Reasons for Ukraine's stay in Bakhmut; Russia's troop and ballistic missile buildup; China's unhappy signals

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks to AP reporters on a train traveling through parts of the Eastern European country, from Sunny to Kiev, on March 28. (Source: AP)

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

Russia-Ukraine

* Ukrainian President gives reasons for staying in Bakhmut: In an interview with AP published on March 29, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that if the Armed Forces of Ukraine (VSU) withdraw from the city of Bakhmut, he will be pressured to compromise with Russia.

According to President Zelensky, if Ukraine loses control of Bakhmut, Russian President Vladimir Putin "will sell this victory to the West, to his society, to China, to Iran".

Any failure at this point could jeopardize Ukraine's "resilient fighting spirit," the leader warned.

According to him, in case of failure in Bakhmut, the Ukrainian authorities will face pressure - both from the international community and domestically - towards compromise.

In addition, the head of the Eastern European country also expressed his concern that the conflict could be affected by the change of political forces in Washington, stating : "America understands that if they stop helping us, we will not be able to win."

Also in the interview, Mr. Zelensky invited Chinese President Xi Jinping to visit Kiev, affirming that Ukraine " is ready to meet him here".

Answering a question about how the conflict will end, the Ukrainian President expressed confidence that his country will win thanks to a series of “small victories” and “small steps”.

* Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi visited Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, currently controlled by Russian forces, on March 29.

TASS news agency quoted an official from the Rosenergoatom Nuclear Power Plants Operating Company (Russia) as saying that Mr. Grossi and his delegation are expected to leave the Zaporizhzhia plant in the afternoon of the same day.

This is Mr Grossi's second visit to the Zaporizhzhia plant since Russia launched its military operation in Ukraine in February last year and he plans to "directly assess the nuclear safety and security situation at the facility". (AFP)

* Ukraine has created its first three attack drone companies , according to the country's media. The UAV companies have undergone training and received the necessary equipment.

The UAVs are made in Ukraine, but it is not clear what type. In addition, the companies are equipped with pickup trucks to transport equipment. They will soon be sent to the front lines.

The “UAV Army” project that Ukraine is implementing is expected to create a total of 60 UAV companies. The project has been in existence for 9 months, during which time more than 3,200 UAVs of various types have been transferred to the VSU. (Top War)

Russia-US

* US retaliates against Russia, Moscow remains steadfast in suspending New START treaty: On March 28, the US announced that it would not exchange data on nuclear forces with Russia in response to Moscow's suspension of participation in the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START).

The US also affirmed that if Russia returns, Washington will share some data on nuclear forces with Moscow.

In response to the US move, on March 29, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov announced that Moscow will not change its stance on suspending participation in New START.

Meanwhile, Secretary of the Russian Security Council Nikolai Patrushev affirmed that the country is committed to preventing nuclear war and military confrontation between countries possessing nuclear weapons. (Reuters, TASS)

* The US is concerned about the possibility of Russia sending nuclear weapons to Belarus , according to US President Joe Biden on March 28.

Speaking to reporters at the White House, Mr. Biden said: “Russia hasn’t done that yet… but it’s still concerning.”

Earlier the same day, US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said: "We are monitoring this very actively. We have not seen Mr. Putin make any moves to do what he pledged to do."

In addition, the US also affirmed that there have been no signs that Moscow is moving closer to using tactical nuclear weapons in the conflict with Ukraine. (Reuters)

* Russia says US wants to avoid blame over Nord Stream pipeline explosion: On March 27, after failing to convince the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to open an independent investigation into the September explosions that ruptured the Nord Stream pipeline, Russian officials reacted sharply.

In a statement posted on the messaging app Telegram , the Russian Embassy in the US said Washington was doing "everything possible" to prevent "impartial attempts" to fabricate the circumstances surrounding the explosion.

"We consider this a clear attempt... to discredit information from reputable journalists to the detriment of the United States about the possible direct involvement of US intelligence agencies," the Russian-language statement said. (Reuters)

Europe

* Russia mobilizes troops and intercontinental ballistic missiles for drills: On March 29, the Russian Defense Ministry announced that the country's Strategic Missile Forces had begun a planned drill with the participation of Yars mobile nuclear intercontinental ballistic missile systems.

On Telegram , the ministry said: "A total of more than 3,000 servicemen and about 300 pieces of equipment were mobilized to participate in this exercise."

The Yars intercontinental ballistic missile has a range of 12,000 km and can carry multiple nuclear warheads. (Reuters)

* Russia's fight against the enemy will be long , Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said when asked how long Moscow's special military operation in Ukraine would last.

"If you are talking about a conflict in a broader context, a confrontation with hostile countries, a hybrid war against our country, then it will last for a long time. And here we need to be resolute, confident and join forces with the president," Peskov added. (Reuters)

* Hungary gives reasons for not yet approving Sweden's NATO membership: On March 29, a Hungarian government spokesman said that Sweden's accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) faces challenges as Budapest is upset about Stockholm's criticism.

The official also said that narrowing the gap would require significant efforts from both sides.

After months of delay, on March 27, the Hungarian Parliament passed a bill allowing Finland to join NATO but has not yet "touched" the bill on Sweden joining this military alliance. (Reuters)

* Thirteen European Union (EU) countries signed a joint statement calling for a "favorable financial and industrial framework for nuclear projects", promoting "research and innovation especially for small modular reactors and advanced modular reactors".

