Russia-Ukraine tensions, US-Russia relations, US China, Iran-Israel tensions, South China Sea situation… are the outstanding international events of the last 24 hours.
Newspapers World & amp; Vietnam highlights of the day:
Russia-Ukraine Ukraine: Russia won’t dare attack
Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Reznikov insisted that, although Russia has been ablediving a large number of troops to the border, there will be no large-scale offensive.
According to Mr. Reznikov, Russia’s concentration of troops on the Ukrainian border is just “a show of force without intention of use,” although there will be minimal probabilities of an attack to occur.
However, Mr Reznikov stressed, the main target remains a “signal” from Russia, which suggests Moscow may attack but that it will prioritise negotiations. (TASS)
Russia ‘reveals’ reasons for marching troops to border
On April 13, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that Moscow’s large-scale military push in the West was part of exercises to assess readiness amid threats from NATO.
Speaking in a meeting with senior generals, Mr Shoigu said the ongoing exercise was a response to what he called relentless efforts by the US and NATO allies to strengthen their forces near Russia’s borders.
“Russian soldiers are ready to complete the task of protecting the security of the country,” Shoigu asserted. (AP)
Moscow warns West over Ukraine issue
On the same day, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said that the US and EU are stepping up tensions in Ukraine by increasing military support for the country.
“We want to reiterate that NATO countries, who use the fallacy to speculate on the defense of Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, should think about Kiev’s belligerent attitude, while ensuring the implementation of the Minsk Measure Package that Kiev is deliberately ignoring,” Ryabkov said.
He added that, in the worst assumption, “Kiev and its allies in the West will be fully responsible for the consequences.” (TASS)
US-Russia: What’s in the Biden-Putin radio?
During the April 13 phone call, U.S. President Joe Biden proposed to his Russian ally Vladimir Putin to hold a summit in a third country.
The White House statement stated: “During the talks, President Biden reaffirmed his goal of building a stable, predictable relationship with Russia and in line with American interests.”
At the same time, the White House boss asserted, the U.S. will act “resolutely” to protect national interests, responding to Russian actions such as cyber intrusion and election interference.
On the Ukraine issue, the U.S. President emphasized Washington’s relentless support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
In addition, President Biden proposed that the leaders of the two countries meet for a third summit in the next few months to discuss a range of issues in U.S.-Russia relations. If held, it would be the first meeting between Mr Biden and Mr Putin.
For his part, the Kremlin announced, during the talks, that the US President had told Mr Putin that Washington wanted to normalize relations and cooperation on arms control, the Iranian nuclear program, the Afghan issue and climate change.
In addition, President Putin has outlined approaches to solving politics in Ukraine and outlined approaches to solving political problems rooted in the Minsk Measures Package. (Reuters/TASS)
U.S. intelligence puts China at the top of threat list
According to the 2021 Annual Assessment of Threats report, China will continue to increase its influence while trying to undermine U.S. influence, “dividing” relations between Washington and its partners, as well as allies.
China’s promotion of power globally is a leading threat to U.S. national security, the report said.
Regarding Russia, the report said, Moscow “does not want a direct conflict” with the U.S., though it will continue its destabilizing efforts toward Ukraine.
As for North Korea, the report said, Pyongyang will likely consider whether it should resume its nuclear weapons and long-range missile tests this year, amid efforts by the Northeast Asian nation to negotiate with the new U.S. administration on its own terms. (Reuters)
American c’Official’ delegation to Taiwan
U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration on April 13 sent an official delegation to Taiwan, a move seen as a “personal signal” of the President’s commitment to the island.
The delegation included Senator Chris Dodd and two former Deputy Foreign Ministers, Richard Armitage and James Steinberg.
In addition, according to a senior official in Mr. Biden’s administration, the U.S. sent the delegation as the U.S. and Taiwan celebrated the 42nd anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act that Mr. Biden voted to pass as a senator.
“The dispatch of these three individuals – senior politicians, longtime friends of Taiwan and close personal ties to President Biden – sends an important signal of America’s commitment to Taiwan and its democracy,” the official said. (Reuters)
Iran-Israel Iran produces 60% uranium in response to Israel
On April 14, Iran announced next week it would begin producing uranium enriched in purity of up to 60 percent, three days after an attack that Tehran accused of being caused by Israel against a key nuclear facility in Natanz. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani explained that the decision to enrich uranium was in response to Israel’s “nuclear terrorism.”
Speaking on television, Mr Rouhani stressed: “Activate IR-6 (centrifugal machines) in Natanz on April 14, or raise the level of enrichment to 60%… to respond to malice. What (Israel) did was nuclear terrorism. What we do is legal.”
In a report sent to member countries, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said iran had informed the agency that it planned to start enriching uranium at a maximum of 60 percent. (AFP)
Israeli ship attacked, suspected Iran culprit?
The Israeli-owned Hyperion vessel was attacked off the UAE coast, according to the channel TV 12, this missile was launched from Iran.
The ship suffered minor damage. Channel TV 12 Israeli sources on the same day cited security sources as reporting that the missile had been launched by Iran.
According to the news channel, several unnamed Israeli officials accused Iran of carrying out the attack. (Al-Mayadeen)
South China Sea NATO condemns China in South China Sea
On April 13, speaking online at the Raisina Dialogue (India’s conference on geography and economics), NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said that china’s rise is seen as a global issue, all countries need to pay attention to this.
The NATO secretary general said, “we must be clearly aware of the challenges that come with china’s rise.”
According to Jens Stoltenberg, China is strengthening its military strength along with economic development. The country has tripled its military spending over the past decade, now has the world’s second-largest defense budget and continues to massively invest in military modernization.
Besides, Mr. Stoltenberg asserted, NATO is an important foundation for responding to the security effects of a rising China. “NATO wants to interact closer with partners around the world, because it is the best way to protect the rules-based international order, protecting society and democracy,” Said Stoltenberg. (Business Standard)
China fires real ammunition in South China Sea
The website of China’s Maritime Safety Administration (MSA) on April 14 posted a notice of the country’s schedule of real-life ammunition firing exercises in the South China Sea.
Accordingly, live-fire exercises in the South China Sea take place in an area limited by coordinates 23-18-007N 117-16-00E, 23-18-00N 117-24-00E, 23-10-00N 117-24-00E and 23-10-00N 117-16-00E from 0h-10h daily UTC (7h-17h Hanoi time), from April 15-20.
The above notice states that during the exercises, MSA of Shantou city banned boats from entering the above area. (THX)
Afghanistan: US, UK, NATO simultaneously schedule withdrawals
On April 13, U.S. President Joe Biden decided to withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan before 9/11, exactly 20 years after the Al-Qaeda attack sparked America’s longest war.
However, according to unnamed sources, the withdrawal will be based on specific assurances on security and human rights, before formalizing the decision. The sources did not provide further details.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin are expected to announce the decision with allies in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in Brussels on April 14. President Biden may also announce his decision.
Following in the U.S., Britain and NATO also announced they would withdraw almost all forces from Afghanistan.
Speaking to a TV channel Ard, German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer stated: “We always declare: we will go together, we will withdraw together… I support an orderly withdrawal and that’s why I think today (April 14) we (NATO) will be united on that.” (Reuters/AFP)
You must log in to post a comment.