Ukraine says Russia attacked civilian infrastructure, Germany announces new national security strategy

Belarusian President predicts about Ukraine, China-Palestine establish strategic partnership... are some notable international news in the past 24 hours.

Ukraine says Russia has launched a missile attack on Odessa. (Source: AP)

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

* Ukraine : Russia launches missile attack on civilian infrastructure : On June 14, writing on Telegram , regional military administration spokesman Serhiy Bratchuk said that Russia launched four Kalibr missiles from a ship in the Black Sea at civilian buildings in Odessa, southern Ukraine. The Ukrainian military said at least three people were killed and 13 injured. Earlier, on June 13, another missile attack on Kryvyi Rih, a central city and hometown of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, killed at least 11 people.

Odessa was once a holiday destination for many Ukrainians and Russians. However, the area has been bombed several times since the conflict began. (AFP/Reuters)

* Ukraine reports minor progress in counteroffensive: On June 14, writing on Telegram , Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said that the operations of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (VSU) were “partially successful”. The official said: “Our troops are advancing amid extremely fierce fighting, as well as the enemy’s superiority in air power and artillery.”

Fighting is still ongoing near the village of Makarivka in the direction of the southern port city of Berdyansk, she said. Clashes are also fierce in the Novodanylivka and Novopokrovsk areas in the direction of the city of Mariupol. (Reuters)

* Russia: The US is sinking deeper into the Ukraine crisis : On June 14, the Telegram page of the Russian Embassy in the US quoted Ambassador Anatoly Antonov as saying: "The US is sinking deeper and deeper into the abyss of the Ukraine crisis. American strategists do not understand that no amount of weapons or any participation of mercenaries can turn the tide in the special military operation (of Russia)."

Earlier, the US announced a $325 million aid package for Ukraine. The aid package, which includes ammunition for air defense systems and military vehicles, was announced just as Kiev planned a counterattack. (Reuters)

* Belarus President : The conflict in Ukraine is about to end : On June 14, in an interview with Rossiya - 1 TV channel (Russia), Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said: “I am not a prophet, but the conflict in Ukraine will end. There are excellent prerequisites for this. However, the West has created too many problems since then. If they cross this line, it will cause them a lot of damage.”

According to him, Belarus will intervene in the situation in Ukraine if Kiev provokes it. The red line this leader mentioned is a full-scale attack on Minsk. ( Sputnik )

* Europe appreciates China 's efforts on Ukraine : On June 14, Chinese Ambassador to Russia Zhang Hanhui said that during the visit of Beijing's Special Envoy for Eurasian Affairs Li Hui, Europe positively appreciated China's efforts on the Ukraine issue.

“The parties positively evaluated China’s efforts and stated that they want peace, not conflict. They also support a political solution to the crisis in Ukraine, expressed gratitude for China’s peacekeeping efforts and hoped that Beijing would play a positive role in this regard,” he said.

Previously, from May 15 to 28, Mr. Ly Huy visited Ukraine, Poland, France, Germany, the headquarters of the European Union (EU) and Russia, and held detailed consultations with all parties on a political solution to the Ukrainian crisis. (Sputnik)

Southeast Asia

* Indonesia to soon declare Covid -19 an endemic disease : A press release on June 14 after a meeting between Indonesian President Joko Widodo, the Ministry of Health and relevant agencies said that the country will soon declare Covid-19 an endemic disease by the end of the month.

According to Mr. Widodo, Jakarta continues to complete procedures as well as resolve many other issues before the above transition process is announced later this month. Previously, the Indonesian government consulted the World Health Organization (WHO), as well as a number of countries such as the US, Japan and India, on the plan to declare the Covid-19 epidemic as endemic in 2023. (TTXVN)

South Pacific

* New Zealand studies new partnership with NATO : On June 14, New Zealand Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta said the country is negotiating to establish a new type of partnership with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

NATO is moving all its cooperation agreements to a new model called the Tailored Partnership Programme (ITPP), which New Zealand is currently working on in detail. “Our ITPP will recognise areas of long-term mutual benefit between New Zealand and NATO and other possible opportunities for cooperation,” she said.

New Zealand has been a NATO partner since 2012 but is not a member of the organization. A NATO statement in February said New Zealand and NATO were strengthening cooperation to address common security challenges. (Reuters)

South Asia

* Russia wants to expand relations with Pakistan : On June 13, in a video celebrating the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Moscow and Islamabad, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Russia considers Pakistan an "important international partner in joint efforts to combat common security challenges and threats, including cross-border crime and terrorism."

“We know about the great interest and respect that the Pakistani people have for Russia and President Vladimir Putin. We appreciate that sentiment very much,” he added.

