Photo : Kremlin.ru
22 September 2022, Thursday | NIAS Europe Daily Brief #313
IN BRIEF
By Sai Pranav
BELGIUM
Protests over the financial crisis
On 21 September, protests grew in Brussels due to rising cost of living crisis. The soaring energy and food prices and vexation towards local, national and European politicians and employers made 10000 people gather in Brussels to protest. People demanded their politicians to address the financial crisis. A law from 1996 on workers' well-being was asked to be altered so that trade unions could negotiate a pay rise. They urged the government to look for measures instead of blaming the problems on geopolitics. (Méabh Mc Mahon, “Thousands protest in Brussels over cost of living crisis,” Euronews, 21 September 2022)
DENMARK
Denmark pledges to give DKK 100 million as compensation for climate change
On 20 September, Denmark pledged DKK 100 million to developing countries damaged by climate change. It has become the first UN member state to compensate for the loss and damage due to climate change. Denmark’s Development Minister said, “It is grossly unfair that the world's poorest should suffer the most from the consequences of climate change to which they have contributed the least.” The Danish Foreign Ministry said that DKK 35 million would be transferred to an organization that subsidizes insurance in poorer countries based in Frankfurt, Germany. Another DKK 32.5 million will be focused on climate change losses and damage in the Sahel region in North Africa’s Sahara desert. A further DKK 25 million will be spent on ‘strategic efforts’ to support current climate change negotiations ahead of COP27. The final DKK 7.5 million will be provided to civil society actors working in developing countries. The promise was made during the ministerial meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. (Rosie Frost, “Denmark becomes first country to pay for ‘loss and damage’ from climate change,” Euronews, 21 September 2022)
POLAND
Polish activists help the abandoned non-Ukrainian refugees near the border with Belarus
On 21 September, Deutsche Welle reported that Poland is pushing back refugees other than Ukrainians. The Afghans, Syrians, and Iraqis who fly to Belarus get stuck in the Bialowieza Forest, near the Polish border, due to Poland’s police and military force pushing back the refugees. These refugees are forced to cross the border illegally due to the government’s strict rules against them. The local human right activists from the town of Hajnowka near the forest that borders Belarus has been trying to help out the asylum seekers stuck in the forest by providing them with necessary food, healthcare, warm blankets and legal aid to the refugees. However, the government and other Polish criticize the efforts undertaken by the activists and harass them for their work with the migrants. (Jacek Lepairz, “Poland's border wall hasn't stopped the flow of migrants from Belarus,” Deutsche Welle, 21 September 2022)
INTERNATIONAL
Biden and Truss discuss safeguarding the Belfast agreement
On 21 September, the UK’s new Prime Minister, Liz Truss, met with US President Joe Biden for the first time since she took office. They discussed the topics of the Belfast agreement and the war in Ukraine. Biden asked Truss not to change anything to the Good Friday Agreement, and the peace in Northern Ireland should not be disturbed. He emphasized keeping the Northern Ireland Protocol by the UK, saying that it was important to maintain peace. (Steve Holland, “Biden, UK's Truss commit to protecting Northern Ireland deal,” Reuters, 22 September 2022)
War in Ukraine: Day 210
By Rishma Banerjee
War on the Ground
On 21 September, President Zelenskyy heralded the return of 215 people imprisoned under Russia’s control. Among them, 188 people are part of the Azov battalion who had been involved in the siege of Mariupol, eight of them are injured soldiers from Olenivka and the remaining are fighters from the National Guard, employees of the Security Service of Ukraine, its army and navy. Five of these combat commanders will be released from captivity in Turkey and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has guaranteed his personal protection for them, ensuring that are kept in comfortable conditions. In exchange, Ukraine also returned 55 people to Russia, which included Putin-ally from Ukraine, Viktor Medvedchuk.
On the same day, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine urged the international community not to recognize the referenda that are being organized by Russia in several occupied territories in Ukraine. The parliament specifically mentioned the referenda in LPR, DPR, Kherson region and Zaporizhzhia region to become a part of Russia. It said that the votes would be a violation of fundamental regulations, international law and the Constitution of Ukraine. The parliament also noted that the real threat from Russia currently is their continued aggression on Ukraine’s nuclear power facilities. Moreover, the recent partial mobilization announced by Putin is indicative of an escalation of criminal intentions by Russia towards Ukraine.
The Moscow VIew
Claims by Russia
On 21 September, President Vladimir Putin declared a partial mobilization in Russia. As per the Executive Order, citizens will be called up to provide service in the Armed Forces of Russia-based on a contract and will enjoy the status of military personnel. The Order also elaborates on the duration of the contracts, monetary compensation for the citizens and grounds for discharge. Russia’s Defence Minister, Sergei Shoigu said that up to 300,000 reservists would be called for service as a part of the process. Putin accused the West of nuclear blackmail and alleged that they are instigating Ukraine to attack Russian territory. Putin is apprehensive that the West led by US is also attempting to divide Russia, as they had done to the erstwhile Soviet Union during the end of the Cold War. In that context, he warned that Russia also has an impressive reserve of weapons of mass destruction that are more advanced that the ones NATO countries, and he would not be hesitant to use them if Russia’s territorial integrity is threatened.
The announcement of partial mobilization brought about a widespread reaction from Russia’s citizens as well as from the international community. The protests in Russia started from Siberia and the far east, where dozens were detained shortly after the rallies began. From there, the protests spread to various parts of the country, like in the third largest city, Novosibirsk, in cities across the Volga-Ural region, in Bashkortostan, in Moscow, St. Petersberg and even in the Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad too. At least 525 demonstrators have been arrested across Russia for protesting against the mobilisation.
