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Ukraine updates: Kim to hold arms talks with Putin, says US
Published 17 hours agoPublished 17 hours agolast updated 1 hour agolast updated 1 hour ago
The North Korean leader could travel to Russia as early as this month, according to US officials. The possible meeting comes as Moscow seeks to acquire military equipment for its war in Ukraine. Follow DW for more.
https://p.dw.com/p/4VxJv
Kim Jong Un shakes hands with Vladimir Putin
The US says Kim is expecting to discuss the possibility of providing weapons to MoscowImage: Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP Photo/picture alliance
Skip next section What you need to know
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
The US said North Korean leader Kim Jong Un expects to hold arms talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The White House had warned last week that Russia was in active talks with North Korea to obtain weapons for its war in Ukraine.
The New York Times, citing US and allied sources, reported that Kim would travel from Pyongyang, probably by armored train, to Vladivostok.
Elswhere, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he has visited troops in the country’s eastern Donetsk region.
The Kremlin on Tuesday declined to confirm whether a summit would be taking place between the leaders.
“No, we cannot” confirm this, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, when he was asked if Kim would be meeting Putin soon. “We have nothing to say on this.”
Here are more headlines concerning Russia’s war in Ukraine on Tuesday, September 5:
Skip next section Ukraine’s parliament approves dismissal of defense minister
1 hour ago1 hour ago
Ukraine’s parliament approves dismissal of defense minister
The dismissal of Ukraine’s Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov has been approved by the country’s Parliament.
“The Parliament of Ukraine has accepted the resignation of the Minister of Defense of Ukraine, Oleksii Reznikov,” the Defense Ministry said on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
It went on to say he had “made the impossible possible by ensuring large-scale arms supplies” for Ukraine’s armed forces, listing the various weapons systems he helped wrangle.
On Sunday President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he was replacing Reznikov as the head of defense and nominated Rustem Umerov, who heads up the main privatization agency, as his replacement. Zelenskyy said at the time that “new approaches” were needed to beat back Russia.
Ukraine’s parliament needed to approve their removal from their current positions and back Umerov’s appointment as defense minister.
On Wednesday, Parliament is expected to back Umerov’s appointment in a vote.
https://p.dw.com/p/4Vylb
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Skip next section Cuba uncovers ‘trafficking network’ recruiting fighters for Russia
1 hour ago1 hour ago
Cuba uncovers ‘trafficking network’ recruiting fighters for Russia
The Foreign Ministry in Cuba said that “human trafficking operations” had been detected in the country, aimed at getting citizens to fight for Russia in Ukraine.
In a statement the ministry said that work was being done to “neutralize and dismantle a human trafficking network that operates from Russia.”
The statement went on to say that Cuban citizens living in Russia and some living in Cuba were being incorporated into Russian “military operations” in Ukraine.
“Cuba has a firm and clear historical position against mercenarism, and it plays an active role in the United Nations in rejection of the aforementioned practice,” the Foreign Ministry said.
The statement also pointed out that Cuba was not part of the war in Ukraine and that it would “firmly act” against those found to be participating in trafficking people for mercenary purposes.
There has been no immediate from the Kremlin. Moscow and Havana have boosted ties recently, with Cuban President Miguel DÃaz-Canel meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow at the end of last year.
https://p.dw.com/p/4VyTU
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Skip next section German arms maker looking to ramp up production of IRIS-T
4 hours ago4 hours ago
German arms maker looking to ramp up production of IRIS-T
German arms manufacturer, Diehl Defence, said it was aiming to increase the production of its IRIS-T air defense system amid growing demand due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The company’s chief program officer Harald Buschek said the company planned on building eight weapons systems in 2025, which is up from the three to four expected to be built this year.
Buschek told reporters in Todendorf in northern Germany, that missile production was being tripled this year and would be increased next year with the production of 400 to 500 missiles from 2024.
Germany has already supplied two IRIS-T units to Ukraine, where they are being used to protect Kyiv from Russian missile attacks.
Berlin has pledged to supply another six IRIS-T weapons systems to Kyiv Ukraine, with expected delivery of the first of six systems for its own air force in October 2024.
How can EU boost air defenses?
03:00
https://p.dw.com/p/4VyNi
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Skip next section Over 900 cluster munition casualties in Ukraine in 2022 — watchdog
7 hours ago7 hours ago
Over 900 cluster munition casualties in Ukraine in 2022 — watchdog
An international monitoring group said there have been more than 900 cluster munition casualties in Ukraine last year.
The Cluster Munition Coalition said in an annual report that Russia has “extensively” used old and new cluster munitions.
The group said that Ukrainian forces were also using the munitions but “to a lesser extent.”
In total, there were more than 916 deaths and injuries caused by cluster charges in Ukraine last year.
According to the report, Ukraine has now surpassed Syria as the country with the highest number of casualties from the controversial weapons.
Cluster munitions open in the air and once deployed release scores of smaller bomblets or submunitions.
Loren Persi, a co-author of the report, told AFP news agency that “the vast majority of cluster munition casualties in Ukraine were civilians.”
The 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions prohibits the use, production, stockpiling and transfer of cluster munitions. It was signed by 107 states, but not Russia or Ukraine.
Biden defends US plan to send cluster bombs to Ukraine
01:42
https://p.dw.com/p/4Vxfo
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Skip next section Cuba uncovers human trafficking for Russia’s war in Ukraine
11 hours ago11 hours ago
Cuba uncovers human trafficking for Russia’s war in Ukraine
Cuba’s Foreign Ministry said it has uncovered a human trafficking ring that coerced its citizens to fight for Russia in its war in Ukraine.
