The first North Korean troops are due to arrive this Wednesday in the Kursk region, where a counter-offensive by the Ukrainian army has been taking place since the beginning of August.
In Kazan, Vladimir Putin displayed his understanding with the Brics countries on Tuesday, during the summit of this group to which China and India notably belong, before undoubtedly meeting UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Thursday .
The United States plans to lend $20 billion to Ukraine by the end of the year thanks to interest from frozen Russian assets, as part of an agreement signed in June by the G7 countries.
We take stock of the events that have marked recent hours.
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North Korean troops in Kursk this Wednesday according to kyiv
The first North Korean troops should arrive this Wednesday in the Russian region of Kursk according to the head of Ukrainian military intelligence Kyrylo Boudanov, cited by the American media The War Zone.
On Tuesday evening, Volodymyr Zelensky called for a “firm and concrete response from the world” in the face of troop dispatches decided by Pyongyang. “If North Korea can intervene in the war in Europe, the pressure on this regime is certainly not strong enough,” added the Ukrainian president during his daily speech.
Putin displays his understanding with the BRICS
In a snub to the West who want to isolate him since the offensive in Ukraine, Vladimir Putin displayed his understanding with the Brics countries on Tuesday, during the summit of this group to which China and India notably belong. .
The Russian president held numerous meetings throughout the day in Kazan, Russia, speaking in turn with the Indian and South African leaders and even with his major Asian partner, Chinese President Xi Jinping.
“Russian-Chinese cooperation on the international scene is one of the factors of global stability,” said Vladimir Putin at the start of this meeting with Xi Jinping.
Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin attend a concert before an informal dinner, during the Brics summit in Kazan (Russia) on October 22, 2024. | ALEXANDER KRYAZHEV /AFP / PHOTO HOST BRICS-RUSSIA2024.RU View in full screen
Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin attend a concert before an informal dinner, during the Brics summit in Kazan (Russia) on October 22, 2024. | ALEXANDER KRYAZHEV /AFP / PHOTO HOST BRICS-RUSSIA2024.RU
In an international context “chaotic”, « the deep friendship that unites China and Russia from generation to generation will not change,” assured the Chinese head of state in return.
According to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri Peskov, the conflict in Ukraine was discussed at length, as well as relations with the West. “Once again there has been a significant convergence of positions and approaches on what is happening in the world,” he said.
In the evening, Vladimir Putin met with Egyptian President Abdelfattah al-Sisi, whose country recently joined the BRICS. The latter praised Moscow’s support for his country’s economic projects, including the Dabaa nuclear power plant on the Mediterranean coast.
The President of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, also arrived in Kazan to participate in the Brics summit, which his country aims to integrate. This great ally of Moscow in Latin America has not visited Russia since 2019.
Read also: War in Ukraine. In Kursk too, the Ukrainians are retreating: how long will they hold out?
Washington plans to lend $20 billion to Ukraine by the end of 2024
Washington should contribute $20 billion to the loan to Ukraine promised by the G7 countries with interest on frozen Russian assets, according to US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, speaking of finalization by the end of the ‘year. “We are close to finalizing America’s share of this $50 billion loan program,” that the G7 countries hope to be able to “grant to Ukraine by the end of the year”, Joe Biden’s Minister of Economy and Finance declared Tuesday during a press conference.
The United States should “contribute up to 20 billion dollars to the 50 billion G7 package”, she said, during this meeting organized on the occasion of the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank which are being held this week in Washington.
G7 leaders agreed in June to use interest generated by Russian assets frozen in their jurisdictions to guarantee a $50 billion loan to Ukraine.
This loan will be guaranteed by future interest generated by fixed Russian assets, which amount to 300 billion euros generating up to three billion euros in revenue per year.
Fear of Russian interference for the second round in Moldova
The United States expressed concern on Tuesday about Russian interference in the second round of the presidential election in Moldova, which promises to be close. “As Moldova’s presidential runoff election approaches on November 3, the United States is concerned that Russia may once again attempt to prevent Moldovans from exercising their sovereign right to choose their own leaders,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.
The United States had already denounced the fact that Russia “did everything in its power to disrupt the elections and referendum in order to undermine Moldovan democracy, including through illicit financing, vote buying, disinformation and malicious cyber activities” .
Moldovans narrowly approved the principle of joining the European Union on Sunday, but the extremely close result sounds like a snub for pro-European President Maia Sandu.
The 52-year-old candidate came first in the first round of the presidential election in this country of 2.6 million inhabitants, but is preparing for a difficult second round.
