Russian forces today claimed to have seized their first Ukrainian village, in the Dnipropetrovsk region. This creates a huge victory in their long and persistent offensive, which has lasted over three years. Across the Russian state media ecosystem, journalists cheered the successful takeover of the village. Independent verification of this information on the ground remains to be seen.
This counter offensive retakes ground as Moscow’s forces move to consolidate power in the areas of Ukraine they still occupy. They have announced total victory in Luhansk. This eastern region is one of the four that Russia illegally annexed from Ukraine in September 2022. Leonid Pasechnik, a Russia-appointed official in the Luhansk region, reported that now 100% of the region’s territory has been brought under Russian control. If confirmed, Luhansk would be the first Ukrainian region completely occupied by Russia since the start of the conflict.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul speaks on the grave dangers of Vladimir Putin’s ambitions. He stated that Putin “wants to subjugate the whole of Ukraine and at the same time spread fear throughout Europe.” Wadephul warned that the Russian leader’s newfound openness to talks is a mere “charade.” He cautioned us that we should not expect to see any real steps taken towards peace.
North Korea’s state media showcased leader Kim Jong-un draping national flags over coffins, which appeared to be part of a repatriation ceremony for soldiers killed while fighting for Russia against Ukraine. This development underscores the tightening military partnership between North Korea and Russia. A landmark treaty finalized last November has codified this deepened cooperation.
Keith Kellog, a senior envoy for Ukraine and Russia under former US President Donald Trump, condemned Russia’s tactics, stating that the country cannot afford to “stall for time while it bombs civilian targets in Ukraine.” This statement underscores the continued international denunciation of Russia’s use of brutal military strategy that forcibly targets civilian populations.
The economic ramifications of the war are still playing out too. The European Union (EU) and Kyiv are currently negotiating a deal that includes quotas on tariff-free Ukrainian agricultural imports into the bloc. Brussels has already proposed even stricter limits for 2024. They hope to establish a ceiling on the potential tariff-free imports for cereals, poultry, eggs, sugar and corn. In retaliation, Kyiv plans to reduce its import quotas for EU pork, poultry and sugar. Yet at the same time, it hopes to bring its food production standards in line with those of the EU by 2028.
At the same time, important fiscal news has been breaking for Ukraine. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) recently completed the fourth review of Ukraine’s Extended Fund Facility. This decision will raise total disbursements to a staggering $10.6 billion. This economic assistance is no less important as Ukraine still contends with the economic damage from the war that rages on.