Ukrainian President to visit US, what does Türkiye say about S-400?

Israeli Prime Minister calls on Hamas to surrender, US F-16 crashes in the Yellow Sea, Russian President attends inauguration of nuclear-powered submarine... are some notable international news in the past 24 hours.

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy (pictured) opposes Ukraine joining NATO. (Source: El Mundo)

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

* Russian official mentions conditions for ending the conflict in Ukraine : on December 11, speaking on CTV (Russia), Russian Ambassador-at-Large Rodion Miroshnik emphasized: “Negotiations will definitely take place; all clashes must end with negotiations. Obviously, negotiations will not take place with Kiev. The West has so far shown no desire to reach agreements. So far, they have not said that they are ready to sit at the negotiating table.”

The Russian diplomat asserted that the conditions for negotiations will ripen “when the sponsors dry up, when political ambitions subside, when... Ukrainians finally understand that the current authorities in Ukraine do not represent them.” (TASS)

* Ukraine announced that it shot down many Russian missiles : On December 11, the Ukrainian Air Force said: "Russian forces launched missiles to attack the Kiev area" at 4:00 a.m. (local time, 9:00 a.m. Hanoi time), and emphasized that "the (Ukrainian) air defense system destroyed 8 airborne targets flying towards the capital."

Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Ministry announced that FPV drones of the Western Army Group destroyed several targets in Kupyansk. (AFP/TASS)

* Ukrainian President to visit the US : On December 12, Mr. Volodymyr Zelensky will travel to Washington, DC, to meet with host country President Joe Biden. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre announced that the two sides will “discuss Ukraine’s urgent needs” in the conflict with Russia and the “vital importance of continued US assistance” at this critical moment.

For its part, the Office of the President of Ukraine stressed that the meeting will focus on important issues such as “joint projects on the production of weapons and air defense systems, as well as coordination of efforts between the two countries in the coming years.”

An aide to US House Speaker Mike Johnson said Johnson would also meet with the Ukrainian leader on December 12. In addition, a US Senate official said Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and Republican leader Mitch McConnell in the US Senate appeared to have invited Mr Zelensky to speak at the Senate plenary meeting that morning. (AFP)

* Former French President opposes Ukraine joining NATO : On December 11, in an interview with Mundo (Spain), former French President Nicolas Sarkozy stated: “...Ukraine has every right to defend itself. However, it is a mistake to try at all costs to protect Ukraine's membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). I believe that this country should maintain its position as a neutral country, with strong security guarantees from the international community and strive to once again become a bridge between Russia and Europe.”

Sarkozy regretted that current President Emmanuel Macron ended the dialogue with Russia too early: “He (Macron) was right to try to have a dialogue with President Putin, and I am very sorry that he did not continue this dialogue, as I did in 2008,” in the context of the events in Georgia. “The crisis was resolved within a few days,” he said. (Sputnik)

* Germany pledges to continue supporting Ukraine : On December 11, speaking to the press, a Berlin spokesman affirmed: "The Chancellor has repeatedly made it clear that Germany will support Ukraine as long as necessary in all areas, be it military, humanitarian or even direct financial support. This will not change."

A spokesman for the German Foreign Ministry also said that Berlin has recently increased aid to Ukraine, emphasizing that the country "will not waver in its efforts to support Kiev but will continue to expand its support as stated." (TTXVN)

* Israel to open Kerem Shalom border crossing with Gaza : On December 11, the Israeli government's Coordination of Palestinian Activities (COGAT) said: "We are increasing the checks on aid entering Gaza. The Kerem Shalom border crossing is about to open, doubling this activity. However, aid continues to come through the Rafah border crossing. The United Nations needs to do better - the aid is arriving and the people need it." However, the agency did not specify when the crossing would open.

Earlier this month, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths said there were positive signs that the Kerem Shalom crossing would soon open as the situation in the Gaza Strip worsened. (Vietnam News Agency)

* Israeli Prime Minister calls on Hamas to surrender : On December 10, Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu called on Hamas gunmen to "surrender now: "The conflict continues, but the end has begun for Hamas. I tell Hamas that it is over. Don't do it for Yahya Sinwar. Surrender now." (AFP)

* Palestine calls on the international community to punish and stop Israel : On December 10, speaking at the Doha Forum in Qatar, Palestinian Authority (PA) Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh called on the international community to hold Israel accountable, impose sanctions and prevent Tel Aviv from continuing to "violate international law".

