said: “Today, the conditions on our part will be tougher regarding demilitarization and ‘denazification’; tougher both in terms of essence and the timeframe of their implementation.” Earlier the talks were paused, where Ukraine was blamed for not being on the forefront.
The West View
Responses from the US and Europe
The UK ministry of defence reported on the war ground status, where it found Russia to be holding six armies in Donbas and continues to face the issue of maintaining its combat power. It also said that Russia faces a limitation in terms placing soldiers and deploying military against Ukraine in Kherson region. It revealed the instant policy objective of Russia to be seizing of Donetsk and proceed further to acquire more territory.
On 19 July, the Ireland government announced on the Gormanston army camp which has a capacity to hold 320 people will be soon ready to hold Ukrainian refugees. Close to 250 people located in an old terminal building of Ireland where, facing space shortage and due to which the army camp provides an option for the shift. According to the Irish minister for integration: “We have been focused on trying to reduce the numbers of people staying in City West, that's why we are looking to bring in additional accommodation.”
On 19 July, the European Commission accepted the proposal on reinforcing the defence industrial capabilities of the EU. The decision comes to address the Russian aggression in Ukraine, the Commission will invest EUR 500 million from the EU budget from 2022 to 2024 to invest in the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB) and boost its interoperability. According to Executive Vice-President, Margarethe Vestager: “..The proposal for the EDIRPA Regulation is a historical milestone in establishing the EU Defence Union, increasing the security of EU citizens and making the EU a stronger partner for our allies.”
On the same day, European Commission President von der Leyen issued a statement with leaders of Albania and North Macedonia on initiating the accession talks. In the released statement she announced the start of the screening process to ensure both countries are aware of the “rights and obligations of the EU.” Secondly, she assured how the EU, Albania and North Macedonia will work closely in terms of floods, forest fires, earthquakes, and migration. Apart from this Ursula confirmed on the investments in energy, transport and new business sectors.
The Global Fallouts
Implications of the Ukraine war
On 19 July, South Korea and the UK agreed to boost their defence cooperation in expanded domains such as cyber, outer space, and combined exercises in the first defence dialogue. During the meeting between South Korea’s vice defense minister Shin Beom-chul and UK defence minister Annabel Goldie, they discussed on the implementing the agreements on defence as part of the bilateral cooperation. Both South Korea and the UK has so far agreed to cooperate on “Indo-Pacific regional strategy, defence and security, North Korea issues, supply chains and trade.”
References
“Olena Zelenska started her visit to the United States,” president.gov.ua, 19 July 2022
“Agrarian policy ministry: Temporary grain storage equipment on its way to Ukraine,” Ukrinform, 19 July 2022
“Ukraine expects to harvest about 67M tonnes of grain and oilseed crops in 2022,” Ukrinform, 19 July 2022
“The Federation Council announced the playful Estonia,” lenta.ru, 19 July 2022
“Breakaway region bordering Ukraine seeks security guarantees,” RT, 19 July 2022
“Russia warns of ‘tougher’ terms for talks with Ukraine,” RT, 19 July 2022
“Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine,” Ministry of Defence/Twitter, 19 July 2022
“County Meath: First Ukraine refugees to be housed at military camp,” BBC, 19 July 2022
“Defence industry: EU to reinforce the European defence industry through common procurement with a €500 million instrument,” European Commission, 19 July 2022
“Press statement by President von der Leyen with Prime Minister Fiala, Prime Minister Rama and Prime Minister Kovachevski on the start of the accession negotiations process and of the screening of the EU acquis, European Commission, 19 July 2022
“S. Korea, UK hold 1st defense strategic dialogue to promote multifaceted security cooperation,” The Korea Herald, 19 July 2022
IN BRIEF
By Sai Pranav
ITALY
Carabinieri prevents the illegal sale of stolen 17th-century art
