At the meeting, the Standing Committee of the Secretariat Vo Van Thuong announced the decision of the Politburo on the appointment of the Central Military Commission for the 2020-2025 term, including 25 comrades; The Standing Committee of the Central Military Commission consists of 6 comrades, including 3 key leaders of the Party and State: General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong; President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, Secretary of the Central Military Commission delivered a speech to direct the Conference. Photo: VNA. Building a strong all-people national defense The meeting approved the report on leadership and direction of the implementation of military and defense tasks in the past 6 months, the whole army deployed to carry out the task in the context of new developments in the world and regional situation. complex. The Central Military Commission has performed well its function of advising the Party and State on military and national defense, effectively handling situations, not being passive, and firmly defending the country’s territorial sovereignty. . The forces actively coordinated, closely controlled the border, prevented illegal entry and exit, organized isolation, and promptly provided support for forces and means to support localities in blocking epidemic points, preventing the spread of the virus. spread on a large scale, contributing to disease control nationwide, recognized and appreciated by the Party, State and people. The whole army has implemented synchronously solutions to build a strong military Party Committee in terms of politics, ideology, morality and organization; lead and direct the synchronous implementation of solutions to improve the overall quality, the whole army is highly prepared to fight, strictly manage the airspace, sea, border and inland areas, strengthen forces and means patrolling to firmly protect sovereignty over seas and islands and marine economic activities… The logistics, technical, and defense industry are well implemented by the leadership, fully and timely ensuring the tasks, especially ready to fight, train. Bilateral and multilateral defense diplomacy and UN peacekeeping activities continue to be promoted, contributing to enhancing the image, position and prestige of the country and the Vietnam People’s Army in the world. international School. Building an exemplary Military Party Committee Speaking at the conference, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong congratulated the Central Military Commission for the 2015-2020 term excellently completing the tasks assigned by the Party, State and people. , upholding the principles, having many innovations, leading and directing the entire army to successfully implement the Resolution of the 10th Army Party Congress and major military and defense goals and policies that The 12th Congress of the Party has proposed. General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong suggested that the Central Military Commission for the new term needs to be deeply aware of its responsibilities, continue to be firm, steadfast, have high unity and unity, uphold principles and have a leadership style. scientific, democratic, close to reality, sensitive to new things, exemplary, coupled with action, building an Army that is absolutely loyal to the Fatherland, the Party, the State and the people. In particular, building a clean, strong, and exemplary Army Party Committee and leading the entire army to successfully perform all assigned tasks to continue to beautify the image of Uncle Ho’s army. General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong praised the achievements that the Central Military Commission, the Ministry of National Defense and officers and soldiers of the whole army have achieved in the first 6 months of 2021. General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong emphasized: In the following years, with complicated developments, the Army’s tasks are still very heavy, difficult and arduous. The Central Military Commission must focus on building the Army force and the Military Party Committee, each level of the Party committee and organization is truly pure, strong, typical in politics, ideology, morality, organization and staff. must be able to lead the whole army to overcome all difficulties and challenges and successfully complete all assigned tasks. “This is a decisive factor. This is a long-term strategic issue, a key issue of the key. The Party Committee of the Army must set an example and model in all aspects. In the whole army, there are no cadres and party members who have degraded in ideology, politics, morality, lifestyle, violated the Party’s discipline and discipline, and resolutely fought against individualism,” General Secretary Nguyen Xuan Phuc said. Phu Trong stated. General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong requested, the Central Military Commission must always maintain the spirit of solidarity, set an example, be really a strong collective, united in will and action; regularly focus on innovating methods, styles and working styles, further promoting the roles and responsibilities of each individual. Each comrade of the Central Military Commission must be truly exemplary in political thought, morality, and lifestyle; need, thrift, integrity, righteousness, justice and impartiality; dare to think, dare to do, dare to take responsibility, dare to innovate, be creative, dare to face difficulties and challenges; resolute in direction and action. Comrades of the Central Military Commission need to further promote their sense of responsibility, capacity and wisdom to contribute to the joint decisions of the Central Military Commission and the Central Military Commission’s Standing Committee. In the current revolutionary period, under the conditions of peace, national construction and defense, there are many new problems posed, requiring the Army to continue to uphold the will and fighting spirit, to be exemplary. To take the lead in all activities, fully and better perform the functions, tasks and responsibilities of the Army: loyalty to the Party, filial piety to the people, completion of any task, overcoming any difficulty, enemy every one wins. General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong emphasized that the Army is the leading force in the fight against negativity in society, against corruption, and against individualism; Strictly fighting against negativity and internal degradation, is also setting an example for the whole society to learn. The Central Military Commission should continue to lead by example in leading and directing the work of Party building and rectification; to build the Military Party Committee and Party organizations within the Military Party Committee to be truly pure and strong, to be a model Party Committee, typical of politics, quality, capacity, and absolute loyalty to the Party and the Organization. country. The army needs to fiercely fight to protect the ideological foundation of the Party, fight without tolerance with wrong and hostile views; resolutely and persistently fight against corruption and negativity, and clean up the internal affairs; against individualism, wipe out individualism; do not cover up, respect, do not hide, are not afraid of shortcomings, frankly struggle with criticism and self-criticism, promptly point out the shortcomings of their comrades and comrades while they are still in their infancy. just help each other to progress together, do not shy away from dodging… General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong emphasized: “The police force and the army force are two wings of a bird, a “sword and shield” that need to work closely to protect the Fatherland, must be clean and strong. strong, resolutely fight against negativity and rely on the people, under the leadership of the Party, to make this term better than the previous one. The Central Military Commission needs to direct the study and mastery of the whole army, promote learning and follow Ho Chi Minh’s ideology, morality and style, continue and promote the tradition of Uncle Ho’s army and soldiers of the Communist Party of Vietnam. People, by the people, for the people. The first meeting of the Central Military Commission for the term 2020-2025 approved: The action plan of the Central Military Commission to implement the Resolution of the XIII Congress of the Party and the Resolution of the 11th Congress of the Military Party Committee; Regulations and working program of the Central Military Commission for the term 2020-2025; Resolution on leadership of inspection and supervision work, working regulations of the Central Military Commission Inspection Committee and election of the Central Military Commission Inspection Committee for the 2020-2025 term.

