Ukraine military headquarters attacked, China reminds US to "never touch it", has Israel made a decision?

Ukraine has just suffered a new attack, US-China relations, Israel decided to respond to Iran, South Korea conducted live-fire exercises near the North Korean border, Australia announced its national defense strategy... are some of the outstanding international events in the past 24 hours.

A damaged building after a missile attack in the Ukrainian city of Chernihiv on the morning of April 17. (Source: Reuters)

Russia-Ukraine

* The possibility of a Ukrainian general being killed in a missile attack on the morning of April 17, following a series of airstrike warnings in Kiev, Chernihiv, Odessa, Nikolaev, Poltava and other regions of Ukraine, according to the Telegram channel “ Military Observer”.

Local media reported that three air-launched missiles targeted the headquarters of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (VSU) located in the Profsoyuznaya Hotel in Chernihiv. According to local residents, the building was significantly damaged and a large number of ambulances were at the scene.

According to preliminary information, the attack occurred at the time of a meeting of the leadership of the VSU's "Northern" group of troops with the participation of Lieutenant General Dmitry Krasilnikov, who has commanded this group since 2023.

Following the attack, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on Western partners to show enough determination and support Kiev with air defense equipment. (Reuters)

* China-Germany support peace conference: On April 16, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that during his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, the two sides agreed to support a high-level peace conference on Ukraine in Switzerland in June and future international peace conferences.

On Beijing's side, on April 17, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said that the relevant meeting about this conference is still being prepared and "there is still a lot of work to be done", while emphasizing that the only way to resolve the Ukraine crisis "lies on the negotiating table". (AFP)

* Norway will deliver F-16s equipped with the latest weapons to Ukraine , according to a plan announced by Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide on April 16.

Although the exact number of F-16s to be delivered has not yet been determined, Minister Eide noted that the figure is “very significant.” (The New Voice of Ukraine)

US-China

* The US and Chinese defense ministers held a phone call on April 16 to discuss defense relations between the two countries as well as regional and global security issues.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin mentioned the importance of continuing to maintain military lines of communication between the two countries and affirmed that Washington will continue to operate its ships and aircraft “safely and responsibly wherever international law allows.”

He also emphasized the respect for freedom of navigation at sea guaranteed by international law, especially in the East Sea, while mentioning the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the North Korean issue.

In addition, the United States remains committed to its long-standing One China policy, while reaffirming the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

As for Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun, he noted that Beijing and Washington need to find ways to build a cooperative, substantive relationship between the two countries' militaries and "gradually build mutual trust."

He also affirmed that the Taiwan issue is "central to China's core interests" and must never be touched. (Reuters)

Europe

* Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban called on European Union (EU) leaders to resign , saying that EU leaders have failed in all the major projects they themselves chose, citing green transition policies, sanctions and migration...

Earlier, Mr Orban criticized the EU's new migration pact, declaring that the Hungarian government would not support its adoption. (Report)

* France-Azerbaijan tension: On April 16, French President Emmanuel Macron recalled the French Ambassador to Azerbaijan for consultations regarding Paris' accusation that Baku had taken unilateral actions that damaged relations between the two sides in recent months.

“France reiterates its support for the normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, while respecting international law and the territorial integrity of both countries,” the ministry stressed.

Responding to the accusations, Azerbaijan accused France of pressuring and threatening the country but said it would "not bring any results", and declared that Baku would take all necessary measures to protect its interests.

Baku also accused Paris of taking actions to hinder efforts to normalize relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, a traditional ally of France. (AFP)

* Russia retaliates against Estonia, Australia: On April 17, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced that the country had expelled an Estonian Embassy official working in Moscow in response to a similar move by Tallinn.

The ministry also announced that the country had indefinitely banned entry to 235 Australian city councillors over what Moscow called an "anti-Russian agenda". (Reuters)

* Croatia began parliamentary elections on April 17, after a fierce campaign between Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic and President Zoran Milanovic.

For months, Mr Plenkovic and his ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) appeared poised for an easy victory to secure his third term as prime minister.

However, in mid-March this year, Mr. Milanovic made a shocking announcement that he would challenge Mr. Plenkovic and become the Prime Minister candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP). (AFP)

Asia-Pacific

* Australia released its first national defence strategy on April 17, giving a bleak assessment of the security situation in the Pacific region and setting out a major increase in defence spending to re-equip the national military to meet the challenges.

Under the Strategy, Australia will focus on plans to develop a fleet of stealthy nuclear-powered submarines, triple its key missile capabilities and develop a large surface combatant fleet. (AFP)

* Australia and South Korea agreed to cooperate closely on the Indo-Pacific strategy, according to the results of talks between South Korean special envoy Chung Kee-yong and Deputy Secretary of the Strategic Planning and Coordination Group at the Australian Foreign Ministry Elly Lawson.

The two sides agreed to cooperate as partners with similar core values, while sharing the need for "strategic communication" and "institutionalization of cooperation." (Yonhap)

* South Korea conducted a live-fire drill near the border with North Korea to improve the joint combat capabilities of the Army and Marine Corps to more effectively deal with threats, the South Korean Army said on April 17.

About 430 soldiers from the Capital Corps and the 2nd Marine Division took part in the drill held at a firing range in Cherwon, 85 kilometers northeast of Seoul.

The exercise involved 30 units of K9 and K55A1 self-propelled artillery, as well as counter-battery radars and reconnaissance drones. (Yonhap)

* New Zