Ukraine finalizes plane crash, NATO declares not to provoke Russia, China talks about "unwise" with India

The Russia-Ukraine conflict has become more tense with the crash of a military transport plane, China talks about relations with India, Russia-NATO relations, the 2024 US presidential election... are some of the prominent international events in the past 24 hours.

NATO affirms that the plan to strengthen security on the eastern flank is not intended to provoke conflict with Russia. (Source: Linkedin)

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

Russia-Ukraine

* Russia found debris that appeared to be from a missile at the crash site of an Il-76 military transport plane in Belgorod, TASS reported, citing a source from the Russian emergency services on January 25.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stressed that the downing of the plane was a "heinous act" and discussions on a prisoner exchange must be kept secret.

Meanwhile, Interfax quoted Russian State Duma (lower house) member Andrei Kartapolov, also a retired general, saying that Russia and Ukraine will continue to exchange prisoners despite the downing of a Russian military plane.

Russia has previously accused the Ukrainian military of shooting down the Il-76, but Kiev has cast doubt on key details of Moscow's story and has yet to confirm that Ukrainian prisoners of war were on board the ill-fated plane.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has requested an urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) at 3:00 p.m. on January 24, Eastern time (3:00 a.m. on January 25, Vietnam time).

* Ukraine calls for international investigation into the downing of a Russian military plane: On January 25, RBC-Ukraine news agency reported that President Volodymyr Zelensky has canceled his visit to many regions until the “circumstances of the downing of the Russian plane” are clarified.

“The Main Intelligence Directorate is clarifying the fate of all those detained. The security services are investigating all relevant circumstances. I have instructed Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba to provide our partners with the information we have. Ukraine strongly requests an international investigation,” Zelensky wrote on his Telegram page.

Ukrainian ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets also said that Kiev would do everything possible to ensure an international investigation into the downing of the Russian military transport plane, and sent letters to the UN and the International Committee of the Red Cross calling for an investigation.

In addition, Mr. Lubinets said he did not see any signs that there were such a large number of people on the plane. (Reuters, Sputnik)

* Ukraine builds 3-level defense line: On January 24, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Shmygal announced a plan to build a 3-level defense line with the support of Slovakia, to ensure effectiveness in all directions, allowing both to contain the enemy and attack.

To implement the plan, Slovakia will supply Ukraine with armored excavators and mine detectors. The Ukrainian government has agreed to spend tens of billions of hryvnia on the defense project.

Slovakia's prime minister, who had opposed arms supplies to Ukraine, has now pledged not to block arms sales and to support an EU aid program for Ukraine.

* EU has no plan B in aid policy for Ukraine: Belgian Finance Minister Vincent Van Peteghem affirmed that the European Union (EU) does not have any plan B in case the decision to provide 50 billion Euros in aid to Ukraine is blocked by Hungary at the bloc's Summit next week.

In an interview with Bloomberg news agency, Mr. Peterghem said that the best solution for the EU would be to "agree an agreement with all 27 member countries, including Hungary".

He expressed confidence that EU leaders could make a decision at the Summit on February 1.

Middle East

* China does not provide weapons for the conflict in Gaza , according to the country's Defense Ministry spokesman Wu Qian on January 25.

Speaking at a regular press conference, Mr. Ngo Khiem stated: "China always adopts a cautious and responsible attitude in exporting weapons." (Reuters)

* Qatar has sent a new ceasefire draft to Israel and Hamas , proposing that Hamas release all hostages being held in the Gaza Strip, in exchange for Israel releasing a number of Palestinian prisoners.

The document also calls for increased humanitarian aid to the Palestinian territories. (Reuters)

* Italy supports a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine issue , the Times of Israel reported on January 24, noting that European Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed disagreement with her Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu's opposition to a two-state solution.

Speaking in the Italian House of Representatives, Ms. Meloni stated: "Italy has always reiterated that the Palestinian people have the right to a state, an independent and secure state. It is a just and necessary solution, in the interests of the Palestinians as well as of Israel. For this reason, I do not agree with the position of the Israeli Prime Minister."

However, the Italian Prime Minister also emphasized: "It is impossible to demand recognition unilaterally. The prerequisite is the recognition of the right to exist of the state of Israel and the right of its citizens to live in peace and security."

* Houthi admitted to attacking US ships in the Gulf of Aden and the Bab al-Mandab Strait on January 24 "in support of the Palestinian people" and in response to the US-UK attack on Yemen.

A Houthi spokesman said the Houthi missile "hit" a US warship that was protecting two US cargo ships and forced the two commercial ships to "withdraw from the Red Sea". (THX)

Europe

* Sweden wants to discuss NATO membership with Hungary: On January 25, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristesson proposed to meet his Hungarian counterpart Viktor Oeeban in Brussels (Belgium) next week to discuss Stockholm's application to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and bilateral issues.

Meanwhile, on the same day, news site index.hu reported that Hungarian Parliament Speaker László Kövér said there was no urgency in approving Sweden's NATO membership after Turkey's ratification. (Reuters)

* NATO does not seek conflict with Russia: US Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Celeste Wallander said that NATO will pursue the goal of enhancing security in the Black Sea region without falling into direct confrontation with Russia.

