Russia claimed on Saturday its forces had launched widespread attacks on Ukraine's energy facilities, while Ukraine, on the same day, reported repulsing the Russian assault amid the ongoing fierce frontline battles.
The Russian Defense Ministry reported that its forces had conducted strikes on effective enemy forces, armament storage locations and energy facilities of Ukrainian military entities over the past day.
The ministry also said that its forces has continued to crack down on Ukraine's incursion into the Kursk region of Russia.
Meanwhile, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported on Saturday that their troops had fought 94 battles with Russian forces in frontline regions in eastern Ukraine by Saturday afternoon, with the fiercest battles occurring in the direction of Kurakhovo.
The Ukrainian side also said that its army was holding its ground and pushing back against the Russian offensive.
Russia strikes Ukraine's energy facilities, Ukraine repels Russian offensive
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday hailed the substantial conclusion of Version 3.0 ASEAN-China Free Trade Area (FTA) upgrade negotiations, saying that it will promote global free trade and economic growth.
China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) announced on Thursday at the sidelines of the 27th ASEAN – China Summit in Vientiane, Lao the substantial conclusion of ASEAN-China Free Trade Area (ACFTA) 3.0 Upgrade Negotiations.
The construction of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area was completed in 2010, and Version 3.0 FTA negotiations began in November 2022.
The upgraded FTA covers nine areas, including both existing areas of the China-ASEAN free trade agreement and emerging areas with huge potential for cooperation between the two sides, much to the delight of Southeast Asian businesses.
In response to a media query, the UN chief said at a press conference that the United Nations welcomes the agreement that promotes global free trade.
"We are totally committed to first of all, guarantee that we have only one global economy with one only set of rules, one global internet, and that fragmentation must be avoided at all costs. So what brings people together within this global economy, all the agreements that are made in order to increase free trade, in order to create conditions for economic growth to be boosted. All these (China-ASEAN) agreements are from all these perspectives, all is welcome," Guterres said.
UN chief hails substantial conclusion of Version 3.0 China-ASEAN FTA upgrade negotiations
