Russian-Chinese consultations on strategic security files
A new round of Russian-Chinese consultations on strategic security issues was launched in Moscow on Tuesday morning, amid silence from both sides regarding its agenda and the most prominent points on the table for discussion.
The Russian Security Council contented itself with issuing a brief statement about “the launch of the eighteenth round of Russian-Chinese consultations on strategic security,” without providing additional details about it.
Participating in the talks on the Russian side are Secretary of the National Security Council, Nikolai Patrushev, and on the Chinese side, Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who was presented in the Russian Council’s statement in his party capacity; He is a member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, and Chairman of the Party’s Foreign Affairs Committee.
The two parties held a preliminary round of dialogue at the end of July, when Patrushev and Wang Yi met in Johannesburg (South Africa) on the sidelines of a meeting of senior representatives supervising security issues of the BRICS countries. In that meeting, the dialogue focused on issues of enhancing the security of Russia and China, as well as the situation in the Asia-Pacific region.
It is noteworthy that the Chinese Foreign Minister’s visit to Moscow took place under the title “discussing security files” without specifying whether he was accompanied by representatives of the Ministry of Defense or the relevant security services.
Wang Yi preceded the start of the security negotiations with a meeting on Monday evening with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, which seemed to focus on the situation in Ukraine. At its conclusion, the two sides stressed that there were “no prospects” for attempts to settle the situation in Ukraine without taking into account Russia’s interests.
A statement issued by the Russian Foreign Ministry after the two ministers’ meeting stated that they “praised the current state of Russian-Chinese relations, which continue to develop dynamically in light of the unstable and tense foreign political situation.”
He added that the two ministers “discussed the vital issues of the bilateral agenda in the context of implementing the agreements of the leaders of Russia and China, and communications issues at the highest levels, as well as preparing for Russia’s participation in the third high-level forum in Beijing, on international cooperation within the framework of the (One Belt, One Road) initiative.” .
According to the statement, the two ministers also exchanged views on cooperation between Moscow and Beijing within the framework of the United Nations, including the issue of reforming the UN Security Council. They pointed out “the importance of continuing to deepen effective coordination within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organizations and BRICS,” and “taking into account improving the reputation and representation of these structures in terms of expanding their representation, as well as within the framework of the G20 and the groupings associated with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). ASEAN), the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum, and other international communication formats.
The statement added that the two sides “confirmed the convergence of positions regarding the steps of the United States on the international scene, including those that have an anti-Russian and Chinese nature.” Moscow announced that during the meeting, the Chinese side was informed of the developments of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s recent visit to Russia.
In an introductory speech at the beginning of the meeting, Wang Yi said: Beijing and Moscow pursue an independent foreign policy, and their cooperation is not directed against other countries.
According to him, “relations between China and Russia play a special role in maintaining global stability.” He also indicated that China is ready to work with the Russian Federation in shaping a multipolar world and establishing a more just global order.
In turn, Lavrov said that he expects the two countries to continue their coordinated work in the United Nations General Assembly and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit. He added, “There are many multilateral forums coming, first and foremost the United Nations General Assembly, which opened its work, then there will be the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit, and many other summits and high-level meetings, and I am confident that our well-coordinated work will “It will continue during these forums.”
Russian denial
On the ground, the pro-Moscow authorities in Donetsk denied Ukrainian reports about tangible progress on some fighting axes around Donetsk. The Moscow-appointed head of the region, Denis Pushilin, told the Rossiya 24 television channel: The Ukrainian forces suffered heavy losses and were forced to reduce military activity in the direction of the town of Avdiivka after announcing the “fake seizure” of the Obitny region.
“With regard to the direction of Avdiivka, the town on which the greatest amount of attention is focused is Obitny,” Pushilin said. After the imaginary seizure of this area, the enemy reduced its activity and suffered very heavy losses.” According to him, there have been no significant changes in this trend in the past 24 hours. On Monday, Ukraine announced that its forces had penetrated Russian defense lines by retaking two villages near the destroyed city of Bakhmut on the Eastern Front. Also, the Ukrainian Air Force announced that it shot down 27 out of 30 Shahed drones launched over Ukraine during the night.