On 19 July, the Italian paramilitary force and Italian police thwarted a possible illegal sale of a 17th-century painting by the Baroque artist Artemisia Gentileschi at an auction house in Vienna. The Italian paramilitary force, which is also known as the carabiner art squad, had apprehended the dealers trying to sell off the artwork worth EUR two million to an intermediary based in Tuscany, which would then be sold abroad. The dealers would then purposefully ignore providing historical documentation of the artwork to obscure the details of its origin. The dealers had claimed Gentileschi's masterpiece, Caritas Romana (Roman Charity) to be the work of one of her followers and not the artist herself, to gain export permission from Italian authorities fraudulently. The specialized art squad is on the lookout for any artworks or antiques from Italy that are being exported illegally. ("Italian police thwart illegal sale of Artemisia Gentileschi painting," the Guardian, 19 July 2022)
THE UK
Fomer Chancellor Rishi Sunak comes ahead in the fourth round with 118 votes
On 19 July, the fourth round of the conservative leadership race, which will decide the successor of Boris Johnson, concluded with the former chancellor of the exchequer, Rishi Sunak leading with 118 votes. The former UK finance minister has been leading since the first round and is expected to be in the final round. Former trade minister, Penny Mordaunt followed Sunak with 92 votes. She is ahead of the former foreign secretary Liz Truss by six votes. Kemi Badenoch who was placed last in the fourth round with 69 votes was eliminated from the race. Sunak, Mordaunt and Truss are going ahead to the next round. ("Former UK finance minister Sunak wins fourth round leadership contest vote," BBC News, 19 July 2022)
TURKEY
Ankara's court ruled the exit from the Istanbul Convention lawful
On 19 July, the move to withdraw Turkey from the Istanbul Convention on violence against women last year by president Recep Tayyip Erdogan was upheld by Ankara's top administrative court. The court ruled the move to be pulled out of the European treaty was lawful and legal. Critics argued that the president did not have the power to take the action unilaterally. The court rejected the petition to rescind Erdogan's move with a 40 page ruling that said that the president has the right of discretion in his interpretation of the Turkish laws. Turkey is said to have at least 38 per cent of women subjected to domestic violence in the country. Erdogan said that Turkey's women will be better off without the treaty and that it promoted homosexuality. ("Turkey: Court upholds exit from the treaty on violence against women," Deutsche Welle, 19 July 2022)\
REGIONAL
Hungary wishes to pass a bill that restructures the European parliament
On 18 July, the Hungarian lawmakers from prime minister Viktor Orban's far-right party, the Fidesz party, voted to pass a resolution on an anti-European parliament bill. The content of the bill is that the parliament of the EU should be restructured and the goal of "ever closer union" in the EU treaties should be removed. The proposal said that the state heads should appoint lawmakers to the European parliament instead of the EU citizens electing them. The Hungarian proposal also suggested that the national parliaments should have the choice to veto any legislation at the EU and also to permit them to initiate legislative procedures. Orban said that the democracy in the EU parliament has met a dead end and that this resolution would help the bloc out of it and steer it on the right path. The resolution will antagonise an already angry EU with Hungary. The EU has been denying Hungary's recovery funds and credit due to Budapest ignoring the EU standards on the rule of law and anti-corruption methods. Hungary is in much-needed financial support as it is suffering from an economic crisis. ("Hungary: Lawmakers back anti-European Parliament bill," Deutsche Welle, 19 July 2022)
A man was questioned for arson in a wildfire in France amidst heatwaves across Europe
On 19 July, extreme heat resulted in wildfires across western Europe. 13,000 hectares of pine forest were burned down in France. A man was suspected to have started the wildfire. He was already accused of the same offence in 2012. A motorist spotted the man near the starting site of the blaze on 12 July. Investigators found evidence of arson in the area. France saw a record temperature of 42 degrees Celsius in the western city of Nantes due to the rising heat wave. Firefighters have been working tirelessly across France, Spain, and Germany, putting out wildfires that are spreading. The UK also recorded 40.2 degrees Celsius at London Heathrow Airport, the highest in the country. Europe is being ravaged by wildfires and heatwaves. The reason for the phenomenon is said to be climate change caused by humans. (Jon Henley, "Suspect in huge French forest fire questioned over arson in 2012," the Guardian, 19 July 2022)