Direct flights between Russia and Georgia have resumed despite protests and opposition from the South Caucasus country's president. Demonstrators gathered at Tbilisi airport to voice anger over what they described as the Georgian government’s pro-Russia course, while the country’s pro-Western leader, Salome Zourabichvili, tweeted her opposition. The Kremlin lifted its four-year-old flight ban and abolished visas for Georgian nationals in a surprise move from President Vladimir Putin, following a show of strength in a military parade with leaders from across Central Asia and the South Caucasus.
The African mediating mission announced by South Africa's president Cyril Ramaphosa may merit a mention when historians write about the rise of the post-unipolar world, according to an op-ed in the Financial Times. The author, Alec Russell, argues that the quixotic mediators from Africa underscore the accelerating assertiveness of the countries of the “global south”. Many non-western nations have seen the west's full-throttle support for Ukraine and regard it as hypocritical, with powers once again prioritising their own interests and concerns over other global issues such as health and climate change. The crisis has led to a renewed focus on the idea of six African heads of state criss-crossing the front lines of a European war, which threatens to totally rewrite the post-1945 world order.
The Brics summit in Durban in August will be a cacophonous showcase for the contradictions within the new “non-aligned movement”. The group consists of two autocracies, Russia and China, two big democracies, Brazil and India, and the host, and junior relation, South Africa. Now over a dozen more countries are interested in joining, including Iran. The risk, particularly for India and Brazil, is that the Brics could tilt ever more into becoming a China club.
The author suggests that the west should lead by example, commit finally to reforms of the global order and choose words more carefully. The Biden administration has been building bespoke regional alliances, but China is also busily convening summits of its own. New world orders, it is cautioned, are of course easier to declare than realise. South Africa’s chaotic mediating pas de deux with Russia is seen as an object lesson in how not to play the non-aligned game.
Russia’s move to restore direct flights between Georgia and itself has sparked concerns regarding the fate of Georgia’s EU candidate status. As EU-official Peter Stano stated, the EU “regrets the decision by Georgia to resume flights to and from Russia,” adding that it “raises concerns about Georgia’s EU path." Demonstrations in Tbilisi also saw protesters reflecting anxieties about returning to Russia’s influence. As reported by Deutsche Welle, despite condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Georgian government has not joined others in imposing sanctions due to their deepening economic ties – which could be risking their future political independence. Critics point to the Georgian ruling party, founded by a former Prime Minster who had made his fortune in Russia, as responsible for deepening relationships with Russia. Georgia’s deepening economic ties comes at the cost of ignoring political risks and forsaking EU membership, despite pro-EU demonstrations by Georgian citizens.
Chinese President, Xi Jinping, has launched a strategic plan for cooperation with Central Asia in the areas of security and defence. This is traditionally seen as Russia’s sphere of influence, and Moscow is currently preoccupied with the crisis in Ukraine. Central Asia is seen by Beijing as vital to the security of its the Xinjiang region, a politically sensitive area where repression of the Muslim Uighur population has been heavily criticised. The region is also a source of land-based energy imports and trade with Europe. Xi’s plan involves an increased level of involvement in external national affairs, which could potentially lead to China acting as a peacekeeper. Investments in finance, energy and transport logistics have also been pledged, although detailed plans are yet to be provided. Due to their concern over western governments backing pro-democracy movements through COLOUR REVOLUTIONS, Russia and China regard Central Asia as a region that requires their help in maintaining security.
In a diplomatic victory for Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the US will allow allies to supply F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, with the US Military assisting in training Ukrainian pilots to fly the aircraft. President Biden has said the US will offer support to a joint effort to train Ukrainian pilots, before later equipping them with F-16s, delivering one of the most significant upgrades to Ukraine's military after last year's full-scale Russian invasion. Biden made the announcement to G7 leaders. Kiev has been working to construct a coalition of nations ready to supply F-16s and has now garnered support from the UK, France and the Netherlands.
This move will strengthen Ukraine’s depleted air force and boost air defence capabilities, allowing ground operations that challenge Russia’s tactical air supremacy over the frontline. The Netherlands, which is phasing out F-16s, could be a major supplier to Ukraine. Belgium and Denmark also have F-16s. The training will take place in Ukraine and Europe, and potentially other countries may be involved. The process could take months before jets can fly over Ukraine’s skies. Meanwhile, with the increasing probability of a full-scale conventional war, Russia may soon sign a defense pact with Belarus to boost its security.
