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Russian President Vladimir Putin (70) directly addressed the war in Ukraine during the question-and-answer session at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok. He explained that Russia could not stop fighting because the Ukrainians were waging a counter-offensive.
“The people who want to act as mediators ask us if we are willing to stop fighting. How are we supposed to stop fighting when the enemy launches a counter-offensive?”
Moscow’s condition for possible negotiations is the recognition of several territories annexed as Russian in violation of international law.
At the same time, he denied Ukraine any successes. “Ukraine is carrying out a so-called counter-offensive. Obviously there are no results.”
Putin then addressed the US directly. “If you think Ukraine is ready for negotiations, tell the Ukrainian president. He forbade himself to negotiate with a decree.”
He also addressed his own army and emphasized the volunteerism of his fighters. “We called 300,000 people. Over the past six to seven months, 270,000 people have voluntarily signed contracts with the military. Our men, Russian men, who know what awaits them, that they can give their lives for the homeland, are still going consciously and voluntarily.”
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un arrived in Russia on his way to a meeting with Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin, according to South Korea. The Ministry of Defense in Seoul says there are indications that Kim’s private train crossed the border on Tuesday morning (local time). Putin is expected to ask his guest for arms assistance for the war in Ukraine.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov also confirmed that Kim had arrived in Russia. Putin’s meeting with Kim will take place in the Russian Far East. According to Peskov, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu will also participate in the talks. The spokesperson was quoted by state news agency Tass as saying where exactly that is has not yet been said. There will be meetings between the two delegations and individual discussions before an official dinner.
Travel shy Kim
After days of speculation abroad, Moscow and Pyongyang only confirmed an “official visit” by Kim to Russia on Monday. The US suspects that this will mainly concern arms transactions between Russia and the strictly isolated North Korea. While there was no official information yet, there was speculation that the two could meet at an economic forum in the Russian Far Eastern metropolis of Vladivostok. The forum lasts until Wednesday.
North Korean state media reported on Tuesday that Kim had already boarded his train in Pyongyang on Sunday afternoon, accompanied by representatives of the ruling Workers’ Party, the government and the military. Photos showed him accompanied by Foreign Minister Choe Sun Hui, among others. Kim’s foreign trips are extremely rare.
The Swiss Foundation for Mine Clearance (FSD) is increasing its efforts in Ukraine. From January next year, three more teams will help rid the country, which was invaded by Russian forces in February last year, of explosives.
More than 200 FSD employees are currently active in Ukraine and have secured more than 120,000 square meters of land since last summer, according to a statement on Monday. However, it is estimated that it will take “centuries” before the entire country is free of mines.
The FSD employees work in the Chernihiv and Kharkiv provinces. They conduct surveys in potentially dangerous areas and organize risk awareness sessions in schools and villages.
After meeting with Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock in Kiev, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selensky expressed confidence in further German military assistance. “It is important that partners listen to the needs of our state and our soldiers, but also to the protection of our energy infrastructure,” Zelensky said in his evening video address on Monday. “I am confident that there will be results.”
Baerbock also met with her Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba during her fourth visit to Ukraine since Russia’s war of aggression began more than a year and a half ago.
She emphasized Germany’s continued support. However, at the same time it did not give the attacked country any hope of a quick decision to deliver the Taurus cruise missiles requested by Kiev. First, “all questions must be clarified,” she stressed. Kuleba responded with disappointment: “There is no objective argument against it,” he said.
The US reserves the right to impose further sanctions in light of planned arms transfer talks between ruler Kim Jong Un and President Vladimir Putin. “Any transfer of weapons from North Korea to Russia would violate multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions,” U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said Monday. The US would not hesitate to impose new sanctions on both countries.
It’s a sign of Putin’s weakness that he even has to negotiate with Kim, Miller said. Referring to Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine, he added: “I would describe it as begging for help, given that he has to travel through his own country to meet an international pariah and ask him for support in a war . thought he would win in the first month.”
