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This is just the tip of the iceberg for the Philippines — Alen Stajcic

SARINA BOLDEN — FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP

AUCKLAND — The dream’s not over.

It’s intoxicating, that first taste of the FIFA Women’s World Cup (WC), and the Filipinas won’t rest until they get another and possibly make an even bigger impact next time.

“We’re definitely going to try to get back here in four years,” said goalkeeper Olivia McDaniel after their dream run ended with a 0-6 beatdown from former world and Olympic champ Norway.

“This isn’t the end of the Filipinas. We have a lot more in us and we have a lot of tournaments going on (after the WC) so we’re excited to keep going.”

They lived the dream when the elite football extravaganza officially rolled last July 20, showcasing their characteristic puso, unwavering faith and remarkable resilience against tremendous odds.

They battled opening opponent Switzerland with little jitters and a lot of fight before yielding, 0-2. Then with their feet wet, the troops of Alen Stajcic hit paydirt via a historic 1-0 nipping of host New Zealand led by the breakthrough header of Sarina Bolden and Player of the Match performance of Ms. McDaniel.

Sopie Roman Haug and the powerhouse Norwegians eventually pulled the plug on the Filipinas’ Round-of-16 aspirations with their masterclass performance in a high-stakes duel in front of Eden Park’s predominantly-Filipino 34,967-strong crowd.

Ever the believers, the Filipinas see a return trip in 2027 as a huge possibility.

“We just need to continue what we’ve been doing and (not) change up things too much and continue to learn and grow and trust the process,” said Ms. Bolden.

“Four years is a long time from now, but the process starts now and (figure out) how we can get better, how can we grow from this, learn from this. And I have no doubt in my mind that we’ll be a better team for it.”

Alen Stajcic, the former Australia Matildas coach who helped whip the Filipinas into World Cup shape, underscored the importance of sustaining the momentum.

“This is just the tip of the iceberg for the Philippines,” he said.

“For them to continue this legacy, they need investment in grassroots program in the Philippines. We can go through a lot of spectrum that needs to happen to grow on this point.

“But what it is a starting point of a new history, one where these players hopefully inspire a new generation of young kids to want to be future national team players and do what these players have done this week.” — Olmin Leyba

Big guns of UAAP, NCAA vie for SSL quarterfinals

DE LA SALLE UNIVERSITY women’s volleyball team

Games Tuesday
(Filoil EcoOil Centre)
9 a.m. — La Salle vs University of Southern Philippines Foundation
12 p.m. — Lyceum vs Adamson
2 p.m. — La Salle-Dasma vs UST
4 p.m. — Enderun vs College of St. Benilde

FANCIED squads De La Salle University, College of St. Benilde (CSB), University of Santo Tomas (UST) and Adamson University seek to live up to expectations against separate counterparts to top their groups and clinch quarterfinal tickets in Day 3 of the 2023 Shakey’s Super League (SSL) National Invitationals Tuesday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.

Action kicks off a 9 a.m. with reigning UAAP champion De La Salle (1-0) clashing against CESAFI runner-up University of Southern Philippines Foundation (0-1) in Pool A followed by the 12 p.m. duel between Adamson (1-0) and Lyceum of the Philippines University (0-1) in Pool C.

At 2 p.m., UST collides (1-0) with De La Salle-Dasma (0-1) in Pool B while two-time NCAA queen CSB tackles Enderun Colleges at 4 p.m. in Pool D to wrap up the short single-round robin elims among 12 teams from the NCR, Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

Only the top two teams from each pool will advance to the knockout playoffs of the SSL presented by Eurotel as official hotel and Victory Liner as office transport provider, and in cooperation with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

Only Notre Dame of Dadiangas University (0-2) so far from General Santos City in Pool D is out of contention, making the last playdate a waiting game for CESAFI champion University of San Jose Recoletos or USJR (1-1) in Pool B and Jose Maria College Foundation or JMCF (1-1) in Pool C to determine their fates.

