Russia-Ukraine dispute over Kakhovka dam; Beijing criticizes AUKUS

ASEAN reaffirms its stance on US-China relations, Chinese warships arrive in the Philippines, and new developments regarding Sudan… these are some of the notable international news stories from the past 24 hours.

Russia claims to have repelled Ukrainian attacks in Zaporizhzhia. (Source: Reuters)

The World & Vietnam newspaper highlights some of the day's most prominent international news.

Russia-Ukraine

* Kakhovka Dam Collapse : Russia and Ukraine Blame Each Other: On June 9, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov accused the Ukrainian army of killing victims of the Kakhovka dam collapse with artillery fire. Among the victims was a pregnant woman. He condemned the targeted attacks as "barbaric." Ukraine has not yet commented on this statement.

In related news, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin asserted that the water reserves of the Crimean Peninsula were not affected by the Kakhovka dam collapse. According to him, the region's reservoirs are full and have enough water to last for 500 days.

For its part, also on June 9th, the Ukrainian Internal Security Service posted a 1.5-minute audio recording on Telegram , allegedly discussing Russia's bombing of the Kakhovka hydroelectric plant and dam. Meanwhile, writing on Telegram the same day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated: “For hundreds of thousands of people in many towns and villages, access to drinking water has been severely restricted. In more than 40 settlements, life has been devastated.”

* More countries speak out about the Kakhovka dam collapse: On June 8, the Swiss Foreign Ministry announced that its ambassador to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) had requested protection for people affected by the Kakhovka dam collapse in Ukraine.

The statement asserted: “Systematic attacks on civilian infrastructure are unacceptable and violate international humanitarian law. They must stop immediately.”

For his part, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said that in a conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Prime Minister Kishida Fumio affirmed Tokyo's readiness to provide emergency humanitarian aid following the Kakhovka dam collapse. Matsuno also stated that Japan's aid package is worth approximately $5 million and will be distributed through international organizations.

Another Northeast Asian country, North Korea , has also commented on the incident. In a KCNA article, O Song Jin, an expert at North Korea's Institute of International Studies, described the dam collapse as the second instance of a Nord Stream pipeline explosion orchestrated by the US and Ukraine to shift blame for the humanitarian disaster onto Russia and create a favorable political and military environment for a "Ukrainian counter-offensive." (AFP/Reuters/VNA/Yonhap)

* Ukraine announces shooting down multiple missiles and UAVs : On June 9, the Ukrainian Air Force issued a statement saying that its military had shot down 4 cruise missiles and 10 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) during a nighttime Russian airstrike. The statement said Russian forces launched 16 UAVs and 6 cruise missiles, with two cruise missiles falling onto a civilian facility in central Ukraine in an earlier attack on the evening of June 7.

On the same day, the Russian newspaper Izvestia , citing informed sources, revealed the VSU's counterattack plan. According to the report, Kyiv intends to attack from three directions and approach the Tokmok area. These forces will attempt to break through Russia's first line of defense and attack the strategic port city of Berdyansk in Zaporizhzhia province, and possibly Mariupol.

The source said: “The situation remains difficult; although the enemy has suffered losses, they still have sufficient forces and resources to continue the offensive. The VSU is actively probing the defensive forces and looking for opportunities.” (Reuters)

* Russia and Ukraine accuse each other of attacking Zaporizhzhia : On June 9, the Russian Ministry of Defense stated that Moscow's forces continued to repel attacks by Kyiv in the Zaporizhzhia province of southern Ukraine. In a separate statement, the Russian Ministry of Defense claimed to have conducted a long-range strike on a depot of "foreign-made ammunition and weapons" last night.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian President's office accused Russia of shelling a hospital in Zaporizhzhia, killing two people. (Reuters)

* Belgium continues to supply weapons to Ukraine : On June 9, in an interview with the newspaper Le Soir , Belgian Defense Minister Ludivine Dedonder stated: "Belgium will not suspend military aid to Kyiv while awaiting a response from Ukraine."

Earlier, Brussels gave Kyiv a deadline of June 15 to address concerns about the use of Belgian weapons in the attack in Belgorod. According to Mr. Dedonder, “every shipment of weapons was accompanied by documentation stating that they were only permitted for use in defending Ukrainian territory, not for attacking other countries; this documentation also emphasized that human rights and international rules must be respected.” Minister Dedonder also noted that Belgium has now supplied Ukraine with weapons worth 274 million euros. (TASS)

Russia-China

* Russia strengthens military cooperation with China : TASS (Russia) reported on June 9th that the Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, General Valery Gerasimov, affirmed that Moscow and Beijing will continue to expand bilateral military cooperation.

General Gerasimov invited his Chinese counterpart to visit Russia. He stated: "Joint combat training between the armed forces of Russia and China remains an important area of ​​activity." (TASS)

Southeast Asia

* ASEAN affirms its stance on US-China relations : On June 7, speaking to Indonesian media, ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn said: “In ASEAN, we work with all partners. The US and China are both important dialogue partners. Both are very important markets and sources of investment for ASEAN. We value our policy of continuing close cooperation with both countries.”

He shared: “Both countries are participating in all ASEAN-led mechanisms. We do not want to see any tensions escalate. We hope to see tensions reduced and open communication between major powers.” (VNA)

* Chinese warship sets sail for the Philippines : On June 9th, China's largest naval training ship, named Qi Jiguang , set sail for the Philippines – the final stop on its "friendly" voyage in the region.

