Ban on grain imports from Ukraine, military aid package from US, assault in the south: highlights

Five EU countries in favor of banning imports of Ukrainian grain

Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Romania, and Bulgaria have come out with a common position to extend the ban on imports of wheat, corn, rapeseed, and sunflower from Ukraine after September 15, 2023.

The proposal will now be presented at a meeting of the EU Council of Ministers of Agriculture and Fisheries in Brussels on July 25.

The countries also want to expand the list of goods from Ukraine that are subject to an import ban.

The agriculture ministers of the five countries emphasized that this is not an action against Ukraine.

Representatives of the five countries explained that the growth of Ukrainian imports of grains and oilseeds "has caused significant losses for farmers, logistical and infrastructure difficulties, as well as social unrest that has not been recorded before."

At the same time, Croatia has expressed its intention to help Ukraine with grain exports. In particular, the country offers its railroad network and ports.

Russia conducts massive attack on southern Ukraine

During the night of July 19, Russian forces attacked southern Ukraine using air-, land-, and sea-launched cruise missiles, as well as Iranian Shahed-136/131 attack drones.

The Ukrainian military destroyed 13 Kalibrs and 23 drones. An Kh-59 missile was shot down on its approach to the shore, crashing in one of Odesa's neighborhoods and creating a large crater. The blast wave damaged several buildings in the area and injured three people.

The Russians directed the Oniks and Kh-22 at the port and critical infrastructure, hitting the grain and oil terminals.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russians had destroyed 60,000 tons of agricultural products in Odesa Oblast that were intended for shipment to China.

United States and Spain provide new military aid to Ukraine

On July 19, the United States allocated a new $1.3 billion military aid pact to Ukraine. In particular, the country will send four NASAMS anti-aircraft missile systems, as well as 152 mm artillery shells, demining equipment, TOW anti-tank missiles, and more.

At the same time, Spain will send four Leopard 2A4 tanks, ten armored personnel carriers, and additional armored vehicles to Ukraine next week.

The ministry added that on July 18, a reinforced field hospital left for Ukraine, which is due to arrive in transit from Poland on July 23.

Ireland allocates another €5 million in aid to Ukraine

Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar paid a visit to Ukraine on July 19.

The Irish delegation began its visit by visiting Moshchun, Bucha, and Romanivskyi Bridge in Kyiv Oblast to see firsthand the consequences of Russian aggression.

Varadkar noted that Ireland would provide Ukraine with another €5 million in humanitarian aid. The funds will be distributed between the Red Cross and the United Nations.

In addition, he said that Ireland is already investigating how parts of their production could have gotten into Iranian Shahed drones, which Russia is using to launch at Ukraine.

Russia threatens to attack ships in Black Sea

The Russian Defense Ministry has announced that due to the termination of the grain initiative, starting July 20, it will consider all ships sailing in the Black Sea to Ukrainian ports as "potential carriers of military cargo."

The Russian Ministry of Defense also declared a number of maritime areas in the northwestern and southeastern parts of the international waters of the Black Sea "temporarily dangerous for navigation".

EU to create fund to support Armed Forces of Ukraine

Politico, citing five diplomats, writes that the European Union intends to create a special fund to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine over the next four years, which will attract about €20 billion.

The EU plan does not include direct payments for weapons for the Ukrainian army. Instead, the bloc will help member states cover their own costs of purchasing and transferring military aid to Ukraine, as well as compensate for the costs of training the Ukrainian military, Politico notes.

Situation at the frontline

The head of the Kharkiv Oblast State Administration, Oleg Synegubov, said that in recent days, Russians have been conducting active assault operations on the Kupyansk axis, but have not been successful. The Ukrainian defense forces are holding their positions and destroying the occupiers.

At the same time, the spokesman for the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Andriy Kovalyov, said that the Ukrainian military had driven the Russian occupation forces out of their positions near Orikhovo-Vasylivka near Bakhmut.

The defense forces are partially successful, consolidating their positions. At the same time, the enemy is putting up strong resistance, using reserves, and suffering heavy losses.

Other news

• According to intelligence, Russian troops are likely to organize an armed provocation on the grounds of Zaporizhzhya NPP in the near future.
• An ammunition depot caught fire in Crimea, and the occupation authorities announced the evacuation of people.
• As of July 19, Ukrainians have filed 468,000 applications through Diia about damaged or destroyed property as a result of the full-scale war.
• A child with osteopetrosis underwent a bone marrow transplant for the first time in Ukraine. The donor was a guy from Poland.
• The head of the Red Cross of Belarus admitted to participating in the removal of children from Ukraine "for rehabilitation."
• The IOC bans the UK from holding qualifying tournaments for the 2024 Olympics in "new" sports due to its allegedly "discriminatory" stance toward Belarusian and Russian athletes.
• NATO experts will analyze Ukraine's Defense Ministry procurement to provide advice on how to improve the system.