While all eyes are on the big guns from the UAAP and the NCAA, unheralded squads like the USJR from Cebu and the JMCF from Davao have proven their worth so far in the historic joust also backed by Mikasa, Team Rebel Sports, Summit Bottled Water, Genius Sports, Potato Corner, Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken and Sauce Bar, and R&B Tea.

USJR took down Luzon bet La Salle-Dasma, 25-20, 25-18, 25-18, while JMCF stunned NCAA runner-up Lyceum via reverse sweep, 24-26, 25-19, 25-22, 26-24, to stay in playoff contention. — John Bryan Ulanday

It was an incredible ride — Filipinas skipper Hali Long

HALI LONG (center) of Philippines celebrates with team mates after the FIFA Women’s World Cup match between New Zealand and Philippines on July 25, 2023 in Wellington, New Zealand. — REUTERS

AUCKLAND — From the singing of the national anthem to the post-match media powwow, the tears flowed freely for Filipinas skipper Hali Long.

The longest serving mainstay with a record 76 caps, Ms. Long swore she swelled with pride representing the Philippines and fighting for flag and country in the international front.

So one can just imagine how emotional it was for the Fil-Am defender to do it at the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

“It’s an utmost honor to, one, bring the Lupang Hinirang here (World Cup), (two) bring the Philippine flag here for the first time and (three) to be able to be on the pitch to do that,” Ms. Long said, her cheeks glistening with tears.

“It’s just that definite highlight of my life.”

Videos of Ms. Long tearing up while singing the anthem from the heart minutes before kickoff was a sight to behold. She said it’s been like that for her since the 2017 SEA Games.

“Anytime Lupang Hinirang comes on, it just means so much because it’s just like you die for your countrymen,” she said.

“I mean, it’s everything. It’s the pride and honor you have to represent your country everywhere on the global stage — as an underdog, as a beauty queen, as a boxer, as a weightlifter, as a futbolera.”

When the Filipinas’ magical run was crushed by a 0-6 loss to Norway, Ms. Long, no surprises there, was the most brokenhearted.

But that didn’t take away her immense gratification for what she and her sisters in arms pulled off here.

“It was an incredible ride,” Ms. Long said. “There’s so many firsts that happened here — our first goal, our first win, our first game, our first card, our first anything, it was all a first for us and you can’t take it away from us.” — Olmin Leyba

Dethroned Creamline Cool Smashers eye third and last PVL conference

CREAMLINE COOL SMASHERS — PREMIER VOLLEYBALL LEAGUE

MOMENTS after being dethroned by Kurashiki Ablaze of Japan in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Invitational Conference, the Creamline Cool Smashers have set their sights on winning the championship in the league’s third and last conference late this year.

“We’re hoping for a better and more improved Creamline Cool Smashers next conference,” said Creamline captain Alyssa Valdez after falling to the Japanese, 19-25, 25-23, 25-19, 20-25, 15-13, in the one-game finale Sunday at the PhilSports Arena.

It was a heartbreaking defeat for the dethroned champions, who were denied a seventh crown in the league.

It was also a sad ending especially for Ms. Valdez, who had to sit out the last two sets after she was seen limping late in the third set.

“It’s just sad …,” said a teary-eyed former national team skipper and Philippine Southeast Asian Games flag-bearer. “But we learned so much and I’m grateful to be back on the court.”

“No excuses, Japan did good and everyone in the team did well. We’re grateful we learned a lot,” she added.

Despite the defeat, Creamline already made history as they still ended up with a record 12th straight podium finish in a stretch where it hauled six titles, three runner-up finishes and three third-place efforts. — Joey Villar

PBA On Tour a resounding success before the FIBA World Cup

PBA

SAVE for the injury of Barangay Ginebra wing Jeremiah Gray in the 11th hour, the PBA On Tour proved as a resounding success for Asia’s first pro league before giving the keys to Gilas Pilipinas in the country’s full-swing preparations for the FIBA Basketball World Cup hosting.