The ship departed Brunei on June 8th for the Philippines as part of a voyage of approximately 40 days, including prior stops in Vietnam and Thailand before visiting Brunei. At the end of the trip, Qi Jiguang and his crew of 476 naval students and officers will travel through the Yellow Sea, East China Sea, South China Sea, Gulf of Thailand, and the Western Pacific. (Reuters)

Northeast Asia

* Chinese President calls for strengthened border protection : On June 9th, President Xi Jinping made a fact-finding visit to inspect border management, control, and the development of border guard forces in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, northern China.

The leader urged Chinese border guards to continue strengthening their capabilities to protect and control the border region, building a "great steel wall" along the country's border. (Xinhua)

* China criticizes AUKUS agreement : On June 8, speaking at a meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) board, China's Permanent Representative Li Song criticized the Australia-UK-US security agreement (AUKUS).

He argued that the essence of the agreement was the transfer of tons of weapons-grade enriched uranium from the United States and the United Kingdom, both nuclear-armed nations, to their military ally Australia, a non-nuclear country.

He also noted that AUKUS had engaged in strategic military cooperation for “widely known geopolitical purposes,” unprecedentedly violating the principles and practices of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and severely undermining the international nuclear non-proliferation regime and the IAEA's safeguards.

The meeting marked the eighth consecutive time the IAEA considered the AUKUS through intergovernmental discussions at the suggestion of China. The Chinese side noted that the AUKUS submarine agreement and the three countries' efforts to politicize the issue at the IAEA... reflect a Cold War mentality and confrontational blocs. (Xinhua)

* South Korea protests Chinese Ambassador's statement : On June 9, the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Chinese Ambassador Xing Haiming to protest. South Korean First Vice Foreign Minister Cho Hyun Dong stated that the Beijing official's remarks interfered in Seoul's internal affairs.

Earlier, on the evening of June 8th, speaking at a meeting with Lee Jae Myung, chairman of South Korea's main opposition party, Hsing Hai-ming warned that Seoul was "making the wrong bet" in the US-China competition. He urged South Korea to stop "decoupling" from China and restore economic and diplomatic relations.

In addition, Ambassador Xing Haiming also called on Seoul to support Beijing's "One China" principle, while stating that China-North Korea relations have recently faced "external challenges." (Reuters/Yonhap)

Europe

* Russia to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus in early July: On June 9, during talks in Sochi, Krasnodar region, with his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko, President Vladimir Putin stated that Moscow would begin deploying tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus once everything is ready by July 7-8.

Earlier, the two leaders had agreed on a plan to deploy Russian land-based short-range nuclear missiles in Belarus, which is under Moscow's command. (Reuters)

* Russia: No basis for extending Black Sea Grain Initiative : On June 9, Russian Ambassador to Turkey Alexei Yerkhov said Moscow continues consultations with the UN on the Black Sea Grain Initiative, but there is no basis for extending the agreement. The initiative, brokered by Turkey and the UN in July 2022, allows Ukraine to resume grain exports from ports in the south of the country. The agreement will expire next July if Russia refuses to extend it. (Reuters)

* Iceland to suspend embassy operations in Russia : On June 9, the Icelandic Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced it would suspend the operations of its embassy in Russia from August 1, and also requested Moscow to restrict activities in the capital Reykjavik.

Foreign Minister Thordis Gylfadottir stated: “The current situation simply does not allow Iceland’s small diplomatic mission to operate an embassy in Russia.” Iceland is the first country to take such action. (AFP)

America

* Honduran President visits China : On June 9th, Chinese state media reported that Honduran President Xiomara Castro arrived in Shanghai that morning. She is expected to visit China until June 14th.

Earlier, on June 5th, China officially inaugurated its embassy in the Republic of Honduras, following the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries on March 26th. For its part, Honduras also indicated in May that the two sides would soon begin discussions on a bilateral trade agreement.

President Xiomara Castro's government is also seeking agreements with China to gradually address Honduras's public debt burden. (Reuters)

Middle East-Africa

* Saudi Arabia announces new ceasefire in Sudan : On June 9, the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that warring factions in Sudan had agreed to a nationwide ceasefire for 24 hours, starting at 6:00 AM local time on June 10 (11:00 AM same day in Vietnam).

The previous day, the Saudi Arabian Foreign Ministry denounced acts of vandalism against the premises and property of its embassy staff in Sudan. Riyadh also expressed its complete opposition to all forms of violence and vandalism targeting diplomatic missions and offices. Furthermore, Saudi Arabia reaffirmed the importance of confronting armed groups seeking to undermine Sudan's security and stability, as well as the lives of its people.

* Sudan : UN Envoy Declared " Person of Abuse " : On June 9, the Sudanese Foreign Ministry announced: "The Government of the Republic of Sudan today informed the UN Secretary-General that Sudan declares Volker Perthes... a person of abuse of power." Notably, this move comes just weeks after Army Commander General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan accused Special Envoy Perthes of instigating conflict in Sudan and demanded his dismissal. (AFP)

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/tin-the-gioi-96-nga-ukraine-tranh-cai-ve-dap-kakhovka-bac-kinh-chi-trich-aukus-230396.html