Russian Peresvet complex. “Peresvet can hit various targets at an unexpected distance from the opponent. The capabilities of this weapon have been proven in combat,” the Russian minister said, comparing the Peresvet to weapons. gas in the American movie Star Wars: “You remember 20 years ago, laser weapons existed only in American fiction films. Today, Russia has made this a reality and the Peresvet complex has been successfully tested and put into service. “. The first Peresvet high-power laser weapon complex was equipped with the Russian Army starting at the end of 2018. It is also in the Russian category of classified weapons. But according to two Russian military experts Alexei Leonkov and Igor Korotchenko, the Peresvet combat laser weapon system has two very important capabilities: shooting down unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and countering long-range cruise missiles with American Tomahawk high precision. Igor Korotchenko, director of the Center for Analysis of the World Arms Trade (CAMTO), confirmed that laser weapons such as the Peresvet complex can destroy unmanned aircraft. “Under favorable conditions, laser complexes like Peresvet are effective enough to destroy simulated targets such as drones, low-flying helicopters,” Korotchenko said. A second important feature is that thanks to Peresvet, Russia can effectively deal with modern air attack vehicles, high-precision weapons or reconnaissance equipment using optical-electronic equipment, expert Alexei Leonkov said. For example, to determine the target, the American Tomahawk missile will search for it visually, orient it with a digitized topographic map, put into the automatic control memory. If at this very moment a combination like Peresvet affects it, the search immediately stops. When the target is lost, the Tomahawk will self-destruct. Thus, despite no loud claims, Russia has quietly developed and quickly commissioned real laser weapons systems, forming combat capabilities, not merely tests. in the laboratory. With the above analysis, it is clear that in addition to close-range air defense systems such as Pantsir-S, Tor-M2E, the US Tomahawk cruise missile continues to encounter a very dangerous new enemy of Russia. Peresvet’s name. According to military expert Konstantin Sivkov, director of the Russian Institute of Geopolitical Affairs, Russia’s introduction of the Peresvet is one step ahead of the US. Currently, many countries are still in the exploration and testing stage of laser weapons development. Even the US can only use low-power tactical laser weapons with powers typically below 100 kilowatts. The most recent test in May 2020, the US successfully performed a laser weapon with a power of about 150 kilowatts. But even so, this capacity is still not enough to be able to destroy attack fighters and other targets. A 150 kilowatt laser can only counter speedboats or small UAVs, and the range is limited. At the same time, the stability of the laser in the actual combat environment is also a dilemma for the US and some other countries. When Russian laser weapons are already able to hit and destroy targets on the actual battlefield, it means that Russia’s technical level in the laser field has really matured. Also related to the recent US test of laser weapons in the Pacific Ocean, expert Konstantin Sivkov, expressed doubts about the effectiveness of US laser weapons. “To shoot down a more complex target like a ballistic missile as the US claims, requires keeping the laser beam on the target for several tens of seconds. That’s a great technical difficulty. During this time, the rocket flew a distance of tens of kilometers. There is currently no evidence that US laser weapons are successful in dealing with such fast targets,” the Russian expert wrote.

