Russia issues statement on Moscow attack, Kiev looks to Asian country; China "tells" US to be sincere

The Russia-Ukraine conflict, clashes in Kosovo, the situation on the Korean peninsula, US-China relations... are some of the prominent international events in the past 24 hours.

Beijing has rejected Washington's proposal to host a meeting between US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin (right) and his Chinese counterpart Li Shangfu in Singapore. (Source: Getty Images, AP)

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

Russia-Ukraine

* Russian and Ukrainian capitals attacked by UAVs, Kiev denies direct involvement: In the early morning of May 30, both the Russian capital Moscow and the Ukrainian capital Kiev suffered attacks by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

The Russian Defense Ministry accused Ukraine of carrying out an attack with eight UAVs on targets in Moscow, damaging several buildings, but all of the devices were shot down.

However, Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak denied that his country was directly involved in the attack, but stressed that Kiev "is happy to see and predicts that the number of attacks will increase".

Meanwhile, the government of the capital Kiev of Ukraine announced that the country's air defense forces destroyed more than 20 UAVs in an airstrike early on the morning of May 30.

Kiev described this as a large-scale attack carried out in several waves, in which Russia used only Iranian-made Shahed UAVs. This was the third attack on Kiev in the past 24 hours and the 17th airstrike since the beginning of the month. (Reuters, AFP, TASS)

* Kremlin statement on Moscow attack: On May 30, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the UAV attack on Moscow and its vicinity confirms the need to continue the special military operation in Ukraine until the set goals are achieved.

According to him, this unprecedented attack is Kiev's "response" to Russia's recent "very effective" offensive in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the State Duma Defense Committee (Russian Lower House) Andrey Kartapolov said that the UAV attack was an act of intimidation and should not cause panic among the people.

Mr. Kartapolov ordered to analyze all data on the incident to determine where the UAV was launched, as this will allow to take countermeasures. (TASS)

* Ukrainian President urges South Korea to provide defense systems: In an interview with the Chosun Ilbo newspaper published on May 30, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed gratitude for South Korea's commitment to deliver mine-clearing equipment and humanitarian aid worth a total of about $230 million.

However, the leader stressed, Kiev also wants Seoul to provide air defense and early warning systems.

"I know there are limits to the supply of weapons, but that principle should not be applied to defense systems and equipment to protect our assets. We must have a shield to protect the skies to rebuild Ukraine and I very much hope that South Korea will support us in this area," he said.

President Zelensky affirmed that South Korea's early warning system will help protect Ukraine from Russian airstrikes. (Reuters)

* According to the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European Union (EU) Josep Borrell on May 29, Russia will only be ready to negotiate if it wins the campaign in Ukraine.

Expressing “no optimism” about what might happen in the conflict in Ukraine this summer, the diplomat asserted that he clearly saw “Russia’s intention is to win”. (Reuters)

* Ukrainian Presidential Advisor proposes establishing a demilitarized zone within Russian territory: On May 29, Ukrainian Presidential Advisor Mykhailo Podolya said that a demilitarized zone 100-120 km long should be established inside Russia, along the border with Ukraine.

Mr. Podolya said that this demilitarized zone will stretch across the territory of Russia's Belgorod, Bryansk, Kursk and Rostov regions.

The demilitarized zone, which will be part of a post-conflict agreement, is essential to protect parts of Ukraine from shelling, avoid future clashes and ensure the safety of residents in some of Ukraine's frontline areas, the official said. (Reuters)

Serbia-Kosovo

* Tensions escalate in Kosovo: In recent days, Serbs - the majority in some northern Kosovo localities - clashed with police to protest against the new Albanian mayors on May 26, even injuring 25 NATO peacekeepers.

Faced with that situation, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic put the country's army on full combat alert and ordered units to move closer to the border with Kosovo.

Mr Vucic also plans to meet with the ambassadors of the US, Russia, China, Britain, Finland and the head of the EU office in Serbia to discuss the case.

Meanwhile, NATO, the EU and a series of countries such as Russia, the US, the UK, France, Germany and Italy have called on all parties to exercise restraint, as well as criticized the Kosovo government's actions for increasing tensions and affecting the process of normalizing Kosovo-Serbia relations.

Most recently, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning said that Beijing is very concerned about the related developments, and affirmed its support for Serbia's efforts to protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity. (Reuters, Sputnik)

* Serbia sets conditions for maintaining peace with Kosovo: On May 30, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic called on the ambassadors of five Western countries including the US, UK, Germany, France and Italy, and the head of the EU mission in Serbia to influence Kosovo to recall Albanian mayors and withdraw police.

On his personal page, Mr. Vucic said: "I... note that Pristina's unilateral steps lead to violence against Serbs, pushing us away from peace and stability in the region."

According to the leader, "urgent recall of erring mayors and withdrawal of the so-called Kosovo special police force are conditions for maintaining peace here." (Sputnik)

US-China

* Advising the US to be "sincere", China rejected Washington's proposal to hold a meeting of defense ministers on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue regional security forum in Singapore, according to information from the Pentagon on May 29.

In early May, the US proposed to hold a meeting between its Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and his Chinese counterpart Li Shangfu in Singapore, but recently Washington received a refusal.

“China’s unwillingness to engage in meaningful military-to-military discussions does not diminish the Department of Defense’s commitment to seeking open lines of communication with the People’s Liberation Army,” said Pentagon spokesman Brigadier General Pat Ryder.

