What to remember from Tuesday 18th July

After the conclusion of the Ukrainian grain deal, there were many reactions, showing a worried but equally divided international community. On the ground, Moscow claimed a rare mile-and-a-half advance, and Washington realized it “soon” To say whether the Ukrainian counteroffensive failed or not.

According to Washington, Kyiv still has “significant” reserves for its counterattack

Asked about a possible stalemate in the Ukrainian counteroffensive, US Chief of Staff Mark Milley said the Ukrainians faced Russian soldiers who had time to establish strong defenses, including strong mines, barbed wire or trenches.

>> War in Ukraine: How the Russian Army Built Massive Defense Lines

Kiev is provided “A remarkable fighting force yet to be made” Mark Milley estimates that he is currently protecting it. “They’re moving slowly, deliberately and steadily through these minefields, and it’s an uphill battle.” He is to him “soon” To tell if this counter attack failed. “It’s going to be long, it’s going to be hard, it’s going to be bloody”he added.

“Offensive Operations” in Kubyansk

The Russian military reported a rare breakthrough of one and a half kilometers on Tuesday. “In the Kubyansk region, the units of the group West Successfully continuing offensive operations (…) the total advance was two kilometers forward and one and a half kilometers deep”Russian Defense Ministry said.

He also indicated that in Odesa, he touched sites used by Kyiv to prepare an attack the day before against the critical Crimean bridge. “Overnight, the Russian Armed Forces launched a retaliatory attack (…) on facilities preparing terrorist acts against Russia using naval drones”The ministry said.

G20 split over conflict in Ukraine

The situation in Ukraine deeply divides the international community. Meeting in India, the G20 leaders failed to find a compromise, particularly over differences over the conflict in Ukraine. They failed to agree “because”[ils n’ont] There is still no common language in the war between Russia and Ukraine”India’s Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who presided over the meeting, explained.

The G20 talks ended a day after Moscow refused to extend a deal authorizing Ukrainian grain exports through the Black Sea. Condemned decision “multiple members” of the G20, the Indian minister assured. South Africa’s finance minister expressed concern over the potential impact on food prices “too much” Poor countries. “What keeps me up at night is the hopelessness of quietly dividing the planet’s north and south at a time when we should be united.”said the head of the World Bank.

The end of the Ukrainian grain deal has alarmed the international community

“I urge stakeholders to resolve issues to allow for continued and safe delivery of grain and fertilizers from Ukraine and Russia to areas in need, including Africa.”African Union Commission President said.

“He decided to make a weapon out of food (…) I think it was a big mistake”, Emmanuel Macron said in English at the end of the summit in Brussels (Belgium) between the leaders of the European Union and Latin American countries. Finishing the grain deal shows that “The king is naked, he cannot be called a tsar”Another reply in French added the head of state.

The final declaration by the leaders gathered in Brussels was less dramatic. They are expressed themselves “Deeply concerned about the ongoing war against Ukraine”, however without mentioning Moscow. Even this minimal formulation was not unanimously approved, and Nicaragua refused to associate itself with it. The draft of the press release sparked lengthy negotiations before and after a summit of leaders and governments of the European Union and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) held Monday and Tuesday in the Belgian capital, where Europeans wanted to include a reference to Russian aggression.