As it lent the majority of its stars to Gilas that’s in the thick of its build-up, the PBA did not waste time providing opportunities for the up-and-coming players, prospects and seldom-used players in the PBA On Tour that culminated over the weekend.

It served as a summer tournament and preseason tilt in one for the 12 PBA franchises prior to the 48th Season in October with Magnolia earning the top honors following a sweep, 11-0.

Rain or Shine (8-3), which will represent the Philippines in the Jones Cup, finished second as Blackwater (7-4) and Meralco (7-4) completed the Top 4.

Converge (6-5), Ginebra (6-5), NLEX (5-6), Northport (5-6), Terrafirma (4-7), Phoenix (3-8), San Miguel (3-8) and Talk ‘N Text (1-10) finished in order for the PBA On Tour that ran for two months since May.

Though the majority of the games were held at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig, the PBA On Tour held games around Metro Manila, including at the University of Santo Tomas.

The PBA On Tour also had trips to Antipolo, Bulacan, Batangas, Quezon and Dumaguete as preparations for the return of staple out-of-town games next season in the aftermath of the COVID-19 health emergency and its restrictions.

Moreover, the PBA introduced new rules highlighted by the first-ever coach’s challenge with NLEX mentor Frankie Lim utilizing it first in the opener in Caloocan last May.

Under the experimental rules in the PBA On Tour, coaches will have two challenges, one per half, during the games.

NOTE: Jeremiah Gray suffered a dislocated knee according to Ginebra coach Tim Cone. The doctors have already aligned back Mr. Gray’s knee but the ligaments around it are still under evaluation and if surgery would be needed.

Mr. Gray, who already had an ACL injury in 2021 during his PBA 3×3 stint, was all alone in transition when he went down with the gruesome injury late in the third quarter of Ginebra’s 91-85 win over NLEX, where he finished with eight points, seven rebounds and five assists. — John Bryan Ulanday

World Cup upsets keep US on their toes ahead of Portugal match

AUCKLAND — Women’s World Cup (WC) upsets have put the four-times champions United States on notice, with a ticket to the knockout stages on the line when they face debutants Portugal in Auckland on Tuesday.

On paper, it would appear that the top-ranked Americans should have every advantage over the Portugal team ranked 20 rungs beneath them at Tuesday’s showdown at Eden Park.

But a day after Colombia flipped the script to beat twice world champions Germany 2-1 in stoppage time, US coach Vlatko Andonovski said he knows better than to take the odds at face value.

“Rankings mean nothing in the World Cup,” he said.

The United States overcame Portugal 1-0 in their last meeting — a 2021 friendly — but Andonovski sees little comparison between the two sides today.

“In the last two years, the… Portuguese team have grown so much and have gotten so much better,” he said.

“I don’t think what we saw in the 2021 (game) is a clear or real picture of the team that it is today.”

The Americans are on a quest for an unprecedented third consecutive title but must secure a win or a draw over Portugal to advance. Failure to do so would mean missing the knockout stages for the first time in nine World Cup appearances. — Reuters

Thousands flee homes in Beijing as Doksuri dumps record rainfall

People in raincoats stand at the closed gates of the Forbidden City during heavy rain in Beijing, China, July 30, 2023. — REUTERS/THOMAS PETER

BEIJING — Tens of thousands of people were evacuated from their homes in Beijing as the remnants of Typhoon Doksuri dumped record rainfall on the city, grounding flights and flooding hundreds of roads on Monday.

Besides Beijing, heavy rain continued to soak the neighboring city of Tianjin as well as Hebei province in a region nearly the size of Britain in the wake of Doksuri, which was downgraded to a tropical depression on the weekend.

Three of the five rivers that make up the Hai river basin rose to dangerous levels on Monday. Some houses were washed into the Yongding river, state media reported.

Doksuri is one of the strongest storms to hit China in years and caused widespread flooding over the weekend in the southern province of Fujian, driving hundreds of thousands of people from their homes.