“Mass production has begun. It’s no longer a test, it’s a robot that can appear in sci-fi movies because of its ability to fight independently. It’s exactly the weapon. of the future,” emphasized Sergei Shoigu. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu talks about the country’s military priorities. Photo: TASS. According to Sergei Shiogu, equipping the armed forces with such means is one of the top priorities. And Moscow has a lot of work to do to expand its line of complex, military-purpose robots. Many military experts estimate that, although Russia’s military budget is not as much as that of the US or the European Union (EU), the country has spent a great deal of it on “sharpening knives”. Earlier, the Russian Ministry of Defense said that the first unit with attack robots will be formed in the Russian armed forces to operate five robotic systems “Uranus-9” with 20 combat vehicles. Offensive and defensive strategies will be studied in a Department of Defense science center. An experimental Russian attack robot. Photo: Sohu. It is known that the Uranus-9 is a multifunctional combat platform developed by Russia’s 766 Technical Equipment Production Bureau, with a total weight of 10 tons, 4.5 m in length, 2 m in width, 1 in height. ,4 m and maximum travel speed is 40 km/h. This combat robot combines powerful firepower, is equipped with a comprehensive controlled weapon system including 4 9S120 “Bumblebee-M” anti-tank missiles, 4 9K33 SA-18 anti-aircraft missiles and 1 2A72 cannon 30mm caliber with 200 rounds ammunition and 7.62mm machine gun mounted on the vehicle. In theory, its anti-tank missile has a range of 5,800 meters, enough to threaten today’s major armored targets.

The video shows Russia withdrawing its troops from Crimea. Video: Russian Ministry of Defense The Russian Ministry of Defense announced the same day video footage of tanks, armored artillery and soldiers boarding the landing craft on the Crimean coast one after another. This is also where Russia has just completed the exercise with the participation of 60 warships, more than 10,000 soldiers, about 200 aircraft and 1,200 ground vehicles. The withdrawal was carried out by Russia after Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu asserted that “the army has proven its ability to ensure the country’s defense”. “I decided to complete inspection activities in the Western and Southern Military Region bordering Ukraine,” Shoigu said on April 22. Russian battleships boarded the amphibious ships to return to their permanent base. Photo: ITN According to Mr. Shoigu, the withdrawal will be completed by May 1. However, Russia still retains the weapons here for the exercises at the end of the year. The aforementioned weapons have been increased by Russia to Crimea and the region near the Russian border since late March, amid Moscow fears that the Ukrainian army has launched a bloody large-scale war against pro-Russian separatists in the East. Ukraine. NATO and Ukraine expressed concern over Russia’s military action and repeatedly urged Moscow to withdraw. Some Western sources even expressed skepticism that Russia had actually withdrawn.

The Vietnam-China border defense friendship was held for the first time in Quang Ninh province (Vietnam) and Guangxi province (China) in March 2014. This is an activity of great significance in promoting friendly exchanges and cooperation between the army of the two countries as well as border protection forces, local authorities and people in the Vietnam-China border area. . Since 2014 up to now, the next exchange sessions have been organized with a more solemn, practical and in-depth scale in the bordering localities of the two countries. Immediately after the welcoming ceremony, Minister Phan Van Giang went to China, the two sides held talks. The 6th Vietnam-China border defense friendship exchange is co-chaired by the Ministers of Defense of the two countries, including activities taking place in Quang Ninh (Vietnam) and Guangxi (China) provinces. April 24th. Newspaper reporter National Army Following the delegation of the Ministry of Defense of Vietnam will continue to update activities in the framework of the exchange. Minister Phan Van Giang and members of the Vietnamese delegation greeted the milestone of national sovereignty at Mong Cai border gate before going to China to participate in the Exchange. Photo: TRUONG HAI Chinese Minister of National Defense Wei Phuong Hoa presided over the welcoming ceremony of Minister Phan Van Giang. Photo: TRUONG HAI The two ministers performed a landmark salute ceremony at Dong Hung Border Gate. Photo: TRUONG HAI China’s Defense Minister Wei Fenghua painted a mark of sovereignty on the Chinese side. Photo: TRUONG HAI Defense ministers of the two countries took pictures together. The two groups took pictures together before the talks. Minister Phan Van Giang at the conference. The local people saw off the Vietnamese delegation to China to participate in the exchange A large number of reporters from the two countries came to report on the event. Photo: NGOC HUNG

