Ukraine, scarred by Russia’s aggressive war, is focused on reconstruction along with the offensive. At a conference in London, Germany discusses aid to the country. News at a glance.
- War in Ukraine: focus on recovery
- Burbock and Schultz at a conference in London: focus on recovery
- Kyiv: The Ukrainian army is actively resisting the enemy in the south and east
- Stoltenberg: NATO supports Ukraine in the modernization of the armed forces
- The US government is overcharging
- UN Secretary General Disappointed With Implementation Of Grain Deal
- What will be important today
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War in Ukraine: focus on recovery
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky sees the reconstruction conference starting today in London as a new push for his country, which has suffered from Russia’s war of aggression. Focus on reconstruction: “A restored Ukraine, a transformed Ukraine, a strong Ukraine is (…) a guarantor of security, a defense against any form of Russian terror,” Zelenskiy said in his evening video message broadcast yesterday in Kiev. At the meeting, which will last until tomorrow, the states and large corporations plan to announce assistance for the restoration of Ukraine.
“The first meetings have already begun in London,” Zelensky said. Negotiations for reconstruction assistance have already been held in Germany, Switzerland, France and Italy. It is not only about construction projects, but also about protecting Ukraine, the President said. Today, he wants to present his philosophy of Ukrainian transformation through video, and at the end of the month, the “full vision” will be presented in the country itself.
Burbock and Schultz at a conference in London: focus on recovery
German Foreign Minister Annalena Berbock (The Greens) will take part in a two-day conference on the reconstruction of Ukraine. The focus will be on how to encourage private companies to invest in the country. The conference will also be attended by US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Development Minister Svenja Schulze (SPD). EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is also expected to attend.
According to the British government, hundreds of international companies have already announced their intention to participate in the restoration of Ukraine. In order to provide companies with greater security, a war risk insurance framework covered by the G7 countries will be established. On the agenda, for example, is the issue of investment guarantees, through which the state can reduce the risk for companies. However, Kyiv will be forced to carry out reforms, for example, to control corruption in the country.
At a meeting with his British counterpart James Cleverly in London yesterday, Blinken urged Kyiv to strengthen democratic institutions. He pledged support from the United States and other allies. Germany plans to hold a conference on the restoration of Ukraine next year.
Kyiv: The Ukrainian army is actively resisting the enemy in the south and east
In his video message, Zelensky once again noted that Ukrainian fighters are actively fighting the Russian occupiers. “Now our fighters are very actively destroying the enemy in the south and east and physically cleansing Ukraine,” Zelensky said. “This will continue into the future.”
Deputy Defense Minister of Ukraine Anna Malyar said in the evening that Russian troops are putting up fierce resistance in populated areas and in mining areas. In the south, the offensive is going according to plan, she said. It does not take big steps, but it moves forward steadily.” More recently, Ukraine has made progress on the ground and liberated several villages. Malyar said that some Ukrainian forces are on the defensive, while the Russians, in turn, have gone on the offensive. She repeated that the main blow of the offensive was yet to come.
Stoltenberg: NATO supports Ukraine in the modernization of the armed forces
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announced the prospects for further assistance to Ukraine in the modernization of the country’s armed forces. “During the summit, the Allies will adopt a multi-year aid package that will bring Ukraine into line with NATO standards,” Stoltenberg told the Tagesspiegel newspaper, referring to a meeting of heads of state and government of 31 member countries in July in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius.
“With our help, the Ukrainian military must make the transition from the old Soviet-style army to a modern force operating according to NATO standards.”
The US government is overcharging
Due to miscalculated spending on military aid to Ukraine, the US government has more than $6 billion in additional support for Kyiv. “In a significant number of cases, services were based on replacement cost rather than book value, which inflated the cost of equipment taken from US stockpiles and provided to Ukraine,” Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said.
As a result, Washington received an additional 6.2 billion dollars (about 5.7 billion euros) at its disposal. The Department of Defense says it has the authority to use the money for military aid and emphasizes that this will not affect further aid packages.
UN Secretary General Disappointed With Implementation Of Grain Deal
Meanwhile, Ukraine is threatened by the cessation of grain exports through the Black Sea – the collective West has not fulfilled the promises made to Russia. UN Secretary-General António Guterres said he was “disappointed” with the current state of implementation of the grain agreement between Russia and Ukraine. “Among other things, ships are now inspected more slowly, so fewer cargo ships reach and leave Ukrainian ports, and therefore less grain reaches recipients,” Guterres said in New York yesterday, according to a spokesman. According to him, food exports, made possible by the agreement, fell by about three-quarters in May compared to October last year.
The grain agreement between Russia and Ukraine was brokered by the United Nations and Turkey last summer and ended Moscow’s naval blockade of Ukrainian ports. The agreement has already been extended several times, but recently only by two months. The current extension is valid until about mid-July.
What will be important today
In addition to the reconstruction conference, the Ukrainian offensive continues to liberate the territories occupied by Russia. So far, Kyiv has not been able to achieve a turning point. Russian lines of defense along the 815-kilometer front are considered to be well protected.
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Cover photo: Nina Lyashonok/AP/dpa
