Tommy Patrio Sorongan, CNBC Indonesia
Wednesday, 09/20/2023 22:00 WIB
Photo: Ukrainian rescue teams work at the scene after a Russian missile attack on a local market in the village of Shevchenkove, Kharkiv region on January 9, 2023. (AFP/SERGEY BOBOK)
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – The Russian-Ukrainian War is still ongoing. A number of new facts were revealed, Wednesday (20/9/2023).
Starting from the wrong target of the Ukrainian attack, to plans for a meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
There is also a prediction by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan about how the war will end. Then, the meeting of Ukrainian and Russian officials at the UN General Assembly in New York.
Ukrainian Missile Wrong Target
New York Times contained a surprising report Tuesday. A deadly explosion at a busy market in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kostiantynivka this month was said to have been caused by a missile fired by Ukraine itself.
“Evidence collected and analyzed by The New York Timesincluding missile fragments, satellite imagery, witness reports and social media posts, strongly suggests that the devastating attack was the result of a Ukrainian air defense missile fired by a Buk launch system,” according to the newspaper report.
New York Times also mentions security camera footage. It was shown that the missile flew into Kostiantynivka from Ukrainian-controlled territory, not from behind Russian lines.
It said that minutes before the attack, Ukraine had launched two surface-to-air missiles towards the front line from the town of Druzhkivka, 10 miles (16 km) northwest of Kostiantynivka. The media also quoted an eyewitness as saying the missiles were heading towards Kostiantynivka.
“The holes caused by the explosion and fragments at the scene are consistent with a 9M38 missile fired by a Buk mobile anti-aircraft vehicle,” the media said.
“The Buk system is used by Ukraine and Russia,” he added.
Meanwhile the press service of Ukraine’s SBU security service, continued to say that according to the ongoing investigation, Russia was responsible for the attack. This is said to involve the Russian S-300 missile system.
Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said the situation was being studied. He promises the truth of the law will be revealed.
“The publication of foreign media reports raised doubts about Russia’s involvement in the attack… led to the proliferation of conspiracy theories and required an examination by investigative authorities,” he said.
“We must not forget: it is Russia that launched the invasion of Ukraine and it is Russia that is responsible for causing war in our country,” he said.
Earlier, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova described the September 6 explosion as a Ukrainian attack on her own city. The explosion killed at least 16 people.
Putin Bertemu Xi Jinping
Putin will meet Xi Jinping in Beijing next October. The invitation was given following the arrival of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
“I am happy to accept the invitation of the Chairman of the People’s Republic of China to visit China in October,” said Putin, as published by Russian media, quoted by AFP.
Putin himself previously received a visit from North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The West says this is related to North Korea’s purchase of weapons to strengthen Russia’s attacks on Ukraine.
Russia and China themselves often praise their “borderless” partnership including their economic and military cooperation. In March China’s Xi Jinping paid a state visit to Moscow, where he and Putin sought to present a united front against Western countries.
Erdogan Predicts End of Russo-Ukrainian War
Erdogan said the conflict in the form of a war between Russia and Ukraine would drag on for a “long time”. Even so, he said, Moscow is actually one of the parties that is trying to end hostilities as soon as possible.
Erdogan made this statement in an interview with US television station, PBS which was broadcast earlier this week. He was asked about his recent meeting with Putin and whether Putin believes that Moscow “won the war.”
Erdogan said the two did not discuss the conflict in terms of who won. However, he said that Russia was actually seeking a quick resolution to hostilities that had been going on since February 2022.
“It is very clear that this war will last a long time and we hope that the war can end as soon as possible. Putin actually wants to end this war as quickly as possible,” said Erdogan.
“That’s what (Putin) said. And I believe what he said,” he added, as quoted Russia Today.
Erdogan expressed doubt that Russia would “withdraw” from Crimea, and revealed that he had “negotiated” with Putin in 2014 on the issue. The peninsula broke away from Kyiv after the Maidan coup and was incorporated into Russia after a referendum.
“I can’t force them to withdraw from Crimea. I don’t think that’s possible at the moment. I think time will tell,” Erdogan said.
Throughout the war, top Ukrainian officials have repeatedly vowed to expel Russian troops from all of its territory. In addition to Crimea, the region includes Kherson and Zaporizhia, as well as Donetsk and Luhansk, all of which Russia annexed after a referendum last fall.
Moscow has repeatedly signaled that it considers the issue closed and that the new territorial reality must be recognized.
Zelensky Meets Putin’s Right Hand
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is believed to be meeting with Putin’s hand, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. This is related to the UN General Assembly session, which is currently being held in New York, USA.
Zelensky is known to have given a speech on Tuesday. Meanwhile Lavrov is expected to speak at the September 23 forum.
“I don’t know how it will turn out,” Zelensky said when asked whether he would listen to Lavrov’s presentation or not, to Associated Press (AP).
Lavrov himself arrived late. There are at least 20 agendas that he will attend, including talks with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.
“The Russian Foreign Minister will take part in a number of multilateral events, including those organized by the UN Security Council, BRICS, CSTO (Collective Security Treaty Organization, an intergovernmental military alliance in Eurasia) … including in the SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organization) ,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
Meanwhile, during a speech at the UN, Zelensky appealed to world leaders to unite against the Russian invasion. He said Russia must be pushed back so the world can move on to solving urgent global challenges.
“Ukraine is doing everything to ensure that after Russia’s aggression, no one in the world dares to attack any country,” he was quoted as saying Reuters.
“Arms must be limited, war crimes must be punished, deportees must return to their homes and invaders must return to their own lands,” he added.
“We have to unite to make it happen and we will make it happen,” he stressed again.
In his speech, Zelensky accused Russia of manipulating global food markets. This is to seek international recognition of the ownership of the land it seized from Kyiv.
Watch the video below:
Video: Ukrainian Missile Caused Kostiantynivka Tragedy
(sef/sef)
2023-09-20 15:00:00
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