The ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine has now entered its 406th day, and there have been several key developments in recent days.
Diplomacy
Finland has become the 31st country to join NATO, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has also stated that the alliance will ensure that Sweden, whose membership has been held up by Turkey and Hungary, will also join. Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen are set to visit China for a three-day state visit that will focus on the situation in Ukraine. The United Nations Human Rights Council has appointed Bulgarian human rights expert Mariana Katzarova as a special rapporteur to monitor the situation inside Russia, and has extended an investigative body looking into possible war crimes committed since Russia invaded Ukraine. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is also set to travel to Moscow for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Conflict
The United States has announced a $2.6 billion package of military assistance for Ukraine, which includes air surveillance radars, anti-tank rockets, and fuel trucks. Meanwhile, Russian investigators have charged Darya Trepova with terrorism over a bomb blast that killed military blogger Vladlen Tatarsky. Trepova has been remanded in custody. Former US President Bill Clinton has also expressed regret over his role in persuading Ukraine to give up its nuclear weapons in 1994, suggesting that Russia would not have invaded Ukraine if Kyiv still had its nuclear deterrent.
Fighting
Ukraine’s military has claimed that its defence systems destroyed 14 out of 17 Iranian-made Shahed drones launched by Russia on Monday night. The United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence has also suggested that the Russian government is looking to develop alternative private military groups to replace the Wagner Group.
Economy
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has stated that the US and the European Union are exploring ways to further reduce Europe’s dependence on Russian energy. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has also discussed further US assistance to Ukraine with a delegation of Republican members of the US House of Representatives. Meanwhile, Lithuania’s parliament has voted to ban Russian nationals from buying property in their country, citing risks to national security.
Overall, the situation in Ukraine remains tense, with ongoing conflict and diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis. The involvement of NATO and other international bodies highlights the global significance of the conflict, and the ongoing economic impact of the war is also a key concern for many countries.