From Portugal To Poland, Marking “Historic” Decision To Grant Ukraine EU Candidate Status

The unanimous decision by the countries of the European Union to grant candidate status to Ukraine, four months after it was invaded by Russia, marks a decisive act of diplomatic unity in the face of war and aggression.

Heads of states and media on Friday marked the momentous decision taken the previous evening to officially invite Ukraine, along with its smaller fellow ex-Soviet Republic of Moldava, to apply to join the European bloc of shared policy, open borders and the single market. The process typically takes years, as the applicant must meet a range of EU standards on the economy, legal system, and more.

Still, it marks a watershed for Ukraine, which has sought the status for decades. In a video posted on Instagram, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky responded to receiving EU candidacy: “This is a victory we had waited for 120 days and 30 years,” he said. “After that we will defeat the enemy and get some rest. Or maybe we shall rebuild Ukraine first and get some rest afterwards. And maybe we shall win, rebuild, join the EU and then rest. Or maybe we won’t be getting rest, because the children would disagree with that. But we will definitely win.”

Gazeta Wyborcza (Poland)

Le Soir (Belgium)

Público (Portugal)

Referendums Slated For September To Declare Republics In Occupied Ukrainian Territories

Russian proxies are set to hold staged referendums on Sep. 11 to proclaim “republics” in the occupied regions of Kherson, Zaporizhzhia oblasts. Ukrainian military's Center for National Resistance said in its report that the date of the staged referendums in occupied territories of these regions was chosen to coincide with the national voting day in Russia, where elections for parliamentary deputies and governors in several regions are scheduled across the Russian Federation.

Russian Forces “Weaponizing” Food

According to a U.S. official, the Black Sea fleet of the Russian Navy, "is under orders to effectively blockade the Ukrainian ports of Odessa and Ochakiv.” The Russian forces are also deploying mines in the Black Sea.

The West continues to accuse Moscow of being responsible for the food shortage and “weaponizing” goods as tons of grain are being held hostage in Ukrainian ports.

Russia claims it is not holding back agricultural shipments from Ukraine, and has said Kyiv must de-mine the waters for the ships to transit.

The U.S. State Department announced Thursday that newly declassified intelligence "suggests that Russian forces are destroying Ukrainian grain terminals and silos," including "Ukraine's second largest terminal.” Images posted by the State Department on Twitter show the destruction of the terminal.

BRICS Leaders Call For Russia-Ukraine Negotiations

The leaders of the BRICS nationals (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) discussed the war in Ukraine via video link, urging negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv. In addition, BRICS called for a sweeping reform of the United Nations, including its Security Council, during the online conference, which offered the first global forum to Russian Vladimir Putin since he ordered the invasion of Ukraine in late February.

“We support negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. We also discussed concerns about the humanitarian situation in and around Ukraine and expressed support for the efforts of the UN Secretary-General, UN agencies and the International Committee of the Red Cross,” a joint statement read.

The BRICS leaders also declared their commitment to "respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states" and the peaceful settlement of differences.

Russian President Vladimir Putin during the summit said that the crisis that has developed in the global economy arose due to "ill-conceived, selfish actions of individual states." In his opinion, these countries "transfer to the whole world their own mistakes in macroeconomic policy."

First Trial Of Russian Soldier Charged With Rape Begins

Ukraine has held a preliminary hearing in its first trial against a Russian soldier charged with the rape a Ukrainian woman. Many more cases similar to this one are under investigation. To protect the victim, the trial is being held behind closed doors.

The suspect, Mikhail Romanov, 32, will be tried in absentia. He is accused of breaking into a house in March in a village outside the region of Kyiv, murdering a man and raping his wife.

This comes as Russian crimes against Ukrainian civilians include sexual assault, murder and looting. A prosecutor working on sexual violence cases told Reuters that up to 50 crimes involving sexual assault and rape are being investigated.

Russian Air Force Facing Pilot Shortage

The Russian Air Force is hiring retired pilots working as contractors for Wagner's private military company to carry out direct air support missions for Russian troops. Military observers say the move indicates that the Russian Air Force is short of pilots, probably due to a combination of a lack of properly trained specialists and heavy losses in the war against Ukraine.

Moscow's School Curriculum Updates To Reflect “Revival” Of Russia As World Power

Russia’s Ministry of Education has prepared amendments to the federal state educational standard (FSES) of secondary general education to include “reunification with Crimea and Sevastopol” and the “special military operation” in Ukraine in its standard “History of Russia” course. The department says it wants schoolchildren to develop an understanding of the causes and consequences of "the revival of the Russian Federation as a world power."