Drones launched an attack at dawn on Tuesday morning on the city of Lviv in western Ukraine, a thousand kilometers from the front. Which led to the destruction of three warehouses and the death of at least one person, according to the authorities. The buzzing of several squadrons of drones was heard in the sky of the city, as explosions rang out, according to an Agence France-Presse correspondent.
For his part, Andrei Sadovy, Mayor of Lviv, wrote in a post on Telegram that “air defenses are operating in our area” and there are additional drones “flying in our direction,” calling on residents to take shelter from “the danger of a second attack.” He added: “Unfortunately, a worker was found dead under the rubble,” shortly after another 26-year-old worker was announced injured and taken to the hospital. In turn, the governor of the regional military administration, Maxim Kozitsky, said via Telegram: “Two people emerged from under the rubble in Lviv, a man and a woman.” He explained that the woman appeared unharmed while the man was “in danger.” Sadovi explained that the attacks destroyed three warehouses in which windows, household chemicals and humanitarian aid were stored. He added that the fire destroyed approximately 10,000 square metres. In turn, the Ukrainian Air Force said via Telegram: The invading drones are Iranian-made “Shahed” drones, and that its defenses are confronting them.
The Air Force wrote, “The danger (witness) still exists in the Lviv region. Air defenses are working.” Russia often uses Iranian-made Shahed drones to attack cities in Ukraine. Kozitsky concluded his message after the sirens sounded, signaling the end of the air warning: “The danger has passed.” In the Mykolaiv region (south), air defenses shot down ten “Shahed” drones during the night, according to what the governor of the Mykolaiv region, Vitaly Kim, announced on Tuesday, adding: “No casualties were recorded.” In Dnipropetrovsk (central-east), Governor Sergei Lysak reported damage and one person injured after artillery shelling.
A regional official said that at least three people were killed in a Russian attack on the town of Kobyansk in northeastern Ukraine. Oleh Sinyhopov, governor of the Kharkiv region, said via the Telegram application: “Today, the enemy attacked the town of Kubyansk with a guided aerial bomb.”
In London, an intelligence assessment issued by the British Ministry of Defense reported on Tuesday that intense fighting around the islands located in the Lower Dnipro region of the Kherson region, which currently represents the front line, continued during the first half of this September. The daily intelligence assessment published on the “X” platform (formerly Twitter) stated that the two sides launched raids using teams that moved in small boats on the islands and on both banks of the river.
The British Ministry of Defense indicated in its intelligence update that there is a realistic possibility that Russian operations in the region have been activated since the sector came under the responsibility of the recently established “40th Army” Corps. The evaluation added that the number of forces participating in the operations is relatively small compared to other fronts. However, both sides see the region as having strategic importance.
Donetsk authorities announced on Tuesday morning that a number of towns were subjected to a strong attack using cluster munitions. According to a military statement, missiles received by Ukraine from NATO member countries were used during the attack that targeted the western regions of Donetsk.
The pro-Russian governor of the Zaporozhye region, Yevgeny Paletsky, expected that Kiev would launch “a third wave of counterattack by Ukrainian forces in the direction of Zaporizhya within days.” Paletsky added: “The enemy, of course, is trying to restore combat capability with the aim of seizing Novopokrovka and Ilyeshchenkovo in order to try to occupy advantageous positions. All the enemy’s plans are known, and his movements are easy to predict. During September, we expect the third wave of the so-called counterattack.”
The separatist politician said, “The enemy forces are nearing their end and the new counterattack will lead to new heavy losses, especially in locations where the lowlands become fully visible.” “This makes it easier for our forces to tighten control over it.”
Ukraine launched the Ukrainian counterattack last June, and Ukrainian and Western reports say that the attack succeeded in achieving tangible breakthroughs on the contact lines and taking control of some strategic towns, while Moscow confirms that its defensive lines succeeded in thwarting all attacks and halting the advance. Ukrainian forces along the battle fronts. A few days ago, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that “the counterattack has not only not stopped, but has failed.” According to him, in attempts to “achieve a result at any cost, Ukraine lost 71.5 thousand soldiers.”
According to Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, the Ukrainian armed forces “did not achieve their goals in any of the areas.” He pointed out that the most heated battles took place in the vicinity of Zaporizhya, near the small village of Rabutino, where “Ukraine brought into the battle Western-trained brigades from the strategic reserve.”
