Russian intelligence accuses Ukraine of direct involvement in Crocus terrorist attack, Iran releases first report on plane crash

What is the CIA director going to Paris to discuss? Japan, US hold 2+2 Dialogue, Armenia returns 4 border villages to Azerbaijan, Russia and Cuba move towards cyber security cooperation... are some of the outstanding international events in the past 24 hours.

Iranians gather to express their condolences over the sudden passing of the Iranian President in a plane crash on May 19. (Source: IRNA)

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

Russia-Ukraine

*Ukrainian forces admit Kiev may lose territory to make peace with Russia: On May 23, ABC news agency quoted the commander of the 57th Armed Forces Brigade of Ukraine, Colonel Alexander Bakulin, as saying that the Ukrainian armed forces admitted that Kiev may have to agree to lose territory to end the conflict with Russia.

According to Mr. Bakulin, the current conflict will end with diplomatic negotiations and a subsequent peace agreement, just like any other similar conflict. ABC News noted that Mr. Bakulin seemed willing to accept that Ukraine would have to agree to make territorial concessions, just as Finland did during the Soviet era.

Mr. Bakunin added that Ukrainian forces are trying to stabilize the situation on the front line, but the Russian military “continues to achieve continuous successes” in the Kharkiv region. He also noted that the situation for Ukrainian forces remains “quite difficult” as fighting continues while US military aid has not yet been delivered. (TASS)

*Russian intelligence accuses Ukraine of direct involvement in the Crocus Theater terrorist attack: Director of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) Alexander Bortnikov announced on May 24 that Ukrainian military intelligence was directly involved in the terrorist attack at the Crocus City Hall Theater in the suburbs of Moscow.

“The investigation is ongoing, but it is certain that Ukrainian military intelligence was directly involved in this attack,” the FSB chief said. He pledged that “all the criminal facts will be established and all those involved in this attack will not go unpunished.”

According to official statistics, the shooting at the Crocus City Hall Theater on March 22 and the subsequent fire left at least 144 victims dead and 551 others injured. The suspects were arrested by the FSB immediately after the incident, as they were trying to “cross the border into Ukraine”. (THX)

Asia-Pacific

*Philippines protests law allowing Chinese coast guard to fire on foreign ships: Speaking at a ceremony of the Philippine Navy on May 24, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said the regulations on how the Chinese coast guard operates in the East Sea are a matter of international concern, calling it a provocation.

China has issued new regulations to enforce a 2021 law that allows its coast guard to fire on foreign vessels.

“Such behavior not only violates UNCLOS but also violates the principles of the United Nations Charter, which clearly stipulates the obligation of every responsible state to refrain from the use of force or aggression to enforce its unlawful maritime claims,” Minister Teodoro stressed. (Reuters)

*Japan, US to hold 2+2 Dialogue: A Japanese source revealed on May 24 that Japan and the US are considering holding a dialogue between the two countries' foreign and defense ministers (2+2 Dialogue) in Tokyo as early as July.

Tokyo and Washington had originally planned to hold the 2+2 Dialogue in late May, but the event was postponed due to disagreements from the US. This would have been the first 2+2 Dialogue between the two governments since January 2023.

Among the agenda items expected to be discussed is a review of the U.S.-Japan alliance's command and control operations, amid China's growing military activity in the Indo-Pacific region. (Kyodo)

*North Korea prepares to launch military spy satellite: An official of the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said on May 24 that the country's military has detected suspicious signs that North Korea is preparing to launch a military spy satellite.

South Korean and US intelligence officials are closely monitoring and tracking related activities.”

In December 2023, Pyongyang announced that it would launch three more spy satellites this year, a month after successfully launching its first satellite into orbit. Speaking to reporters, South Korean Defense Minister Shin Won-sik confirmed that North Korea's Malligyong-1 spy satellite appeared to be orbiting the Earth but was not showing any activity. (Yonhap)

*Stab attack in China, 8 people killed: On May 24, Chinese authorities confirmed that 8 people were killed and 1 person was injured in a knife attack that occurred in Hubei province, central China.

The incident occurred on the morning of May 23 in Xiaogan City. The 53-year-old suspect, who is believed to have mental health problems, stabbed the victims with a knife. The injuries were not life-threatening.

Police have arrested the suspect and are investigating the incident. (THX)

Europe

*Armenia returns 4 border villages to Azerbaijan: Armenia on May 24 returned to Azerbaijan 4 border villages that Yerevan seized decades ago. This move is considered a new step towards normalizing relations between the two historical rivals.

Armenia's national security agency announced that its border guards had "officially" taken over the new positions, while Azerbaijan's Deputy Prime Minister Shahin Mustafayev said that Baku's border guards had taken control of the four settlements.

Tensions between Azerbaijan and Armenia flared up after Azerbaijan launched a military campaign to retake the entire region from pro-Armenian separatists in late 2023. After the conflict broke out, almost all of Nagorno-Karabakh's 120,000-strong Armenian population fled to Armenia as refugees after the separatist government there surrendered and declared its dissolution. (AFP)

*Russia accuses Romania of interfering in its neighbor's internal affairs: On May 23, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova criticized Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu's statement that only Romanians live in the Republic of Moldova. Maria Zakharova said these statements were "provocative" and represented "gross interference" in the affairs of the neighboring country.

