By outdoor-nature-child.com On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to meet with UN Secretary-General António Guterres in what would mark Guterres’ first visit to Russia in over two years. This meeting, reportedly scheduled on the sidelines of the Brics summit in Kazan, has sparked criticism from Ukraine, which expressed concerns that it could tarnish the UN’s reputation. The Ukrainian foreign ministry pointed out that Guterres had declined Ukraine’s invitation to a global peace summit in Switzerland but accepted an invitation from what they describe as a war criminal, Putin.
At a briefing in New York, a spokesperson for the UN refrained from confirming the travel plans, stating, “Announcements on his future travels will be made later on.” Guterres has voiced opposition to Moscow’s military actions in Ukraine, yet Ukraine’s foreign ministry argued that meeting with Putin at this time does not contribute to peace efforts.
In a separate but devastating event, a Russian missile strike in Zaporizhzhia resulted in two deaths and injured 15 others, damaging civilian infrastructure including a kindergarten and over 30 residential buildings, according to regional governor Ivan Fedorov.
The U.S. also expressed alarm over reports that North Korea is dispatching troops to assist Russia in Ukraine. Both South Korea and Britain have warned of the significant repercussions this might entail for Moscow. The Guardian’s defense and security editor, Dan Sabbagh, noted that South Korea’s National Intelligence Service has indicated that up to 1,500 North Korean special forces troops have crossed into Vladivostok for training and potential involvement in the conflict. This initial group could signal a larger deployment of around 12,000 troops.
Beyond troop movements, Sabbagh reported that South Korean intelligence has tracked 70 shipments of munitions from North Korea to Russia since August of last year, potentially involving up to 8 million rounds of arms, which are critical to Russia’s military efforts.
In response to the troop situation, South Korea has summoned the Russian ambassador, Georgy Zinoviev, to lodge a formal protest against what it views as a violation of UN resolutions, demanding the immediate withdrawal of North Korean forces.
In a significant development for Ukraine, Britain announced an additional £2.26 billion in loans to support its defense efforts. This is part of a broader US$50 billion loan program, expected to be confirmed by G7 nations soon. The funding will reportedly be backed by profits from US$300 billion in frozen Russian assets.
Simultaneously, a bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers is pressuring the Biden administration to tighten sanctions against Russian oil shipments, particularly criticizing an exception granted to the oilfield services company SLB, which has continued operations in Russia since the invasion began. They argue that allowing such companies to benefit from Western technology only strengthens Russia’s ability to finance its military operations.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the U.S. is preparing an $800 million aid package aimed at drone production, alongside an additional $400 million for arms following U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s visit to Kyiv. Despite this support, Zelenskyy continues to call on Western allies for greater assistance, including NATO membership and access to longer-range missiles to target Russian military positions deeply within their territory, as Ukraine grapples with a severe winter and increasing pressure on its eastern front.
Lastly, Ukraine has been seeking international help to secure navigation in the Black Sea amid a recent uptick in strikes, including damaging attacks on the port city of Odesa. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha discussed these issues with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, emphasizing the need to protect civilian shipping in the area.