As expected, the G20 summit, which opened on Friday, was agitated by calls from various states for an end to the fighting in Ukraine. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov avoided several meetings of diplomatic chiefs as he met with his American counterpart, Foreign Minister Antony Blinken, for the first time since the conflict began.
These calls for an end to the war did not prevent the Russian army from continuing a ground offensive in Donbass, despite a pause in operations. After capturing the city of Lysychansk on July 3, Moscow’s forces are now attempting to capture the other province, Donetsk, in order to occupy the entire region. And beyond Ukraine’s borders, the consequences of fighting are being felt in the wheat market, which is gradually running out in several countries and threatens world food security, while Sweden and Finland move closer to joining NATO. Here is an infographic point about this new week of war in Ukraine ending this Friday, the 135th day of the conflict.
Russians target Sloviansk
Map of the front line in eastern Ukraine showing the cities of Severodonetsk and Lysychansk captured by Russian forces and the cities of Sloviansk, Kramatorsk and Bakhmout near the front line – SABRINA BLANCHARD, VALENTIN RAKOVSKY / AFP
On the ground, Russia is continuing its “operational pause” that has begun since capturing the strategic city of Lysychansk, which gives it control of Lugansk, one of the two regions of the Donbass, he says the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW). However, Russian forces are still conducting “limited ground offensives and air, artillery and missile attacks on all axes,” according to the ISW, which sees them “remaining limited to small-scale operations, giving enough time to rebuild their forces and manage the Conditions for a more significant offensive in the coming weeks or months”.
Donetsk province governor Pavlo Kyrylenko reported that at least seven civilians were killed by artillery and rocket launchers in several locations on Wednesday. In this region of Donbass, after four and a half months of conflict, Sloviansk and Kramatorsk are considered the next targets of Russian forces in their plan to conquer the east.
On Tuesday, Russian rockets fell in central Sloviansk, partially burning down and destroying a market, killing at least two people. On Wednesday, Sloviansk Mayor Vadim Liakh indicated that the city’s evacuation, encouraged by local authorities, was “underway”. As of Wednesday, there were still around 23,000 of the roughly 110,000 residents it had before the conflict, its mayor said, counting 17 dead and 67 injured since hostilities began.
billions of dollars in aid
Graphic shows the ten countries or institutions that announced the most aid to Ukraine between January 24 and July 1 by type of aid, according to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy – LAURENCE SAUBADU / AFP
The allied countries agreed to help Kyiv rebuild after the war. During a two-day international conference in Lugano, Switzerland, organized on Tuesday evening to outline Ukraine’s reconstruction, which Kyiv estimates will cost $750 billion, the signatories pledged “to fully support Ukraine in all areas.” Trip”.
“The recovery process must be transparent and accountable to the Ukrainian people,” the statement said, amid concerns about the inflow of billions of dollars in aid funds as corruption runs rampant in the country.
Wheat, the new nerve of war
Evolution of wheat prices on the Euronext market since July 2, 2021 – LAURENCE SAUBADU, VALENTINA BRESCHI, SYLVIE HUSSON / AFP
The other consequence of the war is the global distribution of wheat. Russia controls 22% of Ukraine’s farmland and the war is threatening harvests expected this summer, which could further exacerbate the world food crisis, NASA researchers estimate. According to satellite images taken on June 13 by the European Space Agency’s Sentinel-2 mission and analyzed by the program, 22% of Ukraine’s agricultural land in the east and south of the country is under Russian control. This includes 28% winter grains (wheat, barley, rye) and 18% spring grains (corn and sunflower seeds), according to NASA in its note.
Before the start of the Russian offensive on February 24, Ukraine – also called the breadbasket of Europe – provided 46% of the world sunflower oil crop, 9% of wheat exports, 17% of barley and 12% of corn.
Countries that could join NATO
Map of NATO member countries and aspirants to membership in the organization, including Finland and Sweden, whose membership ratification process officially started on July 5 – STAFF / AFP
The 30 member states of NATO this Tuesday in Brussels started the ratification process for the accession of Sweden and Finland, which will allow the alliance to organize a unified line of defense from the Arctic to the Mediterranean in the face of Russian intrigues will also depend on the goodwill of Ankara. Canada became the first country to ratify the two accession protocols on Tuesday. “We urge all NATO member countries to quickly complete their ratification process to limit the possibility of interference from adversaries,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said.
Everything will depend on Turkey. Its President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gave his consent to the implementation of the procedure at the Madrid summit, but reminded the two candidates of the commitments they had made. The two Nordic countries have confirmed that they have given up their neutrality and decided to join NATO because of the deterioration in the security situation in Europe caused by Russia.