Photo : Deutsch Welle
07 June 2023, Tuesday | NIAS Europe Daily Brief #536
War in Ukraine: Day 468
By Nithyashree RB and Sreeja JS
War on the Ground
On 06 June, responding to the destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the disaster would not stop the country and its people. He said: "We will still liberate all our land. And each Russian act of terrorism increases only the amount of reparations that Russia will pay for its crimes, not the chances of the occupiers to stay on our land." He also stated that the government is doing everything to help those affected by the dam catastrophe.
On 06 June, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the dam destruction, describing it as: "monumental, humanitarian, economic and environmental catastrophe." The UN Office tweeted that thousands of people are in peril following the disaster. Guterres also called the disaster another devastating consequence of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. According to IAEA, damage to the dam significantly reduced the reservoir level that supplies cooling water to the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant. It reported no immediate risks and said the supply would last a few days. The IAEA chief Rafael Grossi confirmed that a "large cooling pond" next to the nuclear power plant could provide an alternative water source and said it is vital to protect it. The UN human rights office called for a full investigation into the disaster and accountability.
The Moscow View
Claims by Russia
On 06 June, according to TASS, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, during his visit to a Russian military base in Tajikistan, said: "Anything can be expected from the leaders of the US and other Western countries (which Washington has completely subjugated). They are already proving this when, following advanced long-range weapons and tanks, they are now seriously preparing F-16s." He urged the Russian Armed Forces to be cautious as one variant of the F-16 is capable of carrying nuclear weapons..
The West View
Responses from the US and Europe
On 06 June, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg condemned Russia's destruction of the Kakhovka dam. In a press conference after the Bucharest Nine (B9) summit, he said: "This is an outrageous act, which demonstrates once again the brutality of Russia's war against Ukraine." German Chancellor Olaf Scholz commented that setbacks the Russian troops have faced have led them to act aggressively. The EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell and Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarcic in a joint statement said that Russia has violated International Laws. They said: "It represents a new dimension of Russian atrocities and may constitute a violation of international law, notably international humanitarian law." Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba called the destruction, "largest technological disaster in decades."
On 07 June, the Finnish government announced that it would expel nine Russian diplomats on spying charges. The government claimed that the diplomats were spying for Moscow and added that it was a violation of the Vienna Convention.
The Global Fallouts
Implications of the War
On 05 June, South African President Cyril Ramphosa announced that the African leaders are ready to commence the mediation process between Russia and Ukraine in mid-June. The African leaders from Congo-Brazzaville, Egypt, Senegal, Uganda, Zambia and South Africa met virtually to discuss the mediation process. Ramphosa said: "We will be able to give our own point of view as Africans on how we perceive the impact of this war on Africa in terms of food prices, grain, and fuel prices, as well as on Europe and the rest of the world because it has become a rather globalized type of conflict."
References
"The disaster at the Kakhovka HPP caused by Russian terrorists will not stop Ukraine and Ukrainians – address by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy," president.gov.ua, 06 June 2023
"Ukraine: Dam destruction 'monumental humanitarian, economic and ecological catastrophe': Guterres," new.un.org, 06 June 2023)
"Russia is mindful of F-16 capability to carry nuclear weapons — Lavrov," TASS, 06 June 2023)
"Destruction of the Kakhovka Dam," United States Mission to the United Nations, 06 June 2023
Nicolaus Camut, "Finland expels 9 Russian diplomats suspected of spying," Politico.eu, 07 June 2023
Nicolaus Camut, Gabriel Rinaldi, and Lili Bayer, "Western leaders accuse Russia of war crime over dam destruction," Politico.eu, 06 June 2023
"African leaders ready for mediation in Russia and Ukraine," Africa News, 06 June 2023
In Brief
By Prerana P and Melvin George
FINLAND
Nine Russian diplomats expelled for spying
On 06 June, Guildhall reported that the Finnish government had expelled nine employees of the Russian embassy over spying activities. Norway and Sweden claimed a similar issue and fired the Russian diplomats. Further, Moscow expelled Norwegian and Swedish diplomats and blocked the bank accounts of the Finnish Embassy in Moscow and the Consulate General in St. Petersburg. ("Finland expels nine Russian diplomats for espionage," Guildhall, 06 June 2023).
