Russia makes progress in Zaporizhzhia, China talks about 'crossroads' with US

Chinese consulate in Odessa damaged, countries react to grain deal in the Black Sea... are some notable international news in the past 24 hours.

The US has warned of the possibility of Russia attacking civilian ships in the Black Sea after a grain deal with Ukraine expired. (Source: Reuters)

The World & Vietnam Newspaper highlights some of the day's international news highlights.

* Russia announced many victories in Zaporizhzhia : On July 20, TASS (Russia) quoted the Commander of the Storm Z Battalion as saying that the Russian Armed Forces (VS RF) had captured a number of strongholds of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (VSU) in Zaporizhzhia province.

“Near the village of Kamenskoye, Zaporizhzhia province, our fighters advanced about 500 meters and captured several strongholds,” the source said. According to him, the VSU suffered serious personnel losses. (TASS)

* Russia destroys Ukrainian mine in the Black Sea: On July 19, the Russian Defense Ministry announced that it had destroyed a Ukrainian mine drifting in the southwest of the Black Sea. Specifically, the Black Sea Fleet discovered the mine when it was floating about 180 km northeast of the Bosporus Strait.

“According to the decision of the ship’s commander, a Ka-27 helicopter was deployed. The crew of this aircraft destroyed the mine with machine guns,” the Russian Defense Ministry said. Earlier, Russian forces had detected Ukrainian mines near shipping lanes in the northwestern Black Sea region and warned of a threat to civilian vessels. (TASS)

* Ukraine outlines Russia's intentions in attacking Odessa: On July 19, writing on Twitter , Senior Advisor to the President of Ukraine Mykhailo Podolyak said that the attacks on Ukraine's main Black Sea port reflected Russia's attitude towards food security. This official stated: "The main goal (of Russia) is to destroy Ukraine's ability to transport grain." (Reuters)

* Chinese consulate damaged in Russian attack on Odessa : On July 20, regional governor Oleh Kiper wrote on Telegram that a building housing the Chinese consulate was damaged after a Russian missile and drone attack. A photo of the building shows broken windows. (Reuters)

* US : Russia plots to attack civilian ships in the Black Sea : On July 19, White House National Security Council spokesman Adam Hodge said: "The Russian military may expand its targeting of Ukrainian grain facilities to include attacks on civilian ships. A coordinated effort to justify any attacks on civilian ships in the Black Sea and blame Ukraine for carrying out these attacks."

Earlier the same day, the Russian Defense Ministry announced that due to the expiration of the grain agreement, or the Black Sea Grain Initiative, from 00:00 on July 20 Moscow time (4:00 on the same day Vietnam time), Russia will consider all ships going to Ukrainian ports on the Black Sea as military cargo ships.

The Russian Defense Ministry's announcement also emphasized that the countries whose flags are flying on these ships will be considered to be involved in the conflict in Ukraine and siding with the Kiev government. (AFP/VNA)

* Xi Jinping: China-US relations are at a crossroads : On July 20, Chinese President Xi Jinping received former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. According to the leader, relations between Beijing and Washington are “at a crossroads” and it is time for both sides to make a choice. Xi stressed: “China is willing to work with the US side to find the right path for the two countries to get along and promote steady progress in bilateral relations.”

For his part, former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger said: “The relationship between our two countries is a matter of world peace and the progress of human society.”

His visit to China comes as the two countries work to prevent their relationship, which is already at a historic low, from sinking further. Earlier, Kissinger met with China’s top diplomat Wang Yi and Defense Minister Li Shangfu. (Reuters)

Southeast Asia

* Thai Prime Minister calls on people to exercise restraint : On July 20, Thai government deputy spokesperson Rachada Dhnadirek quoted outgoing Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha as saying that he is closely following developments in the country's political situation. Ms. Rachada said: "Because the interim government is tasked with maintaining peace and stability in the country, he (Prayut) wants all parties to express their political views peacefully, within the framework of the rule of law and without violence... They should not sabotage the economy, trade or investment in the context that by the end of this year, the number of foreign tourists to Thailand could reach 35 million people."

Ms. Rachada affirmed that Prime Minister Prayut understood the disappointment of the people who supported the Forward Party (MFP) leader Pita Limjaroenrat and called on the people to move Thailand forward democratically, besides the monarchy. He believed that the country would soon have a new leader so that everyone could work together.

Hundreds of people gathered outside the Thai Parliament building to show their support for Pita when the Thai Parliament convened to elect a new prime minister on July 19. However, the Thai Constitutional Court's temporary suspension of Pita's parliamentary status due to a lawsuit involving the politician, along with the parliament's decision to cancel the MFP politician's nomination for prime minister, has sparked a wave of anger.

In response, hundreds of people gathered at the Democracy Monument on the evening of July 19 to express their anger at the thwarted efforts of Pita Limjaroenrat to seize power. The protesters lit candles and took turns criticizing lawmakers in the Senate and the Constitutional Court. (Bangkok Post)

Northeast Asia

* China's exports to North Korea fall sharply : On July 20, Chinese customs data showed that the country's exports to North Korea last month fell 6.6% compared to May, although they were still eight times higher than in June 2022, when North Korea recorded tens of thousands of Covid-19 cases per day and closed its borders.