Russian airline Azimuth Airlines resumed tourist flights to Georgia for the first time in four years, causing angry protests at Tbilisi's international airport. Protesters carrying placards and chanting slogans met the Moscow to Tbilisi flight which triggered "clashes and arrests" at the airport. The protests are related to the 2019 suspensions of flights after anti-Kremlin demonstrations in Georgia, and are also linked to Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year, in which thousands of people have died. Georgia's governing Georgian Dream Party has welcomed the resumption of direct flights, insisting it will benefit ethnic Georgians living in Russia. However, opposition politicians fear the flights could potentially help Russian officials and businesspeople evade Western sanctions, with many Georgians calling the Georgian Dream's relationship with Russia a "direct sabotage" against the country's bid to join the EU.
Tesco's chairman John Allan will resign next month after allegations over his behavior risking becoming a "distraction." The decision follows several allegations over Allan's behaviour made in recent weeks, including accusations of inappropriate behaviour on four separate occasions, including an incident in which he was alleged to have touched the bottom of a senior Tesco employee; he was also accused of making inappropriate remarks to two other women on separate occasions between 2019 and 2022, and touching another woman's bottom. Allan denied all but one of the allegations, admitting only to having made comments about a worker's appearance in 2019, apologising for the action.
Leaders of the G7 countries pledged to face Russia’s “illegal, unjustifiable and unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine” and reassured their support for Ukraine will “not waver”. The countries agreed to tighten sanctions and export controls targeting Moscow, including restrictions on exports of industrial machinery, tools and technology that could be useful to Russia’s war effort and limiting Russian revenues from trade in metals and diamonds. Meanwhile, G7 leaders also called for a “world without nuclear weapons,” urging Russia, Iran, China and North Korea to cease nuclear escalation and embrace non-proliferation.
Russian human rights organization OVD-Info has explained why Russian citizens have been reluctant to protest against the state when hundreds have opposed the country’s invasion of Ukraine. Russia has seen daily “signs of resistance” since the decade-long Kremlin political crackdown began, with protests ranging from leaflet distribution to the burning of military recruitment offices, however, they have been met with jail sentences and state-sponsored hounding. The Kremlin’s repression has been guided by fear of a democratic wave across the former Soviet Union, as well as preparations for war. Russians who voice their opinions are often attacked by the government, with the majority of the population afraid to either support or oppose the war. Ordinary Russians are living with the fear of committing thought crimes and opposing the conflict, whilst the government continues its relentless persecution of protesters; since 2015, 496 people have been put through criminal prosecution and more than 60,000 protesters punished for minor offences.
President Zelensky of Ukraine is trying to lobby support from countries outside of the West, including Saudi Arabia, India, and Japan, to protect itself from further Russian aggression, as beyond NATO, many countries maintain neutrality despite Russia invading Ukraine more than seven years ago. The stance of many of these neutral nations has become more challenging for the US and NATO as Russia, China and other hostile powers have been successful in pulling these wavering countries into their sphere of influence. Increasingly, the importance of creating “a more coherent and robust strategy for uniting the democracies of the world behind a common mission, particularly in light of the rise of China” is being recognised.
A report from the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) has suggested that Russian forces are using battlefield computers, known as Strelets, to greatly improve the accuracy of their artillery fire, whilst quickly moving out of the way of missiles. The systems allow information from sensors on the battlefield to be fed back to artillery units, and information from drone fleets to report Ukrainian positions. The amount of time Ukrainian soldiers have to get out of the way of incoming fire, once it has been spotted, is between three and five minutes. Smaller, more effective units have been created since the beginning of the conflict in Eastern Ukraine in order to strengthen the Russian defence, and disposable troops have been used to gain tactical advantages in an attempt to capture vast areas of the Ukraine. Thermal camouflage is used to hide armoured vehicles, and Russia's Air Force uses glide bombs. Russia has also reacted to US gifted Himars rocket launcher by moving command and control centres out of the rocket launcher’s range. Russian forces have used time to build defences in the south of the Ukraine.
Russian-British historian, journalist, film-maker and activist Vladimir Kara-Murza has been sent to prison for 25 years. Putin is said to hate him above all his critics. Kara-Murza has relentlessly spoken out against Putin's law-breaking for a long time, and along with Bill Browder, traveled the world together for a decade advocating for the Magnitsky Act. The act, named after lawyer Sergei Magnitsky, is now enacted in over 30 countries, and half the reason Putin has it in for Kara-Murza. The other half is his speaking up against Putin’s war in Ukraine.
