Sep 18, 2023 at 9:53 PM Update: 23 minutes ago
NU.nl regularly gives you an overview of the situation in Ukraine. This time: a conflict between Ukraine and Poland, Hungary and Slovakia over grain. Furthermore, a Ukrainian general claims to have broken through a defense line near Bakhmut and Kyiv has fired six deputy defense ministers.
Ukraine is arguing with EU member states over grain ban
Ukraine has filed complaints with the World Trade Organization (WTO) about Poland, Slovakia and Hungary. Ukrainians are angry that the countries are banning Ukrainian food. That would go against agreements made.
The three countries introduced an import ban on Ukrainian agricultural products on Friday. This means that residents or companies from those countries are not allowed to import wheat or corn from Ukraine, for example. The three EU countries did this shortly after Brussels stopped the same measure. Last spring, the European Commission banned Ukraine from selling grain in Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Romania and Bulgaria. This is because Ukrainian products are much cheaper.
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On Friday, Kyiv and Brussels signed a deal allowing Ukraine to once again export grain, corn and wheat to Eastern European countries. Poland, Hungary and Slovakia disagreed and decided to immediately introduce rules to keep cheap grain out of Ukraine.
Ukraine is now going to the WTO because, according to Ukraine, the three countries are acting against the agreements made. According to Spanish Minister Luis Planas Puchades (Agriculture), the countries’ measures are illegal.
Kyiv dismisses six deputy defense ministers
The Ukrainian government has dismissed six deputy defense ministers. It is not known why the deputy ministers were dismissed. Hanna Maliar is one of the deputy ministers who is dismissed. She provided regular updates on the Russian invasion of the country.
Things have been going on in the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense for some time now. The Ukrainian government appointed Rustem Umerov as the new defense minister earlier this month. He replaced Oleksii Reznikov, who became the head of Defense before the war.
“Reznikov has gone through 550 days of war and I believe it is time for a new approach at the ministry,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a video message in early September.
Ukrainian general claims to have broken through defense line near Bakhmut
The Ukrainian army has managed to break through a key Russian defense line near the city of Bakhmut, a Ukrainian general said on Monday. The breakthrough was said to be due to the recapture of the villages of Klishchiivka and Andriivka.
Over the weekend, Ukraine reported that the two villages had been captured. “These settlements, small at first glance, were important elements in the enemy’s defense line, which stretched from Bakhmut to Horlivka,” said General Oleksandr Syrsky, via Telegram. Horlivka is located about 30 kilometers south of Bakhmut.
According to Syrsky, Russia is trying to regain lost positions and there is still heavy fighting near the villages. Moscow denies that it has lost control of both villages.
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Germany comes up with a support package of 400 million euros for Ukraine
Germany is presenting a new support package for Ukraine in the fight against Russia. The country will release another 400 million euros for weapons and aid, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius told the German tabloid Bild.
“We are providing additional ammunition,” Pistorius said a day ahead of a meeting of Ukraine’s allies in Ramstein, Germany. “Ammunition is what Ukraine needs most in its defensive struggle.” Germany is also helping with “armored vehicles and mine clearance systems.” Germany also sends clothing and generators. “In total, the package will be worth 400 million euros,” Pistorius said.
The package does not include long-range Taurus cruise missiles, a weapon requested by Ukraine. The decision was “not easy”, the minister said. “A large number of political, legal, military and technical aspects need to be clarified.”
2023-09-18 19:53:00
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