ARTICLE
ISW explains why Putin wrote article about Russia’s withdrawal from grain initiative
Ukrainska Pravda
Tuesday, 25 July 2023
https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2023/07/25/7412752/
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) has said that Vladimir Putin is trying to mitigate the damage caused to Russia’s position in Africa and his own reputation after Russia’s withdrawal from the grain initiative, attacks on Ukrainian grain and port facilities, and his inability to personally participate in the BRICS Summit due to an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court. It is for this reason that he published an article on 24 July explaining Russian withdrawal from the grain initiative.
SOURCE: ISW
DETAILS:
ISW said that Putin outlined in his article Russia’s goals connected with establishing partner relations with Africa and urged them to continue “traditionally close cooperation on the world stage”.
ISW noted that Putin also emphasised the importance of “uninterrupted food supply” for “maintenance of the political stability of African states”, accusing the collective West of using the grain initiative for their own financial benefits.
QUOTE from ISW:
“Putin’s article follows Russia’s withdrawal from the grain deal and attacks that have destroyed tens of thousands of tons of Ukrainian grain and Ukrainian facilities essential to transporting the grain to areas of Africa that rely heavily on Ukrainian grain.
Putin is also likely attempting to mitigate the opportunity cost and embarrassment of his inability to personally attend the BRICS Summit in South Africa due to the ICC arrest warrant.”
ARTICLE
Ukraine to continue to strike Crimean bridge – Ukraine’s Defence Minister
Ukrainska Pravda
Tuesday, 25 July 2023, 07:19
https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2023/07/25/7412756/
Ukraine’s Defence Forces will continue to strike Russian-occupied Crimea and the Crimean Bridge, as this is necessary to disrupt Russian logistics.
SOURCE: Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov in an interview with СNN
QUOTE: “All these targets are official targets because it [strikes on them - ed.] will reduce their capacity to fight against us (and) will help to save the lives of Ukrainians.”
“It’s normal tactics to ruin the logistic lines of your enemy to stop the options to get more ammunition, to get more fuel, to get more food, etcetera. That’s why we will use these tactics against them.”
BACKGROUND:
-President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that the Crimean Bridge is a legitimate target for Ukraine because the Russian invaders use it to transport weapons.
-Oleksii Reznikov, Defence Minister of Ukraine, believes that Ukraine will win the war by next summer and could be admitted into NATO in July 2024.