According to CNN, Moscow said it had ended “rapid inspections” of troops in the east and west of the country. Illustration. Source: CNN The process of rallying Russian troops along the border in recent weeks has created tensions in eastern Ukraine. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that the country’s army has completed drills near Ukraine and will return to its permanent base before May 1. “I am confident that the exercise objectives are completed. The military has demonstrated its ability to provide a reliable defense force to the country,” Shoigu said at a meeting in Crimea. Shoigu’s announcement came weeks after Moscow initiated the largest military surge near Ukraine’s border since 2014. The European Union estimates that more than 100,000 troops have gathered near the border and in Crimea. However, the announcement does not specify how many troops will remain in the area after Moscow intends to withdraw before May 1. US Department of Defense spokesman Ned Price confirmed that the US would continue to closely monitor the situation along with Ukrainian officials and other allies. “What we are looking for now is action on the Russian side,” said Ned Price. “We have made clear our commitment to the Russian government, reaffirming efforts to curb the escalation and immediately cease all provocations around Ukraine, including military mobilization. Crimea and the Ukrainian border as well as its intention to block ships in the Black Sea, “Pricwe said at a press conference. Russian state news agency TASS said that some weapons from the 41st Army, including tanks and heavy artillery, will be left in preparation for the Russian-Belarus strategic military exercise Zapad 2021 taking place in May. Nine years now. The move is believed to have caused Russia to increase fire tensions on the Ukrainian border more than before. It is too early to reduce escalation Conflict Intelligence (CIT) says it is too early to assess the de-escalation process in this area. “Russian forces staying in the Ukraien border are still in danger of deploying east of Ukraine, while a large-scale invasion of the government-controlled territory will inevitably still have to mobilize more forces to the border. “Conflict Intelligence Team (CIT) said on Twitter. On April 20, the Russian Defense Ministry said more than 20 ships took part in the exercise in the Black Sea – bordering both countries. “A ship unit comprising the Admiral Makarov and Admiral Essen frigates; the small missile ships Grayvoron and Vyshny Volochek with the missile ships; the small anti-submarine and large amphibious ships conducted the exercises. repulsion of the enemy’s aerial attack vehicles. Russian Defense Minister Shoigu said the Russian military was ready to react quickly to any “adverse” developments amid NATO’s ongoing Defender Europe military exercises. NATO’s Defender Europe 2021 exercise is an annual multinational exercise led by the US military to prepare for readiness and interoperability between the United States and the military of NATO partners. The exercise was canceled last year due to the complicated developments of the epidemic. “Each year in Europe, the alliance organizes more than 40 major combat drills with a focus on dealing with Russian challenges. In the spring of this year, NATO’s joint armed forces began the exercises. The biggest ambitious match in 30 years “, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said. The NATO alliance expressed deep concern about Russia’s military deployment near Ukraine. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg last week described the move as part of a provocation from Russia. “Allies fully support Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. We urge Russia to immediately de-escalate, stop provocative actions and respect international commitments,” said Shoigu. to speak. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky earlier this week invited President Vladimir Putin to a meeting in Donbass, urging his Russian counterpart to restore a ceasefire in the eastern region that put “millions of lives” at stake. “President Putin said he is ready to discuss bilateral relations with President Zelensky in the Russian capital,” TASS reported. Ukraine is calling for increased international support in a state of tension with Moscow while calling on the West to introduce new sanctions to prevent the Kremlin from deploying more military forces.

KRI Nanggala submarine at naval base in Surabaya, Indonesia, February 20, 2019. (Photo: AFP / VNA) The Pentagon on April 23 said US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin offered to provide his Indonesian counterpart Prabowo Subianto with underground weapons to assist in the search for a lost Indonesian submarine. The Pentagon statement emphasized: “Defense Minister Lloyd Austin this morning discussed with Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto to express concerns about the disappearance of the Indonesian submarine KRI Nanggala 402 as well as the fragile division of the 53 crew members on board. ” The Pentagon also noted that the two sides had discussed the recent deployment of the P-8 Poseidon to aid the search. Minister Austin has proposed to increase support, possibly including the provision of underwater search assets, for this effort. Show the army Indonesia deployed two naval submarines capable of detecting submarines to assist with the search. The KRI Nanggala 402 was suspected of having a total power outage while still diving in the Balinese waters on the morning of April 21 before sinking at a depth of 600-700 meters./.

Earlier on April 22, the Russian Defense Ministry announced the completion of the exercise near Ukraine and ordered the withdrawal of troops back to the base after the mass deployment of troops close to the Ukrainian border. Video: Russian troops withdraw their troops from the border with Ukraine According to Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, the troops will return to the base by May 1. Mr. Shoigu said that the military must be ready to react quickly in “unfavorable” situations from large-scale drills led by the US, NATO and its allies, called Defender-Europe. It is not clear whether the order to recall troops back to the permanent base includes all the forces involved in the recent move to the Ukrainian border. In a statement made on April 23, Ukraine confirmed that the withdrawal of Russian troops from the two countries’ borders could ease tensions, but this step alone did not prevent escalation or conflict in the Donbass. Tensions between Russia and Ukraine have increased recently after Kiev accused Moscow of sending tens of thousands of troops closer to the border. Ukraine, Western nations and NATO have accused Russia of deploying “provocative” troops on Ukraine’s eastern border and in Crimea. Russia, for its part, insists its troops pose no threat and that its presence is only defensive and that its presence is only defensive. Moscow simultaneously accused the US and NATO of having “provocative activities” in the Black Sea region.