On the same day, Shoigu provided the first official estimate of Russia’s battlefield losses since March. According to Russia, 5937 Russian soldiers and around 61,000 Ukrainian soldiers were found to be killed.
Russia’s state-owned defence industry giant, Rostech will enhance its production capabilities to keep up with the growing demand for military hardware. President Putin has asked for a ramping up of the state’s defence procurement and acquisition program. Thus, Rostech, which is already responsible for more than 40 per cent of all defence acquisition contracts is taking management decisions to “further increase its production capacities to meet the goals” to enable Russia to “prevail and come out as victor.”
The West View
Responses from the US and Europe
Amid Putin’s Executive Order regarding the partial mobilization in Russia, EU member-states, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, which share borders with Russia informed that they will not allow Russians escaping the mobilisation of troops. The three Baltic countries have already restricted the entry of Russian tourists. In this regard, Estonia’s foreign minister Urmas Reinsalu said that “refusal to fulfil one’s civic duty in Russia” is not sufficient grounds to seek an asylum in another country, while Latvia’s foreign minister Edgars Rinkevics cited security concerns and Lithuania’s Interior Ministry said that each such application would be analyzed separately.
While the Baltic States and Poland have restricted the entry of Russians in their territory, Georgia, which is a country with a history of tense relations with Russia, remains a popular spot for Russian tourists. Deutsche Welle reported that the streets of Georgia’s capital, Tbilisi are full of Russian speakers. However, it is unclear how many of them are tourists from Russia and how many of them are exiled.
On 21 September, AP News reported that Germany’s biggest natural gas importer, Uniper would be nationalized. The deal between the government and the company marks increased state intervention due to the impending energy crisis. The deal features a government-financed capital increase of EUR eight billion. The highest stake in the company till now was controlled by Finland-based Fortum, but now the government will have a 99% stake in Uniper. Economy Minister, Robert Habeck said the deal was necessary to because of the major role that Uniper plays in the German gas market. However, the deal needs to be approved by the European Commission, as Uniper also holds stakes in power plants like in Britain, Hungary, the Netherlands, Russia and Sweden.
The Global Fallouts
Implications of the Ukraine war
On 21 September, referring to Putin’s recent statements about the potential use of nuclear weapons, Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Russia’s recent actions in Ukraine and the narrative popularized by them is a violation of the rules-based international order. Kishida, coming from the constituency of Hiroshima alleged that Putin’s nuclear blackmail is “totally unacceptable” and a “serious threat to the international community's peace and safety.” He urged the leaders present at the UN General Assembly’s annual meeting to reform the body to effectively deal with future crises similar to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
On the same, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin reiterated China’s position about the conflict in Ukraine. Even though China has maintained friendly relations with Russia, from the beginning of the conflict, it has also been supporting a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine and a negotiated peace. Wang said: “The purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations should be observed, the legitimate security concerns of all countries should be taken seriously, and all efforts to resolve the crisis peacefully should be supported.”
On 21 September, Saudi Arabia’s crown prince conducted a successful mediation session with Russia and Ukraine to ensure the release of 10 international prisoners of war from Russia, as a part of the recent prisoner swap between Russia and Ukraine. The mediation was Prince Mohammad bin Salman’s efforts to promote humanitarian initiatives regarding the ongoing conflict. Saudi authorities have received the prisoners from Russia and will arrange for their safe return to their respective countries. Amongst the 10 prisoners are UK’s Aiden Aslin, Shaun Pinner and Morocco’s Brahom Saadoun, who had been threatened with execution after their capture. Two US citizens, Alexander Drueke and Andy Tai Huynh, accused of espionage and being a mercenary were also released. The Saudi Foreign Ministry said that five of the prisoners were from the UK, two from the US and the rest from Morocco, Croatia and Sweden.
References
“Today we have 215 pieces of good news – we bring our people home – address by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy,” president.gov.ua, 22 September 2022
“Parliament calls on global community not to recognize Russia’s sham ‘referenda’ in Ukraine,” Ukrinform, 21 September 2022
“Address by the President of the Russian Federation,” kremlin.ru, 21 September 2022
“West wants to partition Russia like USSR – Putin,” RT, 21 September 2022
“Executive Order on partial mobilisation in the Russian Federation,” kremlin.ru, 21 September 2022
“Putin Declares 'Partial' Mobilization Amid Ukraine Losses, Warns West of Nuclear Response,” The Moscow Times, 21 September 2022
“Several Hundred Detained as Russians Protest Mobilization,” The Moscow Times, 21 September 2022
“Russia to increase military hardware production,” RT, 21 September 2022
“Biden accuses Russia of 'irresponsible' nuclear threats, violating U.N. charter,” Reuters, 21 September 2022
“Baltic nations say they will refuse refuge to Russians fleeing mobilisation,” Reuters, 21 September 2022
“Exclusive: NATO chief calls Putin's nuclear threat a 'dangerous' escalation,” Reuters, 21 September 2022
Frank Jordans, “Germany nationalizes country’s biggest gas importer Uniper,” AP News, 21 September 2022
Benjamin Restle, “Georgia: Popular with Russian tourists, despite political tensions,” Deustche Welle, 21 September 2022
“Crown prince mediates in Russia-Ukraine prisoner release,” Arab News, 21 September 2022
“Aiden Aslin among 10 international ‘prisoners of war’ released by Russian authorities,” The Guardian, 21 September 2022
“Kishida urges world to reaffirm rules-based order and reform U.N.,” The Japan Times, 21 September 2022
Cyril Ip, “China holds firm on its Ukraine stance while Putin sends more troops,” scmp, 21 September 2022