Average rainfall in Beijing reached 140.7 mm (5.5 inches) overnight Sunday, with the maximum recorded rainfall in Fangshan area hitting 500.4 mm (19.7 inches), according to the city’s observatory.

The observatory kept a red alert — the highest warning — for heavy rainfall in place while Beijing Hydrology Station upgraded its flood warning with more rain and river flooding forecast.

More than 31,000 people were evacuated from their homes, work at more than 4,000 construction sites was halted, almost 20,000 buildings were inspected for damage, and scenic spots in the city were closed, media reported.

Both airports in the capital canceled more than 180 flights on Monday morning, with hundreds more delayed, according to flight tracking app Flight Master.

Railway authorities dispatched workers to send food including instant noodles, eggs and ham, and drinking water to train passengers who were stuck overnight.

As many as 358 roads in Beijing were affected by the rain as of Monday.

There was no reported damage or casualties, state media said, but south of Beijing, Doksuri’s impact was more pronounced.

In northern Hebei province, a driver was missing after two trucks fell off a collapsed bridge in Baoding city on Sunday, while a section of a railway bridge for freight in Shijiazhuang city was washed away in a swollen river, media reported.

While Doksuri continues to taper off, forecasters warned that typhoon Khanun was approaching and was set to strike China’s densely populated coast this week.

Authorities said Khanun could inflict further damage to corn and other crops that have already been hit by Doksuri. — Reuters

Italy minister says joining China’s Belt and Road was ‘atrocious’ decision

A general view of UniCredit Tower and the Bosco Verticale residential tower in Milan, Italy, March 8, 2020. — REUTERS

ROME — Italy made an “improvised and atrocious” decision when it joined China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) four years ago as it did little to boost exports, Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said in an interview published on Sunday.

Italy signed up to the BRI under a previous government, becoming the only major Western country to have taken such a step. Mr. Crosetto is part of an administration that is considering how to break free of the agreement.

The BRI scheme envisions rebuilding the old Silk Road to connect China with Asia, Europe and beyond with large infrastructure spending. Critics see it as a tool for China to spread its geopolitical and economic influence.

“The decision to join the (new) Silk Road was an improvised and atrocious act” that multiplied China’s exports to Italy but did not have the same effect on Italian exports to China, Mr. Crosetto told the Corriere della Sera newspaper.

“The issue today is: how to walk back (from the BRI) without damaging relations (with Beijing). Because it is true that China is a competitor, but it is also a partner,” the defense minister added.

After a White House meeting with US President Joseph R. Biden on Thursday, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said her government was still deliberating on the BRI and announced a trip to Beijing in the near future.

“We’ll take a decision before December,” Ms. Meloni told US broadcaster Fox News in an interview aired on Sunday, adding that the issue required discussions with the Chinese government and within the Italian parliament.

Ms. Meloni reiterated her view that it is a “paradox” that while Italy is part of the BRI, it is not the Group of Seven (G7) country with the biggest trade with China, and said that shows it is possible to have good relations with Beijing without the Belt and Road. — Reuters

Japan sees growing appetite for personal cooling devices

Kuchofuku Co’s baby carrier fans are battery powered.— AKIO KON/BLOOMBERG

AS EXTREME heat blankets the globe from Phoenix to Athens, entrepreneurs are responding with an array of personal cooling devices that can help reduce health risks for everyone from infants to outdoor workers.

At Tokyo’s annual Extreme Heat Countermeasures Exhibition last week the focus was on how to keep workers in high-temperature environments, like construction sites and factories, cool and reduce the risk of heat stroke. As fossil fuel emissions accelerate climate change and with July set to become the world’s hottest month on record, there is growing appetite for the products from consumers and public institutions.

“We’re getting more orders from public facilities, like school gyms, to use our product,” said Hayato Ohashi, who works in sales at industrial fan manufacturer Earth Blower Japan, Inc. “The heat is just getting extraordinary in the last decade — it’s not something that will suddenly disappear next year.”

