Global Courant
Poland is trying to reduce tensions with Ukraine
Poland’s president appeared to soften Warsaw’s recent rhetoric toward Ukraine after increasing tensions between allies and neighbors in recent weeks, especially over grain imports.
“We must get our emotions under control, because let’s consider who will benefit most if the paths of Poland and Ukraine diverge. The consequences could be tragic,” Polish President Andrzej Duda told a Polish newspaper on Sunday.
Duda’s comments come after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, while addressing the UN General Assembly in New York last week, appeared to suggest that some of Ukraine’s allies had feigned solidarity with Kiev.
That comment appeared to prompt the Polish prime minister to declare that Poland would no longer supply Kiev with weapons, further escalating tensions.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky listens to US President Joe Biden during the 78th session of the UN General Assembly in New York City, September 19, 2023.
Caitlin Ochs | Reuters
Poland was one of Ukraine’s staunchest supporters during the war, but tensions have increased recently over Ukrainian agricultural exports routed through Eastern Europe, with local farmers saying their own livelihoods have been hit by a glut of cheaper imports.
In an interview with a Polish newspaper on Sunday, Duda noted that Zelenskyy’s comments at the UN General Assembly could be due to stress.
‘Let’s not forget that Zelensky is under enormous pressure’ he told Polish newspaper Super Express. “He sends people to the front, often to their death.”
Referring to defense spending, he said new equipment “must serve to strengthen the Polish army” before more can be sent to Ukraine. “We’re not spending billions to suddenly give it away,” he said.
“But that does not mean that we will not transfer weapons to Ukraine at all,” he said, adding that “when the old equipment is replaced by modern equipment, I see no problem in sending it (old equipment) to Ukraine. ” ) to the Ukrainians.”
Zelenskyy appeared to try to soften the rhetoric when he posted on Telegram a message thanking Poles for their support in the war, saying “thank you to all of Poland for the invaluable support and solidarity that has guaranteed the freedom of our entire Europe helps defend.”
– Holly Ellyatt
Ukraine’s grain exports fell 51% in September, the ministry said
Ukraine’s grain exports totaled 1.57 million tons between September 1 and 24, a sharp decline from 3.21 million tons in the corresponding period last year, Agriculture Ministry data showed on Monday.
The ministry gave no explanation for the decline.
Traders and agricultural unions have said that Ukraine’s blockade of Black Sea ports and recent Russian attacks on Ukrainian ports on the Danube are the main reasons for reduced exports.
The ministry’s data shows that Ukraine has exported a total of 6.2 million tons of grain so far in the 2023/24 July-June season, compared to 7.5 million tons in the same period of the previous season.
The volume included almost 3 million tons of wheat, 2.5 million tons of corn and 599,000 tons of barley.
Ukraine traditionally ships most of its exports through its deep-sea ports on the Black Sea.
A combine harvester harvests wheat near Kramatorsk, Donetsk region, on August 4, 2023, during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Anatolii Stepanov | AFP | Getty Images
An agreement brokered by the United Nations and Turkey to allow such exports collapsed in July when Russia withdrew from the deal, saying its demands for an easing of sanctions on its own grain and fertilizer exports were not granted.
Ukraine can export limited volumes through small river ports on the Danube and through the western land border with the European Union.
Ukraine is expected to harvest at least 80 million tons of grain and oilseeds in 2023 and the exportable surplus for 2023/2024 is about 50 million tons.
– Reuters
The US and Ukraine will jointly produce weapons and defense systems
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US President Joe Biden in the Oval Office on September 21, 2023.
Kevin Lamarque | Reuters
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his late-night speech on Sunday that the US had agreed to produce weapons jointly with Kiev.
“There is a historic decision by the United States to jointly produce weapons and defense systems. In particular air defense. This was something that until recently was an absolute fantasy. But it will become reality. We will make it a reality.” Zelensky said.
Zelenskyy has spent the past week in the US and Canada after attending the last UN General Assembly in New York before holding separate talks with President Joe Biden and then-Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
“It was a productive week. Very productive. We made many good defense and other decisions,” Zelenskyy said, listing US defense packages including artillery, grenades, HIMARS ammunition, air defense missiles, additional air defense systems and tactical vehicles , and some other types of weapons that will prove themselves on the battlefield.
“From Canada we have made a decision on long-term defense support worth half a billion dollars. In particular, these are medical vehicles, which are desperately needed at the front… We have agreed on their production and delivery .” he added.
– Holly Ellyatt
Russia says it has destroyed Ukrainian drones over the Black Sea, Crimea and Russian regions
Russia said its air defense systems destroyed Ukrainian drones over Russian territory and Crimea overnight.
Message on TelegramThe Russian Defense Ministry said two Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles were intercepted over the Kursk territory in southwestern Russia, and two other drones were destroyed over the neighboring Bryansk region. Both regions have been the target of alleged Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian territory a number of times. Kiev has remained tight-lipped about such attacks.
Plumes of smoke rise after a fire breaks out at an oil depot in Bryansk, Russia, on April 25, 2022.
Natalya Krutova | Reuters
The Defense Ministry also said four Ukrainian drones had been destroyed over the northwestern part of the Black Sea and over Russian-occupied Crimea.
It was not immediately known whether there was any damage or injuries as a result of the reported attacks.
CNBC could not independently verify the information and there was no comment from Ukraine.
—Holly Ellyatt
The Ukrainian port city of Odessa suffered ‘significant damage’ in the attack
Ukraine’s key port city of Odesa suffered “significant damage” overnight in a large-scale Russian attack.
Ukraine’s southern armed forces said that 19 attack drones of the Shahed-136/131 type, 12 Kalibr missiles and 2 supersonic Onyx missiles were used in the attack on Odesa. It said its air defense forces shot down 19 drones and 11 Kalibr missiles.
“Unfortunately, the enemy has hit the port infrastructure,” officials said said on Telegram.
“The seaport in Odessa suffered significant damage, a fire broke out in the building of the station hotel, which has not been functioning for several years. Firefighters immediately eliminated it,” said the post, translated by NBC. Onyx rockets destroyed granaries, but no one was injured.
A ship arrives in Odesa, southern Ukraine, as part of the Black Sea grain initiative.
Yulii Zozulia | Future publication | Getty Images
“As a result of falling debris during combat operations, the warehouse buildings of one of the enterprises and a private house in the outskirts of Odesa were damaged and set on fire,” the post added. The fires have now been extinguished.
– Holly Ellyatt