The leader also called for an urgent international investigation into Usraek’s actions against the Palestinian people. According to Prime Minister Shtayyeh, what is happening in the Gaza Strip is the joint responsibility of those who “gave the green light” to Israel’s activities in the area. The politician also accused the US of using its veto power over a draft resolution calling for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, calling it “permission” for Israel to continue inflicting casualties on Palestinians.

He also affirmed that he would not accept the elimination of Hamas because it is part of the political map and identity of the Palestinian people. According to him, Israel has not achieved any political goals since the beginning of the conflict and they are only responding to the victims of innocent civilians, women and children. (NDTV)

Southeast Asia

* Myanmar military government representatives meet 3 rebel groups : Myanmar Television (MRTV) Telegram channel quoted Myanmar military government spokesman Zaw Min Tun as saying that government representatives met with 3 armed rebel groups involved in the current offensive. The official said the meeting was facilitated by China and said there is a high possibility that there will be another such meeting between the parties later this month. (Reuters)

South Pacific

* New Zealand's new government strengthens ties with regional allies : Foreign Minister Winston Peters said on December 11 that he would bring the country closer to intelligence partners the United States, Britain, Canada and Australia, part of a renewed focus on security under the new centre-right government.

“We intend to strengthen our defence and security cooperation, including with the United States and the Five Eyes group (the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand), as well as other important security partners in the region and beyond,” said the former foreign minister and leader of the New Zealand First party, a coalition partner in the government led by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s National Party.

Foreign Minister Peters added that New Zealand needs to strengthen its sovereignty protection capabilities to enable it to act in a more challenging geostrategic environment. “We are prioritizing the resources we need to strengthen those capabilities,” he stressed. In addition, the new New Zealand government plans to improve relations with Asian countries, seeing New Delhi as a partner with which Wellington wants to have a stronger relationship. (VNA)

Northeast Asia

* North Korea publishes White Paper on human rights : On December 11, North Korea announced the publication of a White Paper on human rights to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the United Nations adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

North Korea's state news agency KCNA criticized the human rights situation in the United States and the West, where gun violence, racism and abuse of women and children are "rampant."

In contrast, KCNA stressed that North Korean people enjoy full human rights because the government is fulfilling its responsibility in the field of international human rights. KCNA accused the United States of trying to overthrow Pyongyang by raising issues related to the country's human rights conditions, and asserted that human rights "can only be realized" when national sovereignty is protected. According to KCNA, North Korea has chosen the path of strengthening its national defense to "put an end once and for all" to this plot and protect the country's sovereignty. (Yonhap)

* US F-16 crashes in Yellow Sea : On December 11, a US F-16 fighter jet crashed in the Yellow Sea. The pilot had an emergency ejection. The plane crashed after taking off from Gunsan Air Base, 178 km south of Seoul. It is not yet clear whether the pilot was rescued. (Yonhap)

* Russia unveils two new nuclear-powered submarines : On December 11, Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in the northern city of Severodvinsk to attend the inauguration ceremony of two new nuclear-powered submarines, the Krasnoyarsk and the Emperor Alexander III. He declared: "The Alexander III and Krasnoyarsk will soon carry out guard missions in the Pacific Ocean." (Reuters)

* EU pushes for 12th package of sanctions against Russia : On December 11, according to a high-ranking source from the European Union (EU), the bloc's permanent representatives have made progress in agreeing on the 12th package of sanctions against Russia. However, it is still unclear when exactly this package of sanctions will be approved.

Earlier, on November 4 in Kiev, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the commission would soon announce the bloc's 12th package of sanctions against Russia, including new import and export bans, as well as tightening the oil price ceiling. (TTXVN)

* Sweden demands Iran release detained citizen : On December 11, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said that the country demands Iran immediately release Swedish citizen Johan Floderus, who works for the EU and is currently being detained in the country.