The joint statement was issued by France, the head of the nuclear alliance, at the end of a meeting with the European Commission.

The countries that signed the declaration include Bulgaria, Croatia, Finland, France, Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia, Italy, Belgium and the Netherlands. (ANSA)

* Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian arrived in Moscow late on March 28, beginning an official visit to Russia.

According to Mr. Amir-Abdollahian, one of the issues that will be raised in his discussions with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov will be the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on Iran's nuclear program (JCPOA).

The Iranian Foreign Ministry statement said the two sides will discuss various aspects of bilateral relations, as well as a number of issues on the regional and international agenda of mutual interest. (TASS)

Asia

* Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen prepares to visit the US and Central America: Before leaving Taiwan on March 29, Tsai Ing-wen declared that external pressure would not deter her determination to go out into the world, affirming: "We are calm and confident, will not give in and will not provoke."

In response to this move, Mainland China's Taiwan Affairs Office urged Washington not to allow Ms. Tsai Ing-wen to transit in the US and not to have any official contact with her.

China stated that if Ms. Tsai Ing-wen contacts US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy during her stay in the US, it will continue to be a serious violation of the "one China" principle, harm China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and undermine peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.

China affirmed that it will firmly oppose this and will definitely have decisive countermeasures.

On the US side, an anonymous senior official said that China should not "overreact" and that Beijing would not be able to pressure Washington to "change our long-standing practice of such visits". (Reuters, AFP)

* The risk of conflict escalating along the India-China border amid deteriorating Washington-Beijing relations, Indian Army Chief Manoj Pande warned on March 28.

General Pande said that territorial disputes and border violations "remain potential causes of escalation" and that India-China relations "are affected by great power competition, currently taking place between China and the US".

India and the US, along with Japan and Australia, are members of the Quad (QUAD) grouping seen as a counterweight to China in the Indo-Pacific. (SCMP)

* Palestine calls on Israel to stop escalating tensions: On March 28, according to Nabil Abu Rudeineh, spokesman for the Palestinian Presidential Palace, Israel's measures and actions against Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem "will not lead to any tranquility or stability".

According to Mr. Rudeineh, the daily visits of far-right Israelis to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem "are a challenge that must be condemned and not accepted."

Earlier, Palestinian witnesses said dozens of Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian homes, vehicles and ambulances, setting fire to a truck under Israeli military protection.

Mr. Rudeineh called on Israel to stop taking such escalatory steps, as this does not help lead to peace or stability. (THX)

* Israel dialogue on judicial reform: On March 29, Israeli President Isaac Herzog began a dialogue with leaders of opposition parties regarding the controversial judicial reform plan.

The parties that will hold separate talks with Mr Herzog include Ra'am, Labour and Hadash-Ta'al, at the Presidential Palace in Jerusalem.

On the evening of March 28, as a mediator, Mr. Herzog initiated the first round of negotiations between representatives of the ruling coalition and the opposition in the Israeli parliament, aiming to settle disagreements related to the judicial reform plan that has caused turmoil in Israel since the beginning of the year.

* Israel successfully launched the Ofek-13 spy satellite into space early on the morning of March 29, according to the country's Ministry of Defense. The satellite was launched by a Shavit rocket from the Palmachim airbase and spaceport at 2:10 a.m. on March 29 (local time, 6:10 a.m. Vietnam time).

The surveillance satellite, built by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), incorporates synthetic aperture radars with advanced features and will provide the country's military with images of much higher resolution than previous satellites. (Times of Israel )

* The Security Council condemned the terrorist attacks in Afghanistan that repeatedly targeted civilians, reaffirming that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations is one of the most serious threats to peace and security in Afghanistan as well as in the world.

Stressing the need to hold accountable the perpetrators, organizers and financiers of these reprehensible terrorist acts and bring them to justice, the Security Council reiterated that any act of terrorism is criminal and unjustifiable.

Council members also reaffirmed the need for all countries to do everything possible to combat "threats to international peace and security caused by acts of terrorism." (THX)

* Saudi Arabia's cabinet approved its entry into the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) on March 28, as Riyadh builds a long-term partnership with China.

Specifically, Saudi Arabia has approved a document granting the country dialogue partner status in the SCO, the first step before Saudi Arabia is granted full membership in the medium term. (Reuters)

America

* The United States will continue to respond to North Korea's nuclear threats by strengthening its defense capabilities, according to US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby on March 28.

Speaking at an online press conference, Mr. Kirby stated: "We know very well that North Korean Chairman Kim Jong-un continues to order missile launches, continues to try to improve the capabilities of his ballistic missile program, and continues to pursue nuclear ambitions."

Noting that Pyongyang continues to ignore Washington's offers for dialogue, Kirby said: "The United States has not changed its desire to sit down and negotiate unconditionally with North Korea to find a diplomatic path toward verifiable denuclearization of the peninsula." (Yonhap)

* Washington is not withdrawing troops from Syria, despite recent attacks on US troops, i24NEWS news agency quoted Mr. Kirby as saying.

A spokesman for the US National Security Council clearly stated: "There is no change in the issue of Washington's presence in Syria, despite what has happened in recent days. We will not be deterred by attacks by these militia groups."

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