Nord Stream pipelines
Canada has said it’s planning to return a repaired turbine to Germany that is needed for the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline. Canada's minister of natural resources has said that repairing the pipeline is essentially to ensure continued flows of energy until Europe can end its dependency on Russian gas.
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German officials had been urging Canada to find a way to return the turbine, fearing that Russia would use the issue as an excuse to shut down Nord Stream 1 and undermine Germany's ability to fill its gas storage tanks before next winter. But Ukraine opposes the return, calling it blackmail from the Kremlin.
German Economy Minister Robert Habeck told public broadcaster Deutschlandfunk, “It's simply a situation like we haven't had before. Everything is possible,” said Habeck. Germany must “prepare for the worst” and at the same time “work towards the best.”
Ned Price, U.S. State Department spokesman, said that returning the turbine would "allow Germany and other European countries to replenish their gas reserves," thus "counter Russia’s efforts to weaponize energy."
But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky sees the predicament in the exact opposite way.
“Now there is no doubt that Russia will try not only to limit as much as possible, but also to completely stop the supply of gas to Europe at the most urgent moment,” he said. “Because every concession in such conditions is perceived by the Russian leadership as an incentive for further, stronger pressure.”
Frankfurter Allgemeine (German daily)
"Habeck: We need to prepare for the worst"
Russian Bombing Toll Continues To Rise
An apartment block destroyed in shelling in Donetsk over the weekend
The death toll of the missile attack that hit the city of Chashov Yar, in eastern Ukraine's Donetsk region, has increased to 34. The attack took place over the weekend and destroyed residential buildings. Rescuers continue to work at the scene.
Early this morning, several missiles hit the southern city of Mykolaiv, damaging two hospitals, a school, and apartment buildings, according to the city authorities and Prestupnosti.net, a local news outlet. At least 12 people were injured, reported Vitaliy Kim, governor of the region of Mykolaiv.
Iran To Supply Drones To Russia
Secret Iranian drone base.
Russia plans to turn to Iran to provide the hundreds of armed drones to deploy in Ukraine, according to U.S. sources. White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said Iran plans to train Russians in using drones this month, however, it is unclear whether Iran had already provided any drones to Russia.
Foreign Ships Enter Ukraine Port For Grain Export
Eight foreign ships have managed to enter a Ukrainian port to export grain. Ukraine's Navy reported that with its help, the foreign ships were able to arrive at Ukrainian ports at the Danube-Black Sea Canal to allow for the transport of agricultural products by civilian vessels.
The use of the canal opened up after Ukraine liberated Snake Island from Russian forces on June 30. Russian aggression and blockade in the Black Sea has meant that millions of tons of Ukrainian grain were blocked in Ukrainian ports, much of which was intended for the UN World Food Program to combat the global hunger crisis. Many ports in the country still remain closed, with some occupied by Russian forces.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke over the phone and discussed the creation of grain corridors in the Black Sea, Evropeiska Pravda reported. Earlier in the day, Erdogan spoke over the phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss Moscow’s grain blockade on Ukraine's Black Sea coast,reportedly telling the president that it was "time to take action regarding the United Nations plan to establish safe corridors for grain export in the Black Sea."
Brazilian President Bolsonaro Makes Deal With Putin For Cheaper Diesel
Russia's President Vladimir Putin and Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro February 2022
Vyacheslav Prokofyev/TASS/Zuma
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro said in a speech on Monday that Brazil was planning on buying Russian diesel, Folha de S. Paulo daily reports. "Now, it is almost certain there will be an agreement for us to buy diesel from Russia at a much cheaper price,” he said to a crowd of supporters gathered in front of the presidential residence.
Bolsonaro has ignored Western sanctions imposed on Moscow after the invasion of Ukraine regarding Russian diesel. He has also said that maintaining his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin has allowed Brazil to keep accessing fertilizers that are crucial for the country’s agriculture business.
High fuel prices have hurt Bolsonaro’s re-election hopes ahead of October as he is expected to face a tough race against former President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva.
Forced Russian Citizenship As Tool Of War
Russian passports
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba urged partners to provide Ukraine with more heavy weapons and introduce new sanctions on Russia after Vladimir Putin's July 11 decree simplifying the procedure to force Russian citizenship on Ukrainians.
A statement from the Ministry said: “Russia uses a simplified procedure for issuing passports to tighten the noose around the necks of the residents of the temporarily occupied territories of our country, forcing them to participate in the criminal activities of the occupation administrations and the Russian invading army."
The Russian newspaper Kommersant reported that President Vladimir Putin on Monday signed a decree giving the right to all residents of Ukraine to obtain Russian citizenship in a simplified manner. The first version of the decree in 2019 applied to residents of the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics, and in May 2022 its effect was extended to residents of the territories of the Kherson and Zaporozhye regions of Ukraine, which came under the control of the Russian army. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry called this decree "another encroachment on the sovereignty and territorial integrity" of the country.
Mercenaries For Hire: Russian TV Steps Up Recruitment In Chechnya
Screenshot broadcast Vesti Nedeli
Russian TV News program Vesti Nedeli advertised a current outfit in Chechnya for recruiting mercenaries in Ukraine. A five-minute story wasaired in which TV presenter Dmitry Kiselev claims that he visited Gudermes (Chechnya) at the beginning of last week, where a program is operating on the basis of the Russian University of Special Forces to recruit and train volunteers for Ukraine.
Exiled Russian media Novaya Gazeta reported that the advertisement was shown immediately after the report from the occupied Kherson region. It also emphasized that volunteers "from all over the country — Chechens, Dagestanis, Tuvans and many, many peoples" are fighting on the side of Russia.
Zelensky’s Famous Khaki T-Shirt
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky tours a humanitarian aid distribution center at the Mechnikov Hospital
Ukraine Presidency/Ukrainian Pre/Planet Pix/Zuma
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky always wore a classic blue suit when making public appearances before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Now the world only sees him wearing an olive green short-sleeved T-shirt, the same used by so many of his compatriots engaged against the Russian invader.
French daily Le Monde offers an analysis of the famous khaki t-shirt and what it represents when President Zelensky wears it: This simple khaki t-shirt is seen as a symbol of a president close to his people, a fighter among the troops, always on the move and determined to stay at his post no matter what.
Zelensky regularly wears the famous shirt with the Ukrainian flag emblazoned 5.11. The shirt, made by U.S. brand 5.11 Tactical — known for its clothing and equipment for military, police and firefighters — is known for being worn by outdoor enthusiasts and even fashion victims.
