On the ground, kyiv claims to have recaptured a village south of Bakhmout. While on the diplomatic front, a new meeting between Volodymyr Zelensky and Joe Biden was announced.
This will be his second meeting at the White House since the start of the war in Ukraine. Volodymyr Zelensky will meet Thursday, September 21, Joe Biden, a senior American official announced on Friday, September 15. The exchange between the two presidents will take place at a “critical moment”according to the same source, while Ukraine seeks to progress in its counter-offensive against Russian forces. On the ground, kyiv claims to have retaken a village, south of Bakhmout. Here’s what to remember from this day.
Volodymyr Zelensky expected at the White House on September 21
Volodymyr Zelensky will be received on Thursday September 21 at the White House for new discussions with Joe Biden on support for kyiv against the Russian invasion. The American national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, also says he expects the United States and its allies to announce new military aid to Ukraine at the same time. “sometime next week”. The Ukrainian president is expected in New York early next week to participate in the United Nations General Assembly and meet world leaders.
Ukrainian army claims to have retaken village near Bakhmut
The Ukrainian army declared that it had recaptured the village of Andriïvka, south of the devastated town of Bakhmut on the eastern front, the day after an announcement to this effect from the Deputy Minister of Defense which was followed by a quick denial. Ukrainian forces also “inflicted significant losses on the enemy in terms of manpower and equipment”declared the Ukrainian General Staff in its daily report. The resumption of this locality paves the way for “a breakthrough on Bakhmut’s right flank” and is important for the success of the Ukrainian counter-offensive, assured the third Ukrainian assault brigade, engaged on the ground.
Monuments of kyiv and the historic center of Lviv on the list of world heritage “in danger”
Saint Sophia Cathedral and monastic buildings in kyiv have been inscribed to the heritage of humanity “in danger”, just like the historic center of Lviv, announced UNESCO. The World Heritage Committee organized in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) made this decision due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the UN agency said. The historic center of Odessa had already been included on this listin January.
EU wants to end import restrictions on Ukrainian grain
The European Union announced the end of the ban imposed by five EU states on the import of Ukrainian grain, in return for a commitment from kyiv to control the influx of grain. A decision which risks turning into a standoff with Hungary, Poland and Slovakia who intend to maintain their restrictions.
At the end of April, the European Commission concluded an agreement with five Member States (Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Romania) allowing them to block the marketing of Ukrainian wheat, corn, rapeseed and sunflower on their soil in order to protect their farmers from collapse of local prices. Following the lifting of EU customs duties in May 2022, these countries saw an influx of cereals at cut-off prices from Ukraine, but blocked on their soil due to logistical problems instead of reaching Africa and the Middle East.