After days of speculation abroad, Moscow and Pyongyang confirmed on Monday a planned meeting between Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Russia. Kim is expected for an “official visit” in the coming days, the Kremlin announced on its homepage. The meeting will reportedly take place in Vladivostok in the Russian Far East.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces have achieved a significant success. As military intelligence announced, they recaptured several oil rigs near the Crimean Peninsula as part of a “unique operation.” These are the “Boiko Towers”.
According to authorities, the towers are important because once Russia retakes Ukraine, it will no longer be able to use the gas and oil platforms located there for war purposes. “Russia has been deprived of the ability to fully control the waters of the Black Sea, and this brings Ukraine much closer to retaking Crimea,” the intelligence agency said in a statement.
The Kremlin has not yet taken a position on the recapture. The information could not be independently verified.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to return the children kidnapped from Ukraine to their home country.
Ukrainian children were inhumanely kidnapped and subjected to brainwashing – “with the aim of turning them against their own homeland, Ukraine,” Baerbock criticized.
Their fate “shows once again: Putin will stop at nothing. He has no moral compass and breaks “every day the rules of the international community and the rules of human interaction,” said Baerbock, who also met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy that afternoon.
According to President Volodymyr Zelensky (45), the success of the Ukrainian counter-offensive and new arms supplies from international partners will not bring Ukraine’s defensive war to a “happy end”.
“We all want success and a happy ending,” Selenski said in an interview on the American channel CNN on Sunday. “This is not a movie with a happy ending. We won’t have a happy ending. We have lost many people. Not a happy ending,” he said.
In the interview, Zelensky also indicated that there was movement in talks with the US on the possible delivery of long-range guided missiles of the ATACMS type. Zelenskiy said he hopes Ukraine will receive the weapon system in the fall. This is for the counter-offensive, and he will discuss it again with US President Joe Biden (80).
During her visit to Kiev, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (42) did not give Ukraine hope for a quick decision from Berlin on the delivery of Taurus cruise missiles.
“We are more than aware of the situation,” the Green politician said on Monday after a conversation with her Ukrainian colleague Dmytro Kuleba (42) in the Ukrainian capital. “At the same time, it is not enough to just promise things,” she said. As before the delivery of the Iris-T air defense system and the other German weapons deliveries, “all questions must first be clarified”.
At the same time, Baerbock assured that it was impossible to get used to Russian atrocities. That is why Germany will support Ukraine for as long as necessary. “We in Europe know it: here too you are defending our European freedom.” We are “forever grateful” to the Ukrainians for this.
Kuleba responded in clear words to the federal government’s continued hesitation about Kiev’s request for the long-range cruise missiles with which his country wants to hit targets behind the large Russian minefields. “I don’t understand why we are wasting time,” the diplomat said. The hesitation resulted in the deaths of Ukrainian soldiers and civilians. “There is no objective argument against it,” he said.
If Berlin has any questions about the operation, Kiev is ready to answer them, Kuleba said. “Let’s do it. The sooner it happens, the higher our appreciation will be,” he said. At the same time, Kuleba thanked Germany for the weapons it had already supplied. In particular, he emphasized the effectiveness of the Gepard anti-aircraft tanks.
Russia lacks thousands of skilled workers as a result of the war of aggression against Ukraine – according to the British, this is becoming an increasing problem. Mobilization and conscription would have exacerbated labor shortages outside the defense sector.
The British Ministry of Defense announced this on Monday on the short message service X (formerly Twitter). The labor shortage in the industry reached a record in July.
About 100,000 IT workers left Russia last year. That is approximately ten percent of the working population in the sector, the British wrote in their daily update. In contrast to recruitment efforts in other sectors, Russia has now taken measures to retain employees.
“In the run-up to the presidential elections scheduled for March 2024, the Russian authorities will likely try to avoid further unpopular mobilizations,” the British wrote.
Source: Blick
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
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