Ukraine Says It Recaptures Strategic Settlement Amid Counteroffensive |
Ukraine’s deputy defense minister said yesterday that Ukrainian forces recaptured the village of Robotyne (Reuters) in the country’s southern region of Zaporizhzhia. The reported battle victory would be a boon for Ukraine in its grinding counteroffensive that was launched two months ago. Russia did not confirm the Ukrainian advance and reported fighting yesterday near the village, saying they had repelled the Ukrainian attacks.
Robotyne lies on the path (NYT) that Ukrainian forces aim to take in order to reach their counteroffensive target of Melitopol, a city about forty-five miles further south. Between Robotyne and the Russia-controlled city of Tokmak some fifteen miles to the south lie two Russian defensive lines of trenches, minefields, and anti-tank barriers. Reclaiming Robotyne meant that Ukraine’s counteroffensive broke through the most difficult line of defense against Russian forces, a Ukrainian commander said.
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“Any further Ukrainian advances will be tough against an interconnected system of trenches and tunnels that allows the Russian military to move troops, weapons and ammunition around the frontline,” the Financial Times’ John Paul Rathbone writes.
“The [recent] Ukrainian drone strikes inside Russia should relieve exaggerated fears about the consequences of crossing Putin’s supposed red lines. Providing more aid to Ukraine won’t significantly raise the risk of a wider war—but it could shorten the existing conflict,” CFR expert Max Boot writes in the Washington Post.
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Japan Threatens WTO Action Against China Over Seafood Ban |
After China banned imports of Japanese seafood in reaction to Tokyo’s decision to release treated wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear plant, Japan’s foreign minister said today that the country would respond (Asahi Shimbun) with “necessary measures including actions at the WTO [World Trade Organization].” He added that Japan does not want a full-blown diplomatic dispute and urged China to act in a constructive manner.
China: Beijing will extend tax breaks (Bloomberg) for foreign workers through the end of 2027 in an effort to retain overseas talent, the finance ministry said.
On this episode of The President’s Inbox, CFR expert Zongyuan Zoe Liu explains China’s economic downturn.
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Nikkei: Central Asian Countries Push Back Against Russian Military Recruiting |
The Kyrgyzstan government sentenced and detained (Nikkei) two citizens for allegedly serving as mercenaries and recruiting Kyrgyz citizens to fight for Russia, while Kazakhstan authorities warned that there are stiff legal penalties for those involved in the war. Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan also announced that joining the war would be considered a criminal offense.
Pakistan: The Islamabad High Court suspended a three-year sentence (Dawn) against former Prime Minister Imran Khan in a corruption case. He had been jailed for this and a sentence in another case; authorities have summoned him to court on the second case tomorrow.
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Middle East and North Africa |
Anti-government Protests in Southwestern Syria Stretch Into Second Week |
The demonstrations centered in the government-controlled province of Sweida denounced economic strains (AP) and have more recently called for President Bashar al-Assad to leave office. Sweida is home to many of Syria’s Druze, who largely remained neutral during the Syrian civil war.
Egypt/Ethiopia/Sudan: The countries resumed stalled talks (Al-Monitor) in Cairo on Sunday over a mega-dam on the Nile River that have been on and off for more than ten years. The African Union last sponsored direct talks in 2021. This round of talks concluded with no breakthroughs (The National), Egypt said.
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Sudanese General Holds Talks With Egypt’s President |
It is the first trip out of the country (AP) for Sudan’s top military officer, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, since a conflict with a rival paramilitary force broke out in April. Egypt has been one of many countries trying to mediate an end to Sudan’s civil war.
Uganda: Authorities charged a man (Reuters) with “aggravated homosexuality” for the first time since the offense became punishable by the death penalty in May, his lawyer said. A spokesperson for the country’s public prosecutors’ office said the man was remanded. Western countries and the World Bank have placed sanctions on Uganda in response to the law.
In this article, CFR’s Mariel Ferragamo and Kali Robinson detail the struggle for LGBTQ+ rights across the African continent.
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Putin, Modi Talk Russia-India Ties on Call |
The Russian readout of the two leaders’ call said that bilateral relations were growing in the spirit of a “privileged strategic partnership,” while the Indian readout said the leaders reviewed bilateral cooperation initiatives (Indian Express). Putin reiterated on the call that he will not attend the upcoming Group of Twenty (G20) summit in New Delhi next month.
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Guatemala Election Winner Sees Results Certified but His Party Suspended |
Anti-corruption candidate Bernardo Arévalo’s August 20 victory was certified by the country’s electoral court on Monday, but the same day a lower-ranking government body suspended his political party (AP). The Seed Movement party has faced a series of legal attacks after Arévalo defeated a candidate favored by the country’s elite. The potential effects of the suspension were not immediately clear.
For the Latin America’s Moment blog, CFR expert Will Freeman explains what Arévalo’s election could mean for Guatemala.
Brazil/China: Chinese investments in Brazil fell by 78 percent in 2022 to their lowest level since 2009 (Reuters), the Brazil-China Business Council said today. One economist cited China’s prioritization of Belt and Road projects in the Asia-Pacific amid growing U.S.-China tension. This Backgrounder by CFR’s Diana Roy looks at China’s influence in Latin America. |
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Biden to Talk Migration With Costa Rican President at White House |
President Joe Biden is hosting President Rodrigo Chaves Robles (CNN) in Washington today, where the two leaders are expected to discuss migration management. Costa Rica is one of several countries due to open centers where migrants can apply for legal pathways to enter the United States rather than continuing on foot to the southern U.S. border.
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