Russia takes control of Novoselivske village, Ukraine peace conference opens

Russia announces progress in Lugansk, Kiev names cost of conflict this year, peace conference opens in Jeddah are some notable news about the situation in Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (right) during a visit to Saudi Arabia, meeting with the host country's Prime Minister, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in May in Jeddah. (Source: SPA)

* Russia takes control of Novoselivske village in Lugansk: On August 5, writing on Telegram , the Russian Defense Ministry said: “In the Kupyansk area (in Lugansk), thanks to the professional actions of military units of the Western Military District, Novoselivske is under control… Offensive operations on a large front have improved the situation (of Russian forces)”.

* Conflict to cost Ukraine $50 billion by 2023: On August 5, the Ukrainian Government Press Service quoted Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal as saying that Ukraine's conflict-related budget spending will reach about 1.8 trillion hryvnia (about $49.2 billion) this year.

“100% of the tax money paid by businesses and people goes to support the needs of security and defense forces,” he said.

In addition, Ukraine has received $28 billion in financial aid from its partners this year. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPR), Ukraine's military spending last year amounted to about $44 billion.

* Ukraine peace conference opens in Saudi Arabia: According to Saudi Arabia's official media, on the afternoon of August 5 in Jeddah, negotiations chaired by this country to discuss the conflict in Ukraine officially began.

The two-day meeting is part of Ukraine’s diplomatic push to seek support beyond its Western partners by reaching out to southern hemisphere nations still hesitant about taking sides in the conflict. Ukrainian presidential chief of staff Andriy Yermak will attend the event.

Notably, a statement from the Chinese Foreign Ministry on August 4 said that the country's Special Envoy for European Affairs, Mr. Li Hui, will attend the event.

Ukrainian and Western diplomats had hoped that the peace conference in Jeddah would conclude with a consensus on the main principles for a peaceful solution to the conflict in Ukraine. The conference will be attended by national security advisers and senior officials from about 40 countries.

For his part, speaking ahead of the event, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov affirmed: “The countries being drawn in by the West to promote the formula of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky must realize that what is at stake is the fate of those threatened by the Ukrainian regime.”

According to him, Russia appreciates all efforts for a just and lasting peace, but the conflict will not be resolved if the rights of ethnic minorities are not respected. The diplomat stressed: "The US and its allies have tried to impose the peace formula proposed by Mr. Zelensky on the countries of the Southern Hemisphere."

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/nga-kiem-soat-lang-novoselivske-hoi-nghi-hoa-binh-ukraine-khai-mac-237289.html