In addition, the diplomat affirmed that Russia is ready to cooperate to further connect with the country and people of Pakistan, strengthening mutually beneficial relations in the fields of politics, security, economy, education, culture, humanitarianism and other fields.

Earlier, the first shipment of discounted Russian crude oil arrived in Karachi on June 11 after the two sides signed an agreement in April. On June 12, Pakistan began shipping the oil to a refinery in Karachi, aiming to support people suffering from soaring inflation. (PTI)

Northeast Asia

* China, Palestine establish strategic partnership : On June 14, during talks in Beijing, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas announced the establishment of a strategic partnership.

The host country's leader pointed out that the two sides have signed a series of bilateral cooperation documents, including an agreement on economic and technological cooperation. In addition, Beijing will promote negotiations on a free trade agreement between the two sides.

In addition, Xi Jinping said that China supports Palestine's membership in the United Nations and will continue to stand by Palestine in multilateral forums. At the same time, Beijing affirmed that it is always ready to seize opportunities to promote friendly relations and cooperation with Palestine in all fields.

On the Palestinian issue, Xi Jinping said the fundamental solution is to establish an independent state on the basis of the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. At the same time, China is willing to play a positive role in helping the Palestinian state gain international recognition and promote peace talks. (Reuters/Xinhua)

* St. Petersburg International Economic Forum opens in Russia : On June 14, the 26th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) opened at the Expoforum exhibition center in the Russian city of the same name. The press reported that more than 17,000 people from about 130 countries and territories have confirmed their participation in SPIEF. The theme of this year's SPIEF is "Sovereign development is the foundation of a fair world: Uniting for future generations".

Delegates from Russia and other countries will discuss the development of the Russian economy under sanctions, the country's technological sovereignty, social policy priorities and global economic issues. In addition, Russia will also hold a number of bilateral business dialogues on relations with China, the United Arab Emirates, India and Brazil. (Xinhua)

* EU restricts funding for Kosovo : “On June 13, EU members supported a series of measures related to Kosovo. We still expect (Kosovo) leader Albin Kurti to take the necessary steps to immediately de-escalate tensions. This package of measures will have financial and political consequences starting with the suspension of high-level visits and contacts, events, as well as our financial cooperation with Kosovo,” EU foreign affairs spokesman Peter Stano said on June 14. (Sputnik)

* Germany: China acts “ against our interests ” : On June 14, Berlin published its first National Security Strategy. The document stated: “China is trying in various ways to reorder the existing rules-based international order, is asserting its regional dominance with ever greater force, and repeatedly acts against our interests and values.” The strategy document also criticized China for putting regional stability and international security “under increasing pressure.”

However, the document acknowledged that the Asian power “remains a partner without which many global challenges and crises will not be resolved.” (AFP)

* Turkey: Army “ neutralizes ” 53 Kurdish soldiers in Syria : On June 14, the country’s Defense Ministry “neutralized” 53 Kurdish soldiers in northern Syria. Accordingly, Turkish forces used ground artillery and drones to retaliate after the Kurdish forces attacked a police station on the Turkish side of the border last weekend. The latest attacks targeted Kurdish hideouts in the Manbij and Tal Rifaat areas. The Turkish Defense Ministry often uses the term “neutralization” to mean the killing or wounding of enemy soldiers.

Turkey has previously launched a military incursion into Syria against the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG). Ankara considers them part of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which Turkey, the United States and the European Union all consider a terrorist organization. The United States has now allied with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), led by the YPG, in the fight against the Islamic State group in Syria, causing a deep rift with Turkey. (Reuters)

* Saudi Arabia sets conditions for normalizing relations with Israel : On June 13, Saudi Arabian Embassy spokesman Fahad Nazer announced that Riyadh will not normalize relations with Israel until a Palestinian state is established. This official also emphasized that Saudi Arabia's stance on Israel-Palestine relations over the years has always been clear and consistent.

The statement comes as the US steps up efforts to broker a peace deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia. Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan has previously said that normalizing relations with Israel would depend on a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (Times of Israel)

* Israeli Prime Minister: The US wants to sign a “ small ” nuclear deal with Iran : On June 13, speaking before the Israeli Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the US is determined to reach an informal agreement to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. According to him, this is a “small agreement” or “memorandum of understanding”, not a formal agreement in writing.

According to several sources, under the agreement negotiated in recent weeks by the US and Iran through Oman, Tehran would limit its nuclear enrichment to 60%. In return, the US would waive sanctions, allowing Iraq to repay more than $10 billion in debt to Iran; South Korea would pay $7 billion for Iranian oil imports. However, both the US and Iran have rejected such a deal. (Times of Israel)

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