Tensions between Russia and Ukraine have intensified recently. Russian president Vladimir Putin threatened to retaliate with ‘several times more powerful’ , while a spokesperson accused Ukraine of engineering terrorism in the Sea of Azov. Meanwhile, Volodymyr Zelensky inked a new pact with France.
Russia Ukraine War Latest News: Kremlin Spokesperson Alleges Terrorism in Sea of Azov
Yesterday, Russia decided to temporarily suspend all shipping in the Sea of Azov. Now, Kremlin foreign minister Sergei Azarov has accused Ukraine of terrorism in the waters, over which both countries share jurisdiction.
“What the Ukrainian regime is doing goes beyond even piracy. Pirates, at least, plunder and keep the spoils for themselves”, Lavrov said. He then added that “But here, it benefits neither them nor anyone else – the goal is simply to cause damage and intimidate. It is terrorism, pure and simple”.
According to Robert Brovdi, the commander of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces, the Ukrainian military struck 105 vessels of Russian origin from July 6 to July 13, in addition to the 35 ships that were targeted and set on fire the week before. Kyiv has claimed that the vessels and tankers were allegedly ‘shadow fleet tankers’ of Russia.
Russia Ukraine War Latest News: Ukraine Turns to France for Strengthening Defense
Ukraine has relied on European allies for support for much of the war, now in its fifth year. At the recent NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, Zelensky urged member countries to to take ‘strong decisions’ and reaffirmed the need for American & European support to neutralise Russian threats.
Now, France has stepped in with the two countries signing a new defense pact. Ukraine is all set to order Rafale jets as well as other air defense systems.
Additionally, France and Italy also authorised the licensed production in Ukraine of Aster 30 interceptor missiles, while France approved local production of AASM guided bombs and SCALP cruise missiles. A 9 member coalition of European countries, which includes France and Italy has Ukraine to co-develop defensive shield capabilities as Russian attacks continue.
Russia Ukraine War Latest News: Polish PM Says Peace in Region ‘Unlikely’
Tensions between Ukraine and Poland have intensified recently. The release of the Volhynia Massacre files from World War II by Russia as well as Zelensky’s decision to name a special-forces military unit to honor the “Heroes of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army” (UPA) have caused bad blood between the once close neighbours.
Poland has repeatedly held Ukraine’s UPA responsible for the devastating massacre, in which over 100,000 ethnic Poles died. And Zelensky was publicly stripped off the Order of White Eagle (Poland’s highest state order) after which multiple Ukrainian leaders returned their badges & awards conferred from Poland.
But Poland has always supported Ukraine in the ongoing war. While speaking to reporters today, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk gave a grim forecast of the war, stating that peace is ‘unlikely’ anytime soon.
“At this point, it seems unlikely that a ceasefire or peace agreement will be reached in the near future, given the rigid stance of Russia and Putin.Everyone expects an escalation of actions from Russia at this time, and it’s quite likely that Russia will want to prolong this war at least until the winter”, he explained.
Russia Ukraine War Latest News: Putin’s Retaliation Vow
As observed by Tusk, Vladimir Putin has maintained mostly a rigid stance with regards to the war. Now, he has doubled down on that and said that Moscow’s retaliatory strikes to Ukrainian aggression will be not only ‘mirror like’ but also ‘several times more powerful’.
Putin made the comments while touring an exhibition by the All-Russia People’s Front in Moscow. Kyiv has yet to respond to the threat.