Shipments from the world’s second-largest economy to North Korea last month were worth $154.7 million, according to the data. China mainly exports processed hair and wool to North Korea for use in wigs, as demand for these items is nearly three times higher than the second-ranking item, rice. Notably, diammonium hydrogen phosphate, a widely used fertilizer that was among China’s top two exports to North Korea in May and April, dropped out of the top 10 in June. (Reuters)

* US tries to bring back soldier who crossed the border into North Korea : On July 20, US Special Representative for North Korea Sung Kim said that Washington is actively involved in bringing back a US soldier who crossed the border into North Korea. Previously, Mr. Travis King, an American soldier, illegally crossed the border into North Korea a few days ago and is currently believed to be being held by Pyongyang. (Reuters)

Europe

* Russia concerned about Poland's strengthening of border with Belarus : On July 20, the Kremlin expressed its attitude towards Poland's increased security along the border with Belarus after Wagner forces were present near the area. Speaking to reporters, Russian President Dmitry Peskov said: "Of course, this is a cause for concern. Poland's aggression is real. Such a hostile attitude towards Belarus and Russia requires high attention (from us)."

Warsaw had earlier announced that it was sending 500 police officers to beef up security at the border to deal with the growing number of migrants crossing the border and the possible presence of Wagner. For its part, the Belarusian Defense Ministry said that Wagner group soldiers had begun training Belarusian special forces in a military area just a few kilometers from the border with Poland. (Reuters)

* Russia summons British charge d'affaires in Moscow : On July 20, RIA (Russia) reported that the Russian Foreign Ministry had summoned the British charge d'affaires in Moscow. A day earlier, Director of the British Foreign Intelligence Service (MI6) Richard Moore said the Wagner uprising in Russia showed "deep cracks" in the Kremlin, and called on Russians to spy for Britain. (Reuters)

* European Union extends sanctions against Russia : On July 20, the European Council (EC) announced that it would extend the bloc's sanctions against Russia by another 6 months (until January 31, 2024) due to the conflict in Ukraine. The announcement stated: "These sanctions, first introduced in 2014 in response to Russia's actions to destabilize the situation in Ukraine, have been significantly extended from February 2022, in response to Russia's actions against Ukraine." (Reuters)

* Grain deal: Mr. Putin points out huge losses, Pakistan calls for help, Germany tries to "save"? On July 19, speaking at a Government meeting, Russian President Vladimir Putin said: "This document (grain deal) has caused direct losses and damage to Russian agricultural producers and fertilizer producers. Due to a 30-40% decrease in Russian grain on the global market, farmers' losses have amounted to 1.2 billion USD. Domestic fertilizer producers have also lost up to 1.6 billion USD. Currently, the cost of importing spare parts to replace their equipment has increased by 40% and the increase in costs in financial transactions is about 10%".

On the same day, Russian Agriculture Minister Dmitry Patrushev announced that the country had harvested more than 21 million tons of grain in 35 regions. He also noted that the country is expected to harvest 123 million tons of grain this year.

Meanwhile, on the sidelines of the EU Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Brussels, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock criticized Russia for deliberately using grain as a weapon against the world. She stated: “Hundreds of thousands, even millions, of people need Ukrainian grain. That is why we are working with all partners to get the grain out of the silos in Ukraine, out of the way in the coming weeks, and into the hands of those who need it around the world.”

Meanwhile, on July 20, speaking during a two-day visit to Pakistan, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba called for the revival of the Black Sea Grains Initiative to address global food insecurity. For his part, his Pakistani counterpart Bilawal Bhutto Zardari agreed with Ukraine and said he might bring the issue to the United Nations. (Reuters/TASS/TTXVN)

Middle East-Africa

* Palestine urges Israel to stop expanding settlements : On July 20, Palestinian President's spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh affirmed that stopping the expansion of settlements and ending Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories is a package of solutions to achieve peace and stability in the region; otherwise, "the entire region will be at a dangerous historical and strategic crossroads".

Earlier, on July 19, Israel Radio reported that in a phone call with US President Joe Biden, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was said to have pledged to suspend settlement construction until the end of 2023. However, shortly after, the Israeli Prime Minister's Office firmly denied this information. (Xinhua)

* Iraq expels Swedish Ambassador : On July 20, Iraq asked the Swedish Ambassador in Baghdad to leave Iraqi territory, and announced that Baghdad had recalled its Charge d'Affaires in Sweden. Previously, the Office of Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani stated: "The Iraqi Government has informed the Swedish Government through diplomatic channels that any recurrence of the burning of the Quran on Swedish soil will result in the severance of relations."

For his part, on the same day, Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom announced that his country would summon the Iraqi Charge d'Affaires in Stockholm after protesters, angry at a plan to burn the Quran for the second time on Swedish soil, stormed and set fire to the Swedish Embassy in Baghdad. (AFP)

* South Africa: Mr. Putin refused to " harm " the BRICS Summit : On July 20, speaking at a press conference of the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation in Johannesburg, South Africa's Ambassador-at-Large to Asia and the BRICS bloc Anil Sooklal said that according to a "collective" decision, Russian President Vladimir Putin would participate online in the discussion. He said: "President Putin understands the dilemma that South Africa faces. He does not want to harm the summit. He does not want to create problems for South Africa."

However, Ambassador Sooklal said that despite Mr Putin’s absence, South Africa was confident that the talks would be “successful”. The official said that the Russian leader “will be fully involved in all discussions”.

Putin’s possible attendance at the BRICS summit in person has posed a dilemma for South Africa ahead of the August 22-24 meeting. He is currently an arrest target for the International Criminal Court (ICC). South Africa, as a member of the ICC, would have to comply with the order if the politician were to come here. (VNA)

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/tin-the-gioi-207-nga-neu-buoc-tien-o-zaporizhzhia-trung-quoc-noi-ve-nga-ba-duong-voi-my-235350.html