US to support providing F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine
BBC
23-05-19 19:30
The US government is set to support Ukraine in providing advanced fighter jets, including US-made F-16s to aid in the country's fight against Russia. The US has also backed training pilots on these planes. President Biden informed G7 leaders of the decision ahead of meetings in Japan. Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky requested these fighter jets several months ago, and the decision by the US will allow other nations to export their own F-16s, as the US must legally approve the re-export of equipment purchased by its allies.
UN envoy reportedly meeting Russian official accused of war crimes for deporting Ukrainian children
The Toronto Star
23-05-19 19:29
The UN envoy on child protection is due to meet with Russian Children's Rights Commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova, who stands accused of war crimes for deporting children from Ukraine. Human Rights Watch has criticised the proposed meeting, stating that Lvova-Belova is a suspected war criminal who should be behind bars. Last week, Gamba was in Ukraine, where she commended the government over measures it has taken to protect children during the conflict. Lvova-Belova has said that Russia had taken in over five million Ukrainians, including 700,000 children, all of whom had parents, relatives or legal guardians, except for 2,000 from orphanages in Ukraine’s eastern Donbas where fighting has been intense.
Leaders from the Group of Seven (G7) nations have warned China and North Korea about their nuclear arsenals as they focus on the major northeast Asian crises ahead of the arrival of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the summit later on Saturday. US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan confirmed that President Joe Biden and Zelensky would have face-to-face talks at the summit, a day after Biden supported training Ukrainian pilots on US F-16 fighter jets. The move follows earlier decisions by the US to send rocket launcher systems and Abrams tanks to Ukraine to defend itself against Russian aggression but discouraged attacks by Ukraine into Russian territory. The focus on Asia comes as Japanese military officials confirmed Zelensky’s decision to attend the G7 in person to participate in talks to influence Ukraine’s defence against Russia. Zelensky called for the supply of Western fighter jets to bolster his country’s defences against Russia’s invasion; the jets could become useful in the long-term security of the country.
Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, is making the 9,000 km journey to Hiroshima to attend the G7, while also seeking support from leaders who have taken a neutral stance over Russia's invasion of Ukraine. He hopes to reach out to India's PM, Narendra Modi, and Brazilian President, Luiz Inacio Lula de Silva, two countries that have continued to trade with Russia despite sanctions imposed by the EU and G-7. Zelenskiy is keen to help Ukraine become influential in nations that the country has rarely connected with on a diplomatic level, described as "a significant diplomatic opportunity".
Liberal proposal to clarify sanctions regime does the opposite, lawyers argue
CBC
23-05-20 00:50
Proposed reforms to Canada's sanctions regime in the new federal budget bill have been criticised by The Canadian Bar Association and a trade lawyer. The new changes, designed to clarify which entities have sanctions applied to them, still leave the situation too unspecified, according to lawyers. Proposed amendments that may cause difficulty for companies include legislation targeting foreigners who can direct businesses "directly or indirectly, and through any means", and a lack of application guide for entities facing sanction as a result of multiple persons' involvement.
Saudi Arabia hosted an Arab League summit on Friday in which Syrian President Bashar Assad was welcomed back after a 12-year suspension and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made a surprise visit to rally support against Russia. Russian airstrikes have left a swath of destruction across both countries, but in Syria they came at Assad’s invitation and helped him cling to power through years of grinding civil war. In recent months, Saudi Arabia has restored diplomatic ties with Iran and led the push for Syria’s return to the 22-member Arab League. The Saudi crown prince welcomed both Assad and Zelensky to the Red Sea city of Jeddah, expressing support for “whatever helps in reducing the crisis between Russia and Ukraine.” A collective statement issued at the conclusion of the summit rejected any “illegitimate foreign presence” in Syria and supported the eventual return of Syrian refugees.
US President Joe Biden has apologised to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of Australia for his cancelled trip to the country and said that negotiations to resolve the US debt crisis were “in their closing stages” ahead of the rescheduled Quad summit on Saturday night. Biden said he was confident the US will avoid a default if the deadline of 1 June is met. At the summit in Hiroshima, Biden is expected to discuss threats to regional and global security with leaders from India, Japan and Australia.
Vyacheslav "Slava" Zaitsev has died aged 85. A Soviet-era fashion designer, he was known as the "Red Dior" due to his flamboyant designs, which first caught the eye of the Western press. He became the first Soviet fashion designer to have his own label in 1982 when he set up the Slava Zaitsev Moscow Fashion House. Zaitsev went on to design costumes for the Soviet team at the 1980 Moscow Olympics and dress the Gorbachev-era nomenklatura in well-cut suits. Despite showing his collections around the world, his nationalist designs meant that Russia remained his main market.
