kyiv claimed to have “pierced” the Russian defense line near Bakhmout, complained to the WTO against Poland, Slovakia and Hungary.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in the United States on Monday, September 18. He must attend the UN General Assembly then meet his American counterpart Joe Biden in Washington. But before that, the day was marked “breakthrough” and Ukrainian forces and a complaint from kyiv to the World Trade Organization. Franceinfo looks back at the key events.
kyiv claims to have “pierced” the Russian defense line near Bakhmut
Engaged since the beginning of June in a difficult counter-offensive against Russian fortified lines, Ukrainian forces have increased their pressure over the past two weeks, retaking the village of Robotyné in the south, then that of Andriïvka in the east.
The neighboring town of Andriïvka, Klichtchiïvka, fell on Sunday after months of fighting. With these advances, “The enemy’s defense line has been breached”, said the commander of the kyiv ground troops, General Oleksandr Syrsky. These localities were “important” for the Russian defense line around Bakhmut, he added, specifying that three Russian brigades had been “destroyed”. The situation in the area remains “complicated” And “fierce fighting near Bakhmut continues”however, admitted General Syrsky.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on X (formerly Twitter) “proud” of “each of our heroes on the front line”.
Drones shot down on both sides
The strikes do not only concern the front. Ukraine’s air force said Russia sent 24 drones and fired 17 missiles for further night attacks. “Eighteen drones were shot down” just like the 17 cruise missiles, she assured.
For its part, the Russian army claimed in its daily report to have bombed storage sites in Ukraine for Storm Shadow cruise missiles and depleted uranium munitions, two types of weapons supplied by London. “The objective of the strike was achieved. All installations were hit”said the Russian Defense Ministry.
Russia also announced that it had shot down several Ukrainian drones overnight in annexed Crimea, in the Moscow region as well as in Belgorod and Voronezh, close to Ukraine. A type of attack that has become almost daily.
Ukraine files WTO complaint against Poland, Slovakia and Hungary
Kiev announced that it had filed a complaint with the World Trade Organization against three countries of the European Union (Poland, Slovakia and Hungary) which extended their embargo on imports of Ukrainian cereals, despite the lifting of restrictions decided by Brussels. “It is crucial for us to establish that individual Member States cannot ban the import of Ukrainian goods”explained Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko in a press release. “This is why we are filing a complaint against them”she added.
In the process, Warsaw, also one of Ukraine’s best military and diplomatic allies against Russia, announced that it was maintaining its decision. “We think it’s fair.”Polish government spokesman Piotr Müller told Polsat News television, “such a complaint to the WTO does not impress us”.
At the end of April, the European Commission allowed five member states (Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Romania) to block the marketing of Ukrainian wheat, corn, rapeseed and sunflower on their soil in order to protect their farmers.
Kim Jong-un delighted with his visit to Russia
The North Korean leader expressed his “heartfelt thanks” to President Vladimir Putin after his six days in Russia, the official North Korean agency KCNA reported on Monday. Kim Jong-un wished “prosperity to Russia and well-being to its people”. This visit further consolidated “militant unity” of the two countries, while “opening a new chapter” of their relations, Pyongyang wants to believe.
On the Western side, this trip has revived fears that North Korea, isolated and equipped with nuclear weapons, would provide Moscow with weapons for its war in Ukraine. This trip revealed potential military ties between the two countries, with Kim Jong-un having reviewed a number of equipment such as Russian space rockets and submarines. The two men went so far as to symbolically offer each other a rifle.