Japan has one of the world’s oldest populations and its citizenry is particularly at risk from extreme temperatures. In 2020, 86% of heat wave deaths were among people above the age of 65, according to the environment ministry. And Japan isn’t the only country aiming to safeguard people: last week US President Joseph R. Biden said the nation is spending $100 billion a year to protect Americans from extreme heat.

Here are the top cooling products showcased at the trade show in Tokyo.

BABY CARRIERS, BEDS
Tokyo-based Kuchofuku Co. has been making fan-equipped apparel like vests and jackets favored by many Japanese construction workers for decades. The company has redesigned some of its products as casual wear and home products for general consumers.

Fan-based cooling apparel works by accelerating airflow to dry perspiration and typically uses less energy than air-conditioning. The approach works best in more humid places where perspiration doesn’t evaporate efficiently.

Kuchofuku’s offerings included a fan-equipped baby carrier and a bed. The mattress, which is made of a sheet of flexible, mesh-like padding, has an electricity-powered fan at the foot that sucks air from the headboard to boost circulation and keep sheets dry. The baby carrier fans are battery powered.

LARGE-SCALE FANS
Earth Blower Japan produces large-scale fans nearly 2 meters (6 feet 6 inches) tall that blew visitors passing its booth with a strong breeze. Fans come in a variety of models, with names of Japanese deities, like thunder god “Raijin” or wind god “Fujin Max.”

Mr. Ohashi emphasized the flexibility that fans offer because they can easily be transported to new locations and provide immediate relief. Although factories and logistics centers are the regular customers, the company has also rented out its blowers for use at stadiums, including for some of the sporting events during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Fans can also limit power costs. Although expenses vary according to the cost of electricity, Ohashi said running its biggest fan for eight hours a day for a month excluding weekends typically only costs around ¥10,000 ($72).

SAFETY HELMETS
Many of the products on display targeted outdoor workers. Because of Japan’s aging population many of its laborers at construction sites or in agriculture are at higher risk of heat stroke.

Hyogo prefecture-based Toyo Safety Industrial Co. showcased a safety helmet with a fan installed at the base that circulates air around the wearer’s head. The fans that are detachable and rechargeable.

WEARABLES
Tokyo-based Biodata Bank, Inc. has developed a wearable device that alerts people when they are at risk of heatstroke.

Its Heat Warning Watch Canaria beeps when the wearer’s core body temperature exceeds unhealthy levels. Priced at ¥4,950, the watch can be used for four months without charging. The device is aimed at outdoor workers and athletes.

The product is currently sold in Japan and Europe, and the company has seen demand increase in European countries amid heat waves in recent years.

FOR PETS
Some firms are eyeing products for four-legged animals.

Manufacturer A-Mec Co. developed a mesh vest with pockets to carry cold packs for dogs to keep pets cool in hot weather. The vests, which come in four sizes and range in price between ¥4,950 and ¥7,150, are also sold in the US market.

Businesses have become increasingly aware of demand for animal cooling products, and retailers like Sweet Mommy also offer fan-based cooling vests for pets. — Bloomberg

Greener economy: Brian Poe-Llamanzares calls for sustainable investments at Southeast Asia Investment Forum

Brian Poe-Llamanzares

SINGAPORE — In a power-packed address at the recently concluded “Southeast Asia Investment Forum,” Brian Poe-Llamanzares, sustainability advocate, philanthropist, and chief-of-staff to the Office of Senator Grace Poe, sparked a much-needed conversation about the critical steps to ensure better and sustainable investments in the Philippines.

Held at the Hon Sui Sen Memorial Library in Singapore on July 29, 2023, the event provided a dynamic platform for exploring investment prospects and challenges in the region.

