2024-10-31 18:42:00
Did you miss the latest events on the war in Ukraine? 20 minutes takes stock for you every night. Among the strong declarations, the progress on the front and the results of the fighting, here is the essential of this Thursday, the 981st day of the war.
Fact of the day
He’s worried. And angry. In an interview with South Korean media published Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized Westerners’ “zero” reaction to the arrival of North Korean troops in Russia to fight Ukraine. Kiev and its Western partners accuse North Korea of sending around 10,000 soldiers to Russia to fight Ukraine, denouncing an “escalation” and “internationalisation” of the conflict.
“I think the reaction on this issue is zero, it was zero,” Volodymyr Zelensky said about his partners in this interview with South Korean channel KBS, in which he also said he was “surprised by China’s silence” on this deployment.
During this interview, the Ukrainian president estimated that President Vladimir Putin “is testing the reaction of the West, the reaction of NATO and the reaction of South Korea” by committing this first group of North Korean soldiers to the Ukrainian front. And if Western reaction remains non-existent, “then the number of North Korean troops on our borders will increase.”
He compared the Western response to the arrival of these soldiers to that following the “occupation of Crimea”, the Ukrainian peninsula annexed by Moscow in 2014, after which, according to him, there were no “strong measures” by the West.
Today’s statement
« “We have not yet seen these troops deploy in combat against Ukrainian forces, but we expect this to happen in the coming days” »
The words are signed by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The latter estimated this Thursday that of the 10,000 North Korean soldiers who entered Russia, around 8,000 “were deployed in the Kursk region”, on the border with Ukraine.
Russia has trained North Korean troops “in artillery, drones, basic infantry operations, including trench clearance, indicating that it intends to use these forces in front-line operations,” he said.
“If these troops were engaged in combat or combat support operations against Ukraine, they would become legitimate military targets,” Anthony Blinken said.
The number of the day
Three. That’s the number of casualties recorded after Wednesday’s Russian bombing of a residential building in Kharkiv, a large city in northeastern Ukraine, according to a new report released Thursday by Ukrainian authorities.
The death toll “stands at three” as rescuers pulled the bodies of a man and a 15-year-old boy from the rubble, the attorney general’s office said. The third victim is a 12-year-old boy, regional governor Oleg Synegoubov said earlier. “Thirty-five other people were injured in the attack,” according to the prosecutor’s office.
A guided aerial bomb, a powerful weapon widely used by Russia, hit a building in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second city, on Wednesday evening, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
The work of rescuers was complicated by the “risk of collapse” of the building, due to damage caused by the aerial bomb, according to Oleg Synegubov. The mayor of Kharkiv said the airstrike destroyed several floors.
The trend
Kiev said on Thursday that it supports Georgia “under all circumstances” on its path to EU and NATO membership, following the victory in disputed legislative elections of the Georgian Dream party, considered by its opponents to be pro-Russian.
“Ukraine will under all circumstances support the Georgian people in their aspiration to continue their strategic path towards EU and NATO membership,” the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry wrote on its website, reacting to the election results legislative elections held Saturday in Georgia. .
Our dossier on the war in Ukraine
The electoral commission confirmed Thursday the ruling party’s legislative victory in Georgia, contested by the pro-European opposition and the president, who rejected a summons from the prosecutor’s office to detail his allegations of fraud. The Kremlin has rejected accusations of interference in Georgia’s electoral process.
This country of four million inhabitants, overlooking the Black Sea, remains deeply marked by a brief war in 2008 with the Russian army. At the end of this conflict, Russia, the historical power of the region, installed military bases in two Georgian separatist regions, Abkhazia and South Ossetia, whose unilaterally proclaimed independence it recognized.
#North #Korea #worried #Zelensky #expresses #anger #allies
Editor: Welcome to Time.news, where we break down the pressing issues of our time. Today, we have a distinguished guest, Dr. Elena Kovaleva, a geopolitical analyst specializing in Eastern European conflicts. Thank you for joining us, Dr. Kovaleva.
Dr. Kovaleva: Thank you for having me. I’m glad to be here to discuss this critical situation.
Editor: Let’s dive right in. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed deep concern over North Korean troops reportedly being deployed to Russia to fight against Ukraine. He described the Western reaction as “zero.” What does this silence indicate about the West’s current stance on the Ukrainian conflict?
Dr. Kovaleva: Zelensky’s frustration encapsulates a growing disappointment among Ukraine’s leadership regarding the response from Western allies. The lack of a strong reaction could indicate a few things: it might reflect a war fatigue among Western powers, or perhaps a strategic recalibration as they weigh their direct involvement against other global priorities. This silence can embolden Russia and its allies, potentially leading to increased aggression.
Editor: You mentioned strategic recalibration. With recent reports that up to 10,000 North Korean soldiers have been sent to the frontlines, how might this change the dynamics of the conflict?
Dr. Kovaleva: The introduction of North Korean troops is not just an increase in numbers; it also symbolizes internationalization of the conflict. If these troops engage actively in combat, it could provoke a severe response from NATO, complicating the situation further. It might force Western nations to reassess their military support for Ukraine comprehensively, as they’d have to factor in the implications of confronting both Russia and North Korea simultaneously.
Editor: Speaking of responses, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken mentioned that North Korean forces have been trained for front-line operations. How do you think this training impacts the potential effectiveness of those troops?
Dr. Kovaleva: The training received by North Korean troops, especially in critical areas such as artillery operations and drone usage, suggests they could be quite effective in combat roles. They could potentially excel in guerilla tactics and sheer manpower, both of which are valuable in the current context of the conflict. If they are unleashed into combat, we might see a significant uptick in the intensity of the fighting.
Editor: There’s also a humanitarian angle to consider. Following a recent bombing in Kharkiv, which resulted in civilian casualties, what do you think the international community should prioritize in its response?
Dr. Kovaleva: The civilian toll is particularly heartbreaking. Humanitarian assistance must continue to be prioritized, even as geopolitical strategies evolve. The international community should provide both immediate aid to the victims of such attacks and maintain a robust dialogue to hold aggressors accountable for their actions. We’ve seen before how the world’s inaction can worsen humanitarian crises, especially in areas facing protracted conflict.
Editor: President Zelensky noted a comparison between the current situation and the aftermath of the Crimea annexation, suggesting a worrying pattern of Western inaction. How do historical precedents influence current geopolitical strategies?
Dr. Kovaleva: Historical precedents are always influential in international relations. They shape perceptions and responses. The Crimea annexation demonstrated a lack of decisive action from the West, which some leaders and analysts fear sets a troubling precedent. If the West continues with minimal responses to clear acts of aggression, it could signal to hostile states that they can operate with impunity, destabilizing existing international norms.
Editor: There’s a lot at stake. In your opinion, what steps should the West take right now to support Ukraine and deter further escalation from Russia and its allies?
Dr. Kovaleva: First, an urgent reassessment of military aid is necessary, ensuring Ukraine is equipped to face new challenges. Secondly, diplomatic efforts must be ramped up to engage with allies and even adversaries, like North Korea and China, to dissuade them from participating in or supporting the conflict. Lastly, we need to intensify humanitarian aid to help civilians affected by the war — they are often the most vulnerable during such crises.
Editor: Thank you, Dr. Kovaleva, for providing such insightful analysis on these complex issues. Your expertise helps illuminate the gravity of the situation and the pressing need for a coordinated international response.
Dr. Kovaleva: Thank you for having me. It’s crucial that we continue to dialogue about these matters as they evolve.
Editor: And to our audience, stay tuned for more updates on this developing story. We’ll continue to track the situation and bring you the latest analysis. Thank you for joining us today.