KOSOVO
Kosovo may conduct fresh elections in Serb Majority municipalities following the unrest
On 06 June, Kosovo's Foreign Minister Donika Gervalla-Schwarz said that Kosovo might conduct fresh elections in the Serb majority municipalities. This announcement came after the disputes over the placement of ethnic Albanian mayors in municipalities offices elected with just a 3.5 per cent turnout. She said that there is a need for peace in the region for conducting new elections and called for "a commitment from Serbia that they will no more threaten Serbian citizens of Kosovo not to participate in the election." ("Kosovo open to new elections in municipalities hit by unrest, minister says," Reuters, 07 June 2023)
NORWAY
One billion for the children's protection
On 06 June, Government.no reported Norway's initiative to invest NOK 01 billion in the Protection of Children in armed conflict over the next three years. Norway organized an international conference, "Protecting Children in Armed Conflict- Our Common Future," along with UNICEF, African Union (AU), ICRS, and Save the Children International. The conference included leaders from the above organizations. It aimed to strengthen and develop multi-year partnerships and mobilise actions for future actions. The meeting also included Norway's Humanitarian Strategy to widen the protection of civilian children in the region. ("Norway pledges NOK 1 billion for protection of children in armed conflict," Government.no, 06 June 2023).
TURKEY
New economically liberal and socially conservative cabinet
On 05 June, the Turkish cabinet met to discuss the economy, combating terrorism and Sweden's NATO entry as the major agenda. The cabinet has eighteen ministers with all new ones except for the Ministries of Health, Culture and Tourism. Le Monde reported that "The new line-up is economically liberal and socially conservative, in keeping with previous governments." Ibrahim Kalin, the president's former diplomatic adviser, has been appointed as the head of Turkish intelligence. Mehemet Simsek is the Treasury and Finance Minister who will be responsible for pulling out Turkey from the economic crisis. ( Angele Pierre, ("Turkey's Erdogan weighs up a more orthodox monetary policy," Lemonde, 06 June 2023)
REGIONAL
EU will discuss on asylum rules on 08 June, says EU migration commissioner
On 06 June, EU migration commissioner, Ylva Johansson said that the EU countries would agree on how to share the responsibility of hosting the refugees and migrants. The meeting with home affairs ministers of the union, which is going to happen on 08 June would take part in the EU asylum rules that got broken in 2015 due to the inflow of Syrian refugees. The overarching question is whether all EU countries host the people as demanded by the southern and western states or the eatery's states could provide personnel and finance instead. Charity Oxfam criticised the plan saying: "These proposals will not fix the chronic deficiencies in the EU asylum system. Instead, they signal the EU's desire to barricade Europe from asylum-seekers." ("Gabriela Baczynska, "Breakthrough on stalled EU migration deal coming this week - official," Reuters, 07 June 2023)
EU concerned about potential Austrian politician's victory
On 06 June, Guildhall reported the concern of the EU regarding the chances of an Austrian politician's victory in the upcoming election. During his campaign speech, the Austrian Politician Herbert Kickl expresses his interest in turning Austria into a second Hungary. His victory in the forthcoming election, along with the forces in Slovakia and Austria can give the Russian President a tool to oppress Ukraine by undermining the sanctions. Europe officially declared the issue to be a "disaster" and alerted the Social Democrats in Austria to stop fights among themselves and focus on strengthening the bond between each other. ("EU worries about growing popularity of pro-Russian populists in Austria and Slovakia," Guildhall, 06 June 2023)
INTERNATIONAL
France to downsize its military in Africa
On 06 June, Le Monde reported that Paris is going to downsize the military in Africa. This decision comes three months after French President Emmanuel Macron's speech on 28 February which outlined the plan and termination of Operation Barkhane in West Africa last December. This will be implemented first at the Abidjan base in Côte d'Ivoire, then Dakar, Senegal, and Libreville, Gabon. Military in Djibouti will not be affected. Withdrawal from some of these places would take place by the end of this year. (Elise Vincent "France will further cut back military presence in Africa," Lemonde, 06 June 2023)
The OECD Ministerial meeting held to focus on Securing a Resilient Future
On 06 June, The Federal Council reported about the upcoming Ministerial Meeting 2023, held from 07 June to 08 June in Paris, chaired by the British Foreign Secretary James Clevery. The Conference will be attended by 38 Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), EU and partner nations to discuss the ultimate motto of the meeting, "Securing a Resilient Future: Shared Values and Global Partnerships." Additional topics include economic, political and social challenges, Russia's military aggression over Ukraine and the intention to foster stronger ties and values. The Ukraine Prime Minister Denys Schmyhal will attend the meeting to discuss the ongoing conflict and to combat corruption. OECD nations have expressed their interest in expanding their partnership with the Indo-Pacific region. The Conference will be followed by two informal WTO ministerial meetings to be held next year in Abu Dabi. ("OECD ministerial meeting on economic resilience," The Federal Council, 06 June 2023).