“I would like to thank the National University of Singapore and the Mandarin Alumni Association for this invitation. This is an amazing opportunity for the Philippines and myself. I hope that my remarks will attract investors and connect sustainability warriors in Asia to the Philippines,” expressed Mr. Poe-Llamanzares, setting the tone for an engaging and insightful speech.

Drawing from his experience, the charismatic speaker emphasized the importance of due diligence, urging investors to delve beyond the numbers on traditional financial reports. The balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement may be essential, but Mr. Poe-Llamanzares made a powerful revelation — they fall short of revealing a company’s environmental cost — its carbon footprint.

“These reports do not reveal a company’s carbon footprint. Financial reports can reveal the cost of income, but not a company’s environmental cost. They can reveal the efficiency of cash flow. But not how quickly we drain our rivers, nor how efficiently we pollute our seas,” explained Mr. Poe-Llamanzares.

Amidst the current climate crisis, the call for Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance (ESG) has grown louder. Mr. Poe-Llamanzares referred to his book, A Sustainable Future, as he educated the audience about the significance of ESG in today’s investing landscape. According to the Global Sustainable Investing Alliance (GSIA), corporate spending on ESG reached a staggering $35.3 trillion in 2020, projected to soar to $33.9 trillion in global institutional ESG investing by 2026.

“Greening our companies brings in green dollars,” Mr. Poe-Llamanzares proclaimed, highlighting the positive impact of ESG on revenue and profit. A report by Moore Global indicated that spending on ESG boosts revenue by 9.7% and profit by 9.1%.

Mr. Poe-Llamanzares then turned his attention to the Philippines, its vibrant economy, and its eagerness to embrace sustainable growth despite the country’s rapidly growing population and increasing demand for water, food, and electricity. The GDP of PHP 19.94 Trillion in 2022 reflects the nation’s ambitions to expand and green its economy. Household consumption, accounting for 70% of the GDP, and Gross Capital Formation, investing in construction and durable equipment, play pivotal roles in driving economic growth.

To achieve a greener economy, Mr. Poe-Llamanzares shared that the Philippines is embracing the ESG revolution through strategic steps like loosening restrictions in laws like the Retail Trade Liberalization Act, the Foreign Investments Act, and the Public Service Act fosters investment growth. Moreover, the revised implementing rules and regulations of the Renewable Energy Act demonstrate the nation’s commitment to increasing renewable energy’s share in its energy mix to 35% by 2030 and 50% by 2040.

According to Mr. Poe-Llamanzares, the Philippines has also made strides in green financing, issuing sustainability-related bonds and private banks offering green and sustainable loans. As the Philippines moves towards a Water-Energy-Food nexus, investments in recycling gray water, utilizing rainwater, adopting energy-efficient technology, electric vehicles, and sustainable agriculture will also pave the way for a greener future.

“Investing in ESG is not just about ticking boxes, but it’s an investment in a better world. It is an investment in the future we want to leave behind for our children and the generations to come. Together, we can unlock the potential of sustainable growth and make a positive impact on both business and the world,” Poe-Llamanzares concluded with a call to action, inspiring investors to embrace ESG principles for a greener and more sustainable future.

The “Southeast Asia Investment Forum” successfully provided a platform for Mr. Poe-Llamanzares to shed light on the pressing need for sustainable investing and its potential impact on the future of the region’s economy. The forum’s participants left with a renewed sense of responsibility and awareness of the importance of incorporating ESG principles into their investment strategies.

 

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Beijing stimulus given benefit of the doubt

Asian share markets are looking to end July with a bang as hopes for new policy steps have Chinese blue chips up 4.8% for the month and on track for their best performance since January.

China’s July PMIs were mixed with manufacturing steadying at 49.3 but services slowing to a disappointing 51.5. Yet that merely stoked wagers Beijing would have to dole up sizable stimulus at some point or risk social unrest, particularly with youth unemployment rising.

Beijing did apparently issue measures to restore and expand consumption on Monday, according to a State Council document out on Monday, though many seemed aspirational and whether they would work was an open question. So far, domestic investors seem to be giving Beijing the benefit of the doubt – foreign funds have been shunning Chinese stocks for a while.

MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan is also on track for its best month since January with a gain of almost 6% in July.

The Nikkei is trying for a seventh straight month of gains and is just barely in the green with a rise of 0.2% for July, though it’s still up 27% year-to-date.

The market is having to contend with a rare selloff in bonds after the Bank of Japan lifted the lid on yields last week, essentially doubling it to 1.0%. That’s seen 10-year yields climb 16 basis points 0.60% in two sessions, the sharpest move since the BOJ last remade its yield curve policy in December.

Higher yields could be positive for banks as they allow them to raise borrowing rates and their own margins, but they also make safe haven bonds relatively more attractive compared with riskier equities and challenge PE valuations.

Any rise in Japan’s paltry yields should, theoretically, be a plus for the yen and a negative for yen-funded carry trades. Yet after its initial rally to 138.05 on Friday, the yen has since backtracked at pace to 141.68 per dollar.

Even crowded carry favorites such as the Mexican peso have brushed off the BOJ’s shift, with the peso nearing its highest since 2014 after jumping 2.3% on Friday.

This in part reflects the still huge gulf between Japan rates and emerging markets and the fact that many carry trades are funded at one month rates and rolled over. Right now, investors can still borrow yen for one month at -0.1% to buy pesos and earn 11.1%.

Greater yen volatility would make those positions riskier, but it’s still attractive, especially as the next BOJ meeting is almost two months away on Sept. 22. Indeed, many analysts assume any major policy change won’t come until the Oct. 31 meeting when the BOJ updates its economic forecasts. — Reuters

Ukraine to start talks with US on security guarantees –senior official

REUTERS

Ukraine is to start consultations with the United States this week on providing security guarantees for Kyiv pending the completion of the process of joining NATO, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s chief of staff said on Sunday.

Andriy Yermak, writing on the Telegram messaging app, also said officials from a number of countries were preparing to meet in Saudi Arabia to discuss Zelenskiy’s peace plan for Ukraine, based on the departure of all Russian troops.

Yermak did not say when the next meeting would take place but said the plan would be discussed in three phases, leading up to a meeting of heads of state and government.

The Wall Street Journal first reported on the meeting in Saudi Arabia on Saturday, saying it would be held in Jeddah on August 5-6.

The talks on security guarantees with the United States are a follow-up on pledges issued by the Group of 7 (G7) at the NATO summit in Lithuania earlier this month to draw up and honor security guarantees.

“We are starting talks with the United States (this) week,” Yermak wrote on Telegram.

“Security guarantees for Ukraine will be concrete, long-term obligations ensuring Ukraine’s capacity to defeat and restrain Russian aggression in the future. These will be clearly drafted formats and mechanisms of support.”

He said the guarantees “will be in effect until Ukraine secures NATO membership.”

The Western Alliance’s Vilnius summit offered support to Ukraine in countering Russia’s 17-month-old invasion and individual countries pledged new weapons, but no date for Ukrainian membership was set as long as the war continues.

Members of the G7 agreed for each nation to negotiate agreements to provide security guarantees and help Ukraine bolster its military.

In his comments, Yermak said more than 10 other countries had joined the G7 declaration and Ukraine was negotiating terms of future guarantees with each of them.

Yermak spoke of the forthcoming meeting in Saudi Arabia at a gathering of regional officials in the western Ukrainian city of Ivano Frankivsk.

He said an initial international meeting devoted to the peace plan took place in Copenhagen in June.

In addition to calling for a withdrawal of Russian troops, Zelenskiy’s peace plan also provides for the restoration of Ukraine’s pre-war borders and the return home of all prisoners and deported children.

Russia and Ukraine held a series of peace talks soon after Russia’s invasion in February 2022, but these failed to produce any agreement.

Ukraine, its military now bolstered by Western arms, now says it will not take part in any further talks until Russian troops leave. — Reuters

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