Prime Minister Ciolacu told Digi24 that in the Republic of Moldova “there are no Moldovans, no Moldovan language, only Romanian language and Romanian people,” TASS news agency reported. Ciolacu made the comments in an interview on May 14. (Reuters)

*Georgia criticizes US visa restrictions: Georgia's ruling "Georgian Dream" party on May 24 described the US decision to impose visa restrictions on Georgian parliament members due to the "foreign agents" bill as "ridiculous".

Earlier, on May 23, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that Washington would impose new visa restrictions on Tbilisi and would initiate a review of bilateral cooperation between the two countries due to the “foreign agents” bill promoted by the “Georgian Dream” party.

In a statement on the US actions, Secretary of State Blinken said the bill would curtail freedom of association and expression, as well as impede the activities of independent media organizations. (TASS)

*The West is preparing for direct war with Russia: Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on May 24 that it was unlikely that Russia would attack a NATO member state and that discussions about the “Russian threat” were nothing more than a rehearsal for war.

Prime Minister Orban also said that Budapest is trying to avoid participating in NATO activities outside the alliance's territory. The Hungarian leader also said that Western politicians and media reports clearly indicate that Europe is preparing for a war with Russia. According to him, what is happening in Brussels and Washington, especially in Brussels, is a kind of mental preparation for a possible direct conflict. (Sputnik)

Africa – Middle East

*CIA Director to Paris in effort to resume Gaza talks: A Western source said on May 24 that US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director William Burns will hold talks in the French capital Paris with Israeli representatives in an effort to restart negotiations to seek a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

The CIA director's trip to Paris, scheduled for May 24 or 25, comes after Israel gave the green light to the possibility of resuming negotiations to release Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza in exchange for a ceasefire. (AFP)

*Israel bans Spanish Consulate from providing services to Palestinians: Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz announced on May 24 that the country's Foreign Ministry has decided to "sever ties" between Spain's diplomatic mission and Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, in response to Madrid's announcement of its recognition of the State of Palestine.

On social network X, Foreign Minister Katz wrote: “I have decided to cut off the connection between the Spanish representative in Israel and the Palestinians, and to prohibit the Spanish Consulate in Jerusalem from providing services to Palestinians in the West Bank… in response to Spain’s recognition of the State of Palestine as well as the anti-Semitic calls of its Deputy Prime Minister.”

On May 22, Ireland, Norway and Spain confirmed that they will officially recognize the State of Palestine on May 28, a move that angered Tel Aviv. (Al Jazeera)

*Iran releases report on helicopter crash carrying President Raisi: The General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces on May 23 released its first report on the cause of the recent helicopter crash that resulted in the death of President Ebrahim Raisi and his entourage.

According to the report, the helicopter carrying President Raisi maintained its pre-determined route throughout the entire flight and did not deviate from it. The report revealed that nearly a minute and a half before the incident, the pilot of the crashed helicopter contacted two other helicopters in the presidential entourage.

No traces of bullets or similar objects were found on the wreckage of the crashed helicopter.

The report added that adverse weather conditions including “fog and low temperatures” had hampered search and rescue operations. No suspicious activity was detected in communications between the watchtower and the crew, the report said. (Al Jazeera)

America - Latin America

*The US affirms its commitment to the Indo-Pacific: On May 24, the US Navy's 7th Fleet said that the US Navy pays attention to "all activities" in the Indo-Pacific region, and takes "very seriously" its responsibility to prevent acts of aggression in the region.

Commenting on China's ongoing military exercises around Taiwan (China), a 7th Fleet officer stated: "The US Navy's 7th Fleet is committed to maintaining the rules-based international order that underpins security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region."

The Theodore Roosevelt carrier strike group is continuing “normal, safe and responsible training exercises” as part of a routine deployment in the 7th Fleet area of ​​operations, the officer said . (Reuters)

*Cuba dismisses Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment: On May 23, Cuba decided to dismiss Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment (MINCEX) Ricardo Cabrisas Ruiz.

According to the official announcement, Mr. Ricardo Cabrisas continues to hold the position of Deputy Prime Minister.

Mr. Cabrisas, 87, has experience in foreign debt management and relations with the Paris Club. For decades, he has been a key figure in debt negotiations and restructurings between Cuba and Russia, China, Iran and Venezuela.

Replacing Mr. Cabrisas at MINCEX is Deputy Minister Oscar Pérez-Oliva Fraga, 53, an electronics engineer with 15 years of experience in foreign trade and who worked at the Mariel Special Development Zone – Cuba's first and only special economic zone to date. (AFP)

*Russia and Cuba aim for comprehensive cyber security cooperation: On May 23, the leading cyber security solutions provider in Russia, Grupo Solar, and the Cuban information security company Segurmática signed a memorandum of understanding that lays the foundation for cooperation in the field of comprehensive cyber security and the development of information security solutions, cyber security technologies and export support.

Segurmática CEO Niurka Edith Milanes and Grupo Solar CEO Igor Lyapunov signed the memorandum at the annual conference Digital Industry Russia 2024, which took place in Nizhni Novgorod. (Sputniknews)

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