American B-52 bomber In addition, Minister Austin has also deployed long-range bombers, of which two B-52s have arrived in the area, to protect US forces in Afghanistan during the withdrawal. US and NATO forces in Afghanistan will withdraw ground forces from the country by May 1 and aim to complete the withdrawal of all troops from Afghanistan by September 11. On April 23, US media reported that the United States had begun transporting military equipment out of Afghanistan. Mr. Kirby confirmed the information, adding that the military equipment would be returned to the United States, deployed to other parts of the world, transferred to the Afghan security forces, or destroyed. A Pentagon spokesman said all military equipment would be transported out of Afghanistan by air, but he did not disclose the cost of the US withdrawal. Afghanistan continued to see clashes between the Taliban insurgents and the Afghan army, despite commencing peace talks between the movement and Qatar’s Kabul in Doha in September 2020. CENTCOM Commander Kenneth McKenzie said on April 22 that peace negotiations in Afghanistan are now at a standstill and stressed the need of the US to continue to support the government. Afghanistan to help the government avoid the risk of collapse after foreign forces withdraw.

Russian soldiers are waiting in line to board the Ilyushin Il-76 transport plane (Image: Reuters) Following the announcement, the currencies of both Russia and Ukraine surged, signaling a sigh of relief from investors just hours after Russia finished its Crimea exercise – the region that has returned to be part of the campaign. Russia in 2014. Since 2014, Russian-backed separatists have been fighting the Ukrainian government in the region. Hence, the confirmation of the Russian withdrawal is likely to be welcomed by Western countries, which have expressed concern over the prospect of Russia intervening more deeply in eastern Ukraine. This month, a spokesman for the President of Ukraine said, Russia has deployed more than 40,000 troops on the eastern border of Ukraine and more than 40,000 in Crimea, of which about 50,000 are new deployments. Moscow does not release specific numbers. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy wrote on Twitter that Ukraine “welcomes any move to reduce its military presence and the situation in Donbass (eastern Ukraine)”, at the same time “grateful to international partners. supported them “. Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that Kyiv did not know whether Moscow would launch an attack, and said that if Russia does, the West must make sure it is on Ukraine’s side. “So now it can go in either direction” – Mr. Kuleba said – “And this is why the homogeneous Western response is so important right now.” State Department spokesman Ned Price said Washington was aware of the Russian announcement and was closely monitoring the situation at the border. “We have heard the words and what we are looking for is action” – Mr. Price said. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said he ordered the soldiers participating in the exercises to return to the base before May 1 after completing what he called a “check” in the border area. “I believe that the quick test has completely achieved its goal. The military has proven its ability to provide a reliable defense for the country,” he said. Military weapons will be gathered at a training ground near the city of Voronezh, about six hours’ drive from Ukraine, so that they can be used again later this year in another scheduled large exercise. Hours earlier, Mr. Shoigu had attended exercises in Crimea, which Moscow says involved 10,000 troops and more than 40 warships. Russia also announced that it had arrested a Ukrainian man as spies in the Crimea. Being stationed near Ukraine is one of the problems that has intensified tensions between Russia and the West. Last week, the US tightened sanctions against Russia for accusing it of cyber-attacks and meddling in the presidential election held last November. Along with that, the Czech Republic also accused Moscow of having a role in the deadly explosion at an arms depot in 2014. Both countries expelled Russian diplomats, angering Moscow to deny the allegations and expelled their diplomats in response. In an important speech on April 21, President Vladimir Putin warned Western countries not to cross the “red line”, though he did not specify what this line is. This week, however, Putin will still attend a climate summit hosted by US President Joe Biden. In Moscow, the Kremlin said Putin had received an invitation from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to meet to discuss the crisis. “If the President deems it necessary, he will answer himself. I have nothing to say about that now “- Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu affirmed that the country’s military has successfully completed “quick tests”, responded well to “unfavorable” situations and has demonstrated “reliable” defense capabilities. “Of this country. Russian Su-34 fighters at the Morozovsk air base of Russia, near the Ukrainian border on March 27. Satellite photo: Maxar However, Mr. Shoigu still asked to keep the heavy weapons, some 160km from the Ukrainian border, in preparation for another major exercise later this year. On Twitter, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy immediately said it welcomes any steps to reduce Russia’s military presence at its border and alleviate tensions in the Donbass. President Zelensky added that Ukraine is very grateful to the international partners who have supported and sided with this country over the past time. Meanwhile, US State Department spokesman Ned Price said that the country was aware of Russia’s withdrawal announcement, but still had to wait for the actual withdrawal, and affirmed that it would always follow the developments closely. situation. The NATO North Atlantic Treaty Organization assesses Russia’s steps as important and timely. And like the United States, NATO will continue to be concerned about the Russian-Ukraine border situation. Another development that is expected to ease the situation is that Russian President Putin declares his readiness for talks with his Ukrainian counterpart Zelensky in Moscow. In response to Mr. Zelensky’s earlier invitation to meet and the venue is Donbass, the Russian President said: “The question is what will be discussed at this meeting? If we talk about discussing Donbass issues, Ukraine leaders should first meet the separatist leader, and then meet a third country like Russia. If we talk about bilateral relations, we would like to invite and receive the President of Ukraine whenever it is convenient for him in Moscow. Although the Russia-Ukraine summit may not take place soon, but those are also the statements that help cool the current situation, after a series of previous hard statements by the two sides, such as Ukraine is ready for 1 The war comes together with Russia, and Russia will not “indifferent” if the situation worsens … /.

