Selenski wants to host the World Cup
Along with Spain and Portugal, Ukraine wants to host the 2030 World Cup. This was announced by Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday evening. The Ukrainian President was optimistic about the chances of success for the World Cup bid. It will be “very symbolic if three countries in the European Union – Spain, Portugal and Ukraine – can host the World Cup together,” he said in his daily video address on Wednesday. Only a few months ago, Ukraine received the status of an EU accession candidate.
Recapture of three villages in the Cherson region
Selenski only touched on the events of the fight. He reported the recapture of three other towns in the Kherson region and called the recent Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities with Iranian combat drones futile. “That doesn’t help you anymore. You’ve already lost,” he said to the Russian leadership. He was convinced that they could no longer motivate their own soldiers, while the Ukrainians knew what they were fighting for.
Putin annexed Europe’s largest nuclear power plant by decree
Russia’s president is administratively continuing the appropriation of the Ukrainian regions of Kherson, Donetsk, Luhansk and Zaporizhia. After he had already approved the ratification of the annexation by signature on Wednesday, he then instructed the government in Moscow to nationalize the Ukrainian nuclear power plant Zaporizhia, which was occupied by his troops.
“The government is instructed to ensure that objects for the use of nuclear energy from the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant and other property necessary for its operation are taken into state ownership,” the decree said on Wednesday.
Russians buy more antidepressants
In Russia, the sale of antidepressants in pharmacies has recently increased significantly. In the week from September 19 to 25, sales increased by 120 percent, the state agency TASS reported on Wednesday, citing figures from the chemical company DSM. Putin ordered partial mobilization on September 21.
OECD wants to hold preliminary talks with Ukraine about possible accession
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) sees Ukraine as a potential member country. OECD Secretary General Mathias Cormann announced on Wednesday that talks on accession should first take place. After that, the OECD Council should deal with whether accession negotiations should be formally started. According to the OECD, Ukraine had asked to start the process of becoming an industrialized nation. In the evening, Selenski also spoke about the negotiations for admission to the OECD. A regional office of the organization will be opened in Kyiv by the end of the year, he said.