Earlier, on December 9, the Swedish Foreign Ministry confirmed that a court in Iran had begun the trial of Mr. Floderus. This person was arrested in April last year while on vacation in Iran on suspicion of espionage. (Reuters)

* Turkey announces S-400 : On December 11, speaking on NTV (Turkey), responding to some questions about the meaning of this system, Defense Minister Yasar Guler emphasized: "S-400 is a defensive weapon. If we are attacked... those who wonder about this weapon will know how S-400 or our other air defense systems will be used."

Turkey bought four S-400 batteries from Russia for $2.5 billion in October 2019, but has yet to order the other components to make them operational. In August 2022, Russia announced that it had signed a contract to deliver the second part of the system. The remaining components will be manufactured in Turkey as part of the deal. (Anadolu)

* Turkey sets conditions for Sweden to join NATO : On December 11, the Hurriyet newspaper (Turkey) quoted a source saying that the country could accept Sweden into NATO if the US kept its word on supplying F-16 fighter jets to Ankara. According to the source, the transfer of F-16s to Ankara is complicated not by the country's stance on Sweden's NATO application, but by Washington's lack of trust. The article also noted that if trust is established, Sweden's path to the military alliance will become clear.

In early December, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the US was sending F-16s to Greece, but not to Turkey, despite the fact that Ankara had paid for the planes. (Hurriyet)

Middle East-Africa

* Israel and Hezbollah clash fiercely at the Lebanese border: On December 10, an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman said the country had detected several aircraft from Lebanon crossing the border, triggering an alert system in the Galilee region. The statement said: “The air defense system successfully intercepted two targets… Two IDF soldiers were moderately injured and several others suffered minor injuries from being hit by debris and inhaling smoke. The soldiers received first aid at a hospital and their relatives were informed.”

At 10:00 a.m. (3:00 p.m. Hanoi time), Hezbollah announced that it had fired at an IDF outpost west of the Galilee. A few minutes later, the Lebanon-based Al-Mayadeen reported another attack on an outpost in Israeli territory. In the afternoon of the same day, sirens continued to sound in the residential areas of Betzet, Lehman and the Achziv Miluot Industrial Zone in northeastern Israel, suspected to be a new attack from Lebanon.

In response, the IDF dispatched fighter jets and tanks to attack several Hezbollah military and infrastructure sites in southern Beirut. IDF helicopter gunships also attacked the Yaftach area, suspected of being the site of anti-tank missiles fired into Israeli territory. At the same time, Israeli artillery fired mortar shells into the Manara area after detecting fire from that location into the northern part of the Jewish state. (TTXVN)

* Syria intercepts Israeli missiles : On December 10, the state news agency SANA (Syria) reported that the country's air defenses intercepted Israeli missiles launched at locations around Damascus. At the same time, Israeli missiles targeted military sites near the capital Damascus on the night of December 10. This is the latest attack on military sites in Syria. Many large explosions echoed throughout Damascus overnight. The Syrian army announced that the attack was carried out from the direction of Syria's Golan Heights, currently occupied by Israel.

Meanwhile, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said Israeli missiles hit sites in the Sayyeda Zeinab area and Damascus International Airport on the outskirts of Damascus, where Iranian fighters and Lebanon's Hezbollah are stationed. The SOHR added that Syrian air defense positions were also hit, but there were no reports of casualties so far. Since the beginning of 2023, the SOHR has recorded 62 Israeli attacks on Syrian territory. (Reuters/Xinhua)

* ECOWAS sets conditions for lifting sanctions on Niger : On December 10, leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) held a summit. According to ECOWAS Chairman Omar Touray, a committee from Benin, Togo and Sierra Leone will work with the leadership of Niger's National Council for the Defence of the Fatherland (CNSP) to decide on progress towards a short transition and other conditions for lifting sanctions.

“Based on the results of the meeting between the committee of heads of state and the CNSP, the body will gradually ease sanctions against Niger,” the leader said. “If the CNSP does not comply with the results of the discussion with the committee, ECOWAS will maintain all sanctions,” he added. (VNA)

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/tin-the-gioi-1112-tong-thong-ukraine-se-toi-my-tho-nhi-ky-noi-gi-ve-s-400-253504.html