World Leader Putin Discusses Global Scenario - Zelenskyy Labels Him Unlawful
In a Wednesday showdown, Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky are poised to clash heads at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, with the lingering Ukrainian-Russian conflict high on the agenda. Putin's speech and panel discussion with international guests are annual highlights of the forum, and this time, it's no different.
This year, the conflict between Israel and Iran, as well as Putin's ongoing skirmish with Ukraine, are expected to dominate the conversation. With an audience of 20,000 guests hailing from 140 countries, the Moscow leadership intends to use the platform to display a positive image to the world and resist the international isolation sought by Western powers.
The night before the event, the Russian army attacked Ukraine once more, sparking reports of explosions and fires in the eastern city of Kharkiv. Cluster bombs were even dropped on the Sumy region, and Ukraine's airforce detected swarms of Russian combat drones. The tension is palpable, and football diplomacy hasn't helped ease the tension either.
Zelensky has replied to Putin's remarks by once more challenging Putin's legitimacy as head of state. In a video message, Zelensky said, "I am ready to meet in any format with those who (...) have corresponding authority, including Putin, even if he has exceeded his constitutional mandate by at least three terms." Despite Putin's expressed willingness to hold talks with Zelensky, the Kremlin leader has questioned Zelensky's legitimacy, citing Ukraine's martial law and Presidential term that expires in 2024 as reasons.
Ukraine is heavily reliant on the support of US President Donald Trump in its defense against the large neighboring power. "I want to end the war during President Trump's term," Zelensky said in Kiev. "I am counting on his help. I am counting on the influence of the United States."
Trump's efforts to end the conflict, announced with great fanfare, have so far borne no fruit. The relationship between the two leaders is strained, with Zelensky voicing his dissatisfaction over Trump's inability to help him end the ongoing war.
In a personnel reshuffle, Zelensky appointed Brigade General Hennadiy Shapovalov as the new commander of the Ukrainian ground forces. Shapovalov previously served as a liaison officer in the NATO staff in Wiesbaden, which coordinates military aid for Ukraine. The change in command became necessary after the previous commander requested dismissal over the death of 12 soldiers in a Russian rocket attack on a training ground in the Dnipropetrovsk region.
Kiev has confirmed the receipt of bodies of Russian soldiers. Ukraine's Interior Minister, Ihor Klymenko, made the announcement in a Telegram post, although he did not specify the number of such cases. "The enemy is deliberately hindering the identification of the dead, causing chaos and mixing the bodies of Russian soldiers with those of Ukrainians," Klymenko stated. Photos circulating on social media show ID cards and identification tags of dead Russian soldiers supposedly handed over to Ukraine, but independent confirmation is lacking.
Over the past few days, Russia has handed over more than 6,000 bodies of soldiers to Ukraine. In return, Moscow received over 50 bodies. This exchange, along with the exchange of prisoners, is part of humanitarian gestures agreed upon by both warring parties in their initial negotiations in Istanbul in early June.
The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, despite attempts at diplomacy and negotiations, continues to rage on. With both sides dug in their heels, negotiations seem to be going nowhere fast, and the ongoing skirmish between these two powers shows no signs of abating.
Amidst the escalating tension, discussions about the Ukrainian-Russian conflict are anticipated to dominate the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum's political agenda, alongside other war-and-conflicts like the one between Israel and Iran. The profound impact of these conflicts on general-news and crime-and-justice sectors is evident from the ongoing skirmish between the two nations.