Meanwhile, on May 30, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning said that the US should "show sincerity and take practical steps to create necessary conditions for dialogue and interaction between the two countries' militaries."

Mr. Lee was sanctioned by the US government in 2018 for purchasing weapons from Russia, but the Pentagon said that did not prevent Mr. Austin from engaging in official dealings with Mr. Lee. (AFP, Straits Times, Sputnik)

* China "regrets" the US ban on aerospace cooperation between the two countries, according to AP news agency.

Speaking on the afternoon of May 29 in Jiuquan (China), Li Yingliang, chief technology officer of China's manned space flight agency, said that Beijing hopes for more international cooperation, including with Washington, in the above field.

In addition, AP reported, China's growing space program plans to send astronauts to the moon by 2030 and expand the country's orbital space station.

* China launched the Shenzhou-16 manned spacecraft on May 30, carrying three astronauts to the country's space station complex on a five-month mission.

The Long March-2F carrier rocket carrying the spacecraft was launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China. The astronauts will conduct large-scale orbital tests as well as experiments in various fields as planned. (THX)

Korean Peninsula

* North Korea will launch its first military reconnaissance satellite in June to counter US “military actions,” the Korean Central News Agency ( KCNA ) said on May 30.

Before this announcement, the US State Department spokesman affirmed that any North Korean satellite launch using ballistic missile technology would violate United Nations Security Council resolutions prohibiting Pyongyang from testing long-range missiles.

The US also called on North Korea to "refrain from further unlawful activities and engage in serious and sustained diplomacy".

Meanwhile, spokesman for the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) Han Sung-keun said that intelligence officials of the country and the US are closely monitoring North Korea's actions related to the satellite launch plan.

On Tokyo's side, Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa said that Pyongyang's use of a ballistic missile believed to be used to launch a satellite was a serious threat to Japan's security, violating United Nations Security Council resolutions.

Japan affirmed that it will continue to cooperate closely with the US and South Korea as well as other countries, including the Security Council's response to deal with this move by Pyongyang.

Tokyo is also working closely with Seoul and Washington to ensure a “unified, stern” response from the international community if Pyongyang carries out the launch.

Also on May 30, South Korea and Japan held their first bilateral consultations on disarmament and non-proliferation in five years, expressing concern over North Korea's satellite launch plan and urging Pyongyang to cancel it. (Yonhap)

* The US will further increase the presence of strategic assets on the Korean peninsula: On May 30, Commander of US Forces Korea (USFK) Paul LaCamera reaffirmed Washington's commitment to protecting its ally Seoul.

He also dismissed concerns that Washington might trade its security commitment to Seoul to protect US cities in a contingency, saying: "Do not doubt our unwavering commitment."

General LaCamera also added that the US will further strengthen the presence of strategic assets on the Korean peninsula as stated in the Washington Statement.

He also stressed the importance of alliances and cooperation with countries outside the alliance, citing recent efforts on security cooperation between the leaders of South Korea, the United States and Japan. (Yonhap)

America

* Venezuela-Brazil opens a new era in relations: On May 29, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro held talks with his Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in the capital Brasilia.

During the meeting, Mr. Maduro affirmed that the relationship between the two countries will continue to be strengthened in all areas, thereby opening a new era in bilateral relations as well as together building a peaceful and prosperous South American region.

According to the Venezuelan President, the two countries need to establish a joint mechanism to promote cooperation in areas such as trade, economy, agriculture and people-to-people exchanges, and promote frank and long-term dialogues between Venezuela, Brazil and the governments of other countries in South America.

In addition, the leader said, Venezuela wants to become part of the world's leading emerging economies (BRICS), which currently includes China, Brazil, Russia, India and South Africa. (Reuters)

* South American Summit: On May 30, heads of state of South American countries gathered in the Brazilian capital Brasilia to attend the regional summit at the invitation of host country President Lula da Silva.

This is the first South American summit in nearly a decade, with the participation of leaders of 12 South American countries, excluding Peru, with the aim of discussing how to coordinate to fight climate change and high inflation in the region, where poverty is on the rise.

President Lula da Silva said the leaders would not re-establish a new Union of South American Nations (Unasur), but would come up with a different format, with the main idea being “a bloc that works together on economic, investment and environmental issues”.

According to him, countries "need to learn how to talk to each other". (TTXVN)

Africa

* Eight African countries have allowed Ukraine to open embassies , two of which are completing the procedures, according to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on May 30.

Speaking on television, Mr Kuleba added: "To open all these embassies, we still need to make changes to the budget of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and we are working on this with the Prime Minister to achieve the necessary results by the end of this year."

In December 2022, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Kiev will open 10 embassies in Africa. (Sputnik)

* Indonesia hopes to increase its presence in Africa , according to people Indonesian Foreign Ministry spokesman Teuku Faizasyah on May 29 at the Africa Day celebration in Jakarta.

Africa is an important part of Indonesia's foreign policy and the country wants to contribute to economic growth and support the continent's efforts towards peace, stability and development, Mr. Teuku said.

The spokesperson said that the two sides need to strengthen cooperation by promoting exchanges between businessmen and state-owned enterprises so that Indonesia's presence in Africa is not only in the political and socio-cultural aspects, but also in the economic aspect. (VNA)

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