Cuban authorities were working to “neutralize and dismantle” the network, the ministry added.
The government “is working on the neutralization and dismantling of a human trafficking network that operates from Russia to incorporate Cuban citizens living there, and even some from Cuba, into the military forces participating in war operations in Ukraine,” it said.
The Russian government has not commented on the allegations.
https://p.dw.com/p/4VxPJ
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Skip next section Russia says it downed drones over Moscow region
13 hours ago13 hours ago
Russia says it downed drones over Moscow region
Russia’s air defenses have shot down drones in the Istra district of the Moscow region and in the Kaluga region, officials said early Tuesday.
Russia’s Defense Ministry said the drones were launched by Ukrainian forces, but gave no other details.
Moscow’s Mayor Sergei Sobyanin wrote on Telegram that the drones “were trying to carry out an attack on Moscow.”
The Istra district of the Moscow region is located some 65 kilometers (40 miles) northwest of the Kremlin.
Russian officials said last week that six regions had been hit by Ukrainian drone attacks and that damaged military planes.
Ukraine rarely ever claims responsibility for the attacks.
Drone strikes hit several Russian regions
03:26
https://p.dw.com/p/4VxOJ
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Skip next section Ukrainian forces claim gains on eastern front
14 hours ago14 hours ago
Ukrainian forces claim gains on eastern front
Ukraine said its troops had regained more territory on the eastern front and were advacing south in their counteroffensive, as President Zelenskyy visited two front-line positions.
Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said Kyiv’s forces had liberated about 3 square kilometers (1.16 square miles) of land in the past week around the eastern city of Bakhmut, which was captured by Russian troops in May after months of heavy fighting.
She reported unspecified “success” in the direction of the villages Novodanylivka and Novoprokopivka in the southern region of Zaporizhzhia, but gave no details.
Ukraine has now taken back about 47 square kilometers of territory around Bakhmut since launching its counteroffensive in early June, Maliar wrote on Telegram.
Washington said last week Ukrainian forces were making “notable progress” in their fight to take back territories, as Kyiv reported a major breakthrough after decisively breaching Russia’s first defensive line in Zaporizhzhia.
Zelenskyy presented medals to soldiers at a number of sites and offering thanks to medics at a field hospital on the southern frontImage: president.gov.ua
https://p.dw.com/p/4VxNR
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Skip next section Russia ‘thwarts’ operation by Ukrainian sabotage group
16 hours ago16 hours ago
Russia ‘thwarts’ operation by Ukrainian sabotage group
Russian authorities in the southwestern Bryansk region said they foiled a sabotage operation by Ukrainian forces.
Bryansk Governor Alexander Bogomaz wrote on Telegram that Russian forces had “thwarted an attempt to penetrate the territory of the Russian Federation by a Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance group.”
The region lies near the Ukrainian border. Russia has this year repeatedly reported several attempts by Ukrainian groups to carry outs acts of sabotage against Russian targets.
https://p.dw.com/p/4VxMk
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Skip next section Ukraine refugees stuck in limbo in The Netherlands
17 hours ago17 hours ago
Ukraine refugees stuck in limbo in The Netherlands
When Russia invaded Ukraine, the Netherlands granted refugee status to everyone fleeing — regardless of nationality. But that policy is now being argued in court.
Thousands of so-called “third-country nationals” were living in Ukraine but were not allowed to reside there permanently. Now, those who fled the war in Ukraine for safety in The Netherlands are left unsure about their future.
Third-country nationals who fled Ukraine stuck in limbo
03:16
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Skip next section Zelenskyy visits Ukraine’s front-line Donetsk region
17 hours ago17 hours ago
Zelenskyy visits Ukraine’s front-line Donetsk region
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he has visited troops in the country’s eastern Donetsk region.
He posted a video of himself on Telegram late on Monday meeting commanders and soldiers.
“Donetsk region. We are visiting the combat brigades that are defending Ukraine as part of the Donetsk operational and tactical group,” Zelenskyy said in the video.
“Important reports, problematic issues, supplies that need to be increased, creation of an auxiliary management system to ensure the brigades’ supply, increasing the motivation of our warriors,” he added.
The visit came a day after Zelenskyy announced plans to replace Ukraine’s defense minister, Oleksiy Reznikov.
It also came as Kyiv reported territorial gains around the city of Bakhmut in Donetsk.
Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar wrote on Telegram on Monday that Ukrainian forces had liberated another 3 square kilometers in the area over the past week.
In response to the reported gains, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Ukraine’s counteroffensive had “failed.”
https://p.dw.com/p/4VxL9
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Skip next section US says Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin to meet for arms talks
17 hours ago17 hours ago
US says Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin to meet for arms talks
In this photo provided by the North Korean government, Kim Jong Un, front right, and Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu visit an arms exhibition in Pyongyang in JulyImage: KCNA/AP Photo/picture alliance
The White House on Monday said North Korean leader Kim Jong Un expects to hold a “leader-level diplomatic engagement” with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said Washington has previously warned that arms talks between Russia and North Korea are “actively advancing.”
In July, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that North Korea’s partnership is an “important one for Moscow” during a meeting with his counterpart in Pyongyang.
The New York Times, citing US and allied sources, reported that Kim would travel from Pyongyang, probably by armored train, to Vladivostok, on the Pacific Coast of Russia.
nm/rt (AFP, Reuters, AP)