In July 2023, at the NATO Summit in Vilnius (Lithuania), the leaders of this military alliance approved a plan to deploy 300,000 troops on NATO's eastern flank, along with major support from the navy and air force.

Commenting on the plan, Ms. Wallander affirmed: “It is a defensive capability… aimed at demonstrating that NATO can and will defend itself… The goal is not to provoke conflict with Russia."

According to the US official, the goal of the plan is to make it clear that the Russian leadership "should have no illusions that NATO is not united, not capable, not determined and not capable of defending itself." (TASS)

* Hackers attack several Ukrainian state agencies: On January 25, Ukrainian state energy company Naftogaz said that one of its data centers was attacked through a "large-scale cyber attack", causing websites and switchboards to be inoperable.

The Ukrainian national postal service Ukrposhta also reported a "serious technical failure" in its IT system. Specialists are working to fix the problem and restore full operations.

Meanwhile, the Ukrtransbezpeka traffic safety agency, which maintains the border crossing system for Ukrainian drivers, also reported an incident at its data center. (Reuters)

* Russia successfully manufactured a UAV that can automatically return when losing signal: Engineers at Russia's MiS design bureau have launched an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) capable of automatically returning to its starting point when the control signal is completely lost due to the impact of electronic warfare equipment.

This UAV is equipped with the Russian-made Povodyr system to return the vehicle to its starting point when it no longer receives a control signal thanks to the principle of inertial navigation without the need for a GPS navigation system. (Sputnik)

* Ecuador hands over Russian-made military equipment to the US: On January 24, the Ecuadorian government announced that the country will hand over Russian-made military equipment to the US in order to receive new equipment and components from Washington with the aim of strengthening the fight against the current widespread violence.

Ecuadorian media cited government figures showing that these could be six DM-21 missile launchers, six RM-70 missile launchers, 34 ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft guns purchased from Nicaragua in 1994, along with six Mi-171 helicopters that have been decommissioned since 2021.

The Russian Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation immediately stated that Ecuador's actions violated international law, violated Article 4 of the Agreement on Military and Technical Cooperation signed by the two governments in November 2008, and harmed bilateral relations. (TASS)

Asia

* China-India border tensions are a historical issue: On January 25, Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Wu Qian said that the India-China border tensions are "a problem left over from history, not the entire bilateral relationship."

Mr. Ngo Khiem commented: "It is unwise and inappropriate for the Indian side to insist on linking the border situation with bilateral relations."

Earlier, a senior Indian official said New Delhi could ease its scrutiny of Chinese investments if the two countries' border remained peaceful, the first sign that four-year-old restrictions could be lifted. (Reuters)

* German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier visited Thailand and held talks with host country Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin on January 25, discussing issues related to investment, energy, security and climate change, economy and tourism, especially cooperation in the field of sustainable development.

Germany has pledged to help Thailand implement carbon emission reduction projects to help the country achieve its net zero emissions target soon.

For his part, Prime Minister Srettha hopes that Germany will support the exemption of Thai citizens from having to apply for a Schengen visa. (Bangkok Post)

* China warned the US to stop all dangerous actions, after Washington announced on January 24 that the destroyer USS John Finn had passed through a corridor in the Taiwan Strait "beyond the territorial waters of any coastal state".

Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Wu Qian said on January 25 that US warships and aircraft were causing trouble and provocations right at China's doorstep, conducting large-scale, high-frequency activities in the waters and airspace surrounding China. (Reuters)

* North Korea announced the test-fire of a new strategic cruise missile named Pulhwasal-3-31 on January 24, as part of "regular and compulsory" activities to develop powerful weapons systems.

Pyongyang said the missile launch did not pose any threat to the safety of North Korea's neighboring countries and had nothing to do with regional security.

After the launch, Washington reiterated its security commitment to South Korea and Japan as well as to maintaining regional peace and stability, saying it was monitoring North Korea's activities. (Yonhap)

America

* The UAW union officially endorses US President Joe Biden in the 2024 US election. This is a highly anticipated important endorsement for the incumbent White House leader.

According to CBS News , the UAW's supportive stance — a union with 400,000 members — is crucial for President Biden, who has consistently supported the American working class.

He is the Democratic politician who became the first president in modern history to join in supporting striking workers near Detroit, Michigan in September 2023, an action that UAW President Shawn Fain declared to union members that Mr. Biden was the champion of the union.

* Ecuador rejects Venezuela's offer of security assistance to prevent further violence in Ecuador.

Earlier, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro offered to assist Ecuador in its fight against drugs and criminal gangs.

Speaking to the media, Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboaa thanked Mr. Maduro for his offer, but said that the two governments did not have much in common in dealing with the crisis.

Africa

* India believes in Africa's growth, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on January 24, hailing the continent's rising aspirational trajectory.

Mr. Jaishankar said that Africa is rising and has the potential for growth. This will happen in a very short time.

According to the diplomat, for India, the world's multipolarity will not be complete until Africa takes its rightful place.

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