Russian military weapons appeared in Crimea. Photo: ITN With the above decision, the Russian troops reinforced to reach the Ukraine border will be withdrawn to a permanent base deep inside Russian territory from today (April 23) to May 1, with ground forces. will return to bases in Vladikavkaz, Novosibirsk and troops from air force units return to bases in Pskov and Ivanovo. However, Shoigu said Russia would still keep military weapons and equipment at the Pogonovo firing range in the Voronezh region, some 160 kilometers east of the Ukrainian border for other Russian military maneuvers by the end. year 2021. Both NATO and Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky welcomed the step. “The gradual withdrawal of troops from the border between the two countries will cool down tensions. Ukraine remains vigilant, but very welcome any move to reduce its military presence,” the President of Ukraine wrote on Twitter. Since late March 2021, Russia has deployed about 120,000 troops in Crimea and near the Ukrainian border, the highest level since the conflict in eastern Ukraine broke out in 2014, according to NATO reports. Russia did not confirm the increased number of troops, but confirmed that the recent Crimea drills involved 60 warships, more than 10,000 soldiers, about 200 aircraft and 1,200 ground vehicles.

Specifically, speaking before the meeting of the Defense Sub-Committee of the European Parliament in Brussels – Belgium, Andrii Taran noted that he could not rule out the possibility that Russian forces in Crimea could “take provocative actions. military promotion “in 2021.

Earlier, Mr Taran said “Russian provocations” could exacerbate conflicts in the Donbass region of eastern Ukraine bordering Russia. Taran revealed that Russia concentrates 110,000 troops on the Ukrainian border.

Ukrainian tanks during an exercise near Crimea. Photo: Reuters

According to Reuters, any decision by Russia to move nuclear weapons to Crimea will be a bad development in East-West tensions. That gesture would increase tensions for a newly renewed arms control treaty between the US and Russia.

Concerning developments, in a statement from the Ukrainian army, the Ukrainian armed forces have been rehearsing to increase their ability to respond to a tank and infantry attack near the Crimea border on April 14. The drills come the day after US President Joe Biden phoned Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss Russia’s military build-up near eastern Ukraine and in Crimea.

On the Russian side, on April 14, the Russian navy began exercises in the Black Sea with exercises to fire targets on the ground and in the air. This exercise is to test combat readiness, readiness to react to threats from NATO. As planned, the rehearsal would end after 2 weeks.

Defense Minister of Ukraine Andrii Taran. Source: Anadolu

Speaking to the defense subcommittee of the European Parliament in Brussels, Minister Taran warned that Moscow could attack Ukraine to secure water supplies for the annexed Crimean peninsula.

Besides, Mr. Tahan said, does not rule out the possibility that Russian forces in Crimea could “carry out major military provocations” in 2021, but he did not provide immediate evidence for this hypothesis.

Regarding developments, on the same day, the SBU national security agency of Ukraine announced that it was conducting a large-scale “anti-terror” exercise in the Kherson region near Crimea. SBU’s announcement said units of the Ukrainian armed forces together with police and border guards participated in the exercise.

The announcement emphasized: “The key strategic targets of key infrastructure in the Kherson region are being tightly controlled … These are seaport areas, power supply facilities, airports, demand and gas production plants “.

Earlier, the Ukrainian military posted a video, on a rock music scene, showing the country’s tanks deployed in formation with soldiers loaded and fired for artillery during a pushback drill. the attack of tanks and infantry infiltrated the defensive area near the Crimea border.

The drill comes a day after US President Joe Biden telephoned Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss Russian troop reinforcement in Crimea and near eastern Ukraine, among other US concerns.

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According to Reuters, Mr. Biden decided to withdraw his troops from Afghanistan before 9/11/2021, exactly 20 years after the terrorist attack by Al-Qaeda sparked the prolonged war of the US and its NATO ally in the country. This southwest Asia.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin officially announced the decision to allies in the NATO bloc in Brussels during the meeting on April 14.

“After careful policy review, President Biden decided to withdraw the remaining number of troops in Afghanistan and eventually end the US war after 20 years,” said a State Department official.

US forces in Afghanistan.

Thus, this new decision shows that the previous withdrawal plan (May 1), which was signed by the administration of former President Donald Trump with the Taliban, could not be implemented. In response, a Taliban spokesman warned there would be consequences if the United States did not comply with the said deadline.

