08/09/2023
Ukraine war in the live ticker
+++ 00:29 Erdogan: Resumption of the grain agreement depends on the West +++
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sees the West as responsible for reviving the grain deal with Ukraine. A resumption of the agreement to export Ukrainian grain “depends on the western countries, which must keep their promises,” Erdogan said at an ambassadors’ conference in Ankara. The West has not taken the measures “that would have made it possible to transform the positive atmosphere created by the Black Sea Initiative into a ceasefire and then into a lasting peace agreement”. Turkey’s stance is “clear,” Erdogan said. If the war spreads to the Black Sea, it will be “a catastrophe for our region.” However, a “solution” can be found, the Turkish head of state adds, referring to a recent phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
+++ 23:09 Russia: Three dead in Ukrainian shelling of Donetsk +++
The Russian-installed mayor of Donetsk, Alexei Kulemzin, has accused Ukraine of bombing the city of Donetsk. Three people were killed today, Kulemzin writes on Telegram. Ten people were injured, including a boy born in 2012. In addition, a number of buildings were damaged in several districts, including a bus stop, a hospital, a shop and some residential buildings. The information cannot be independently verified.
+++ 22:08 Italy suspends investor visas for Russians and Belarusians +++
Italy has suspended the investor visa program for Russian and Belarusian citizens, the Italian Economy Ministry reports. Altreconomia magazine reports that the Italian government took the decision in mid-July, more than a year after the European Commission recommended the measure following Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine.
+++ 21:30 Zelenskyj: Peace plan can also be used as a basis for other conflicts +++
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says his proposed peace plan to end Russia’s war in Ukraine could be used as a basis for other conflicts. “Today’s peace formula refers to Ukraine. But if the international institutions do not offer an opportunity to end the war, and our example speaks for itself, then the peace formula can become such a basis,” Zelenskyj told Latin American journalists. Zelenskyy unveiled the 10-point peace plan backed by many Western allies in November last year. It includes the restoration of Ukraine’s territorial integrity, the complete withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine and the release of all prisoners of war and deportees.
+++ 20:59 Russia’s budget deficit is rising sharply +++
Russia’s budget deficit is widening amid high spending on the aggressive war in Ukraine and Western sanctions. The deficit for the period from January to July is 2.82 trillion rubles – the equivalent of $29.3 billion – or 1.8 percent of gross domestic product, according to the Russian Ministry of Finance, citing preliminary estimates. For the first seven months of last year, Russia reported a budget surplus of 557 billion rubles. According to the preliminary data, expenditure increased by 14 percent while revenue shrank by 7.9 percent.
+++ 20:32 Kiev: 78 Ukrainian rescue workers killed since the beginning of the war +++
Since the beginning of the war, 78 Ukrainian rescue workers have been killed in Russian attacks, says State Emergency Management spokesman Oleksandr Khorunzhyi. Another 280 emergency services were injured, according to Khorunzhyi, who is quoted by the media center of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry. Russia is violating international conventions with its attacks on the first responders, who do not take part in combat operations but rescue civilians and provide assistance, the official added.
+++ 19:57 Germany wants to extend Patriot stationing in Poland +++
According to a press release, the Federal Ministry of Defense is offering Poland to continue the stationing of the three German Patriot squadrons, originally planned for a maximum of six months, beyond the summer, probably until the end of the year. The Patriot systems are based in Poland, near Zamość. An extension beyond 2023 is not yet planned.
You can read more about the events of the previous day here.