The Taliban are said to have been largely in compliance with their promise not to attack troops from the United States and other countries since the deal was signed, but stressed that things will change as the US pulls back from 9/11.

The Afghan peace process has already fallen to a standstill as peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban forces in the Qatar capital, Doha, stalled.

The US advocates to promote peace negotiations between the governments of Afghanistan and the Taliban before the last 2,500 troops of the country’s army must leave Afghanistan.

Washington wants the Afghan and Taliban governments to strike some power-sharing arrangements. Recently, the Taliban rejected the proposal of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani to hold elections this year.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the process had pushed the nation on the brink of crisis. Any decisions regarding Afghanistan’s future need to be reached in bilateral negotiations.

Assessing the decision to withdraw all US forces from Afghanistan on September 11, experts said that this decision will put NATO in a difficult position.

When the US administration under President Trump decided to withdraw troops from Afghanistan by May 1 deadline, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg warned that Afghanistan was in danger of becoming a defeated IS base. Syria and Iraq.

Although admitting that NATO has been fighting in Afghanistan for too long, Stoltenberg said that it is not time to leave, while the withdrawal needs the coordination of the parties. American forces make up a small number of NATO troops in Afghanistan, but the alliance is heavily dependent on the United States for air transport, logistics and support.

The US withdrawal also raises questions about the possibility of the remaining countries pulling out. NATO began operating there in 2003, two years after the US-led coalition came to deal with the Taliban following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

But it is hard to say that NATO has fulfilled its original goal of “ensuring that it will never be a safe haven for international terrorists”. In the future, the continued stay of NATO will also face many difficulties, while withdrawal is undesirable by many parties, when the goal is not reached and the risk of terrorism will become even more haunted.

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas has rejected the withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan before ending talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban. Maas also criticized the early US unilateral withdrawal of troops from the South Asian country that could jeopardize peace negotiations.

Considering that peace negotiations are very complicated and cannot be ended as scheduled, Minister Heiko Maas stated: “If the US withdraws its forces while other NATO allies cannot take over security in in the short term, the situation will become extremely volatile. “

Russia in response?

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu was quoted by Russian media on April 13 as saying that Moscow was taking measures in response to a threatening military action by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), in which has combat readiness testing and training.

The Russian Defense Minister stated clearly, NATO is planning to deploy 40,000 troops and 15,000 weapons and military equipment near the Russian border, including the strategic air force. Mr. Shoigu further announced that the US is moving part of its North American garrison to Europe, which is mainly concentrated in the area near the Black Sea and Baltic Sea.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu

Shoigu, the TASS news agency, accused the US of increasing forces in Poland and the Baltic countries, and increasing the frequency of air and sea reconnaissance activities. He asserted that on European territory, NATO annually conducts about 40 large-scale combat training operations against Russia. This spring, NATO launched its largest-scale military exercise in the past 30 years, titled Defender Europe 2021 (Defender Europe 2021).

Mr. Shoigu stressed that Russia is taking measures to respond to NATO’s threatening military activities. The combined Russian large-scale airborne and joint military exercises have demonstrated the ability to be ready to fight to protect the country’s security.

Also on April 13, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg urged Russia to withdraw troops that the alliance thinks Moscow is deploying on a large scale on the border with Ukraine. Speaking at a press conference to Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, Mr. Stoltenberg said: “In recent weeks Russia has dispatched thousands of troops ready to operate in Ukraine’s border areas. This is the largest troop surge since Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 … Russia must end this military build-up in and around Ukraine, immediately stop provocations and go downstairs. “.

US troops in NATO are deployed to Poland

A day earlier, Mr. Stoltenberg had a meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to discuss “Russia’s move to strengthen the army near the Ukrainian border”. According to a statement by the US State Department, Secretary of State Blinken and Secretary General Stoltenberg discussed an urgent request for Russia to stop its military build-up along the border areas of Ukraine and the Crimean peninsula.

President Vladimir Putin has also voiced denunciation of NATO conducting exercises on the Russian border and America’s intention to expand its influence over former Soviet members. In April, up to 5 out of 10 NATO exercises will be held in member states in the East.

NATO says it’s good …

According to Ukraine, Russia has deployed 46 tactical battalions – about 105,000 troops – along the border with Ukraine and in Crimea, and is provided with 19,000 tons of fuel and 355 tons of ammunition. Kiev urges allies not to repeat the 2014 “mistake” with events in Crimea and Donbass.

During a press conference with US and Western officials in Brussels, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said: “Strategically, Russia must understand that Ukraine belongs to the world of democracies, to the Western world, and the West will not let Russia disrupt Ukraine’s democracy and sovereignty.

Ukrainian soldiers

Western analysts say that both Russia and Ukraine may be “trying” the new US President Joe Biden to see how far he is willing to go to protect Washington’s allies and confront Russia. There are also comments that Russia wants to send a message to Ukraine after Kive imposed sanctions on congressman and businessman Viktor Medvedchuk, and banned three TV channels related to Mr. Medvedchuk.

Up to this point, the West still believes that a full-blown Russian strike or a NATO-backed attack against the separatists will not happen at this time. “NATO members will not send any forces to Ukraine,” said expert Bruno Lete, a senior researcher at the German Marshall Fund – a US research agency. the term is in political messaging, military advice and technical assistance. “

Many analysts believe that NATO allies would not be willing to engage their forces in a conflict against Moscow because of the Ukraine issue, but they could strengthen other forms of assistance. On April 14, German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer said: “My impression is that the Russian side is trying to do whatever it takes to provoke a response … With Ukraine, we will not be caught up in the process. play this “.

From Crimea to Syria and most recently Nagorny-Karabakh, Russia has demonstrated its determination and unpredictable combat capabilities.

Most observers believe that the current situation will not necessarily lead to an immediate attack, but Russia’s intentions are still unclear, according to politico.eu. very worrying. The West believes that Russian President Putin wants to remain unpredictable, so there is little risk of a completely unexpected war, but there is always a risk of miscalculation or overreaction.

On the Russian side, some analysts in this country said that the outbreak was “a direct result of the internal political situation in Ukraine”. The Russian Expert newspaper assessed that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky took drastic measures such as fighting the opposition media allegedly pro-Russia, punishing billionaire Medvedchuk who allegedly has close ties to the Kremlin, or ban Russian language in schools aimed at regaining its image in the country.

Meanwhile, the World Socialist Web Site contains information proving that Ukraine, the US and the West are acting “aggressive, provocative” against Russia. Accordingly, Kiev in early March adopted a strategy to “withdraw the Crimean peninsula”. On March 25, President Zelensky also adopted a new military strategy emphasizing the urgency of mobilizing the entire population in a war against Russia in Ukraine. This strategy recognizes that Ukraine can only win with NATO support and no less than 19 mentions of its intention to join the military alliance.

On April 14, The Guardian quoted US President Joe Biden officials as saying that the withdrawal would begin before May 1-5. These officials stressed the US sending of troops into Afghanistan to “enforce justice against those who caused the September 11, 2001 attacks, to prevent terrorists from trying to make Afghanistan a safe haven.” and that goal “was achieved a few years ago”. “We evaluate the current Afghanistan threat to the United States as manageable without the need for Washington to maintain a military presence or maintain war with the Taliban here,” one American officials stressed. On the same day, German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer said that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) will join the United States with the withdrawal of all troops from Afghanistan next September, because “we always say they I will come together and leave together ”.

US soldiers in Afghanistan Photo: Reuters.

According to the AP, the above decision also means that the US will not meet the deadline for the withdrawal of all troops from Afghanistan on May 1-5 under the peace agreement that the former administration of President Donald Trump had. signed with the Taliban last February. The Taliban have warned that they will resume hostile actions against foreign forces in Afghanistan if Washington does not withdraw as agreed.

In fact, although Mr. Biden once committed to withdraw US troops from Afghanistan when running for the presidency, the White House boss himself admitted that withdrawing by a deadline of May 1-5 was “very difficult”. A US official confirmed, on September 11, 2021, would be “the absolute deadline” and would not be affected by the security situation in Afghanistan, because “conditional withdrawal of troops means staying in Afghanistan forever.” far away ”. AP said that “absolute deadline” shows the determination of the US administration to end the longest war in American history. The costly and costly war in Afghanistan has left more than 2,200 US soldiers dead, 20,000 injured and costing more than $ 1 trillion.

US intelligence agencies have warned the Biden administration about the danger that the Taliban could control much of Afghanistan within the next two to three years, if Washington withdraws all troops from the southwest Asian country. Along with that, this will facilitate the rise of al-Qaeda terrorist network in Afghanistan. According to The Guardian, the Biden administration’s plan to withdraw troops from Afghanistan immediately met with opposition from many MPs from both Democrats and Republicans. Sen. Mitch McConnell of the Republican Party said that foreign terrorists will not leave America “just because our politicians are tired of fighting them.” Mr. McConnell asked President Biden to explain to the American people “why giving up allies and withdrawing in the face of the Taliban makes America safer”. Meanwhile, according to Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of the Democratic Party, the withdrawal “undermines our commitment to the Afghan people, especially Afghan women”. “I urge the Biden administration to do its best from now to September to protect progress has been made, as well as to assist our partners in forming a transitional government,” said Thuong. MP Shaheen wrote on the social networking site Twitter.

Since Washington signed a peace deal with the Taliban, the number of US troops stationed in Afghanistan has dropped from 12,000 to 2,500, according to the Pentagon. However, The New York Times quoted US officials as confirming the number of US troops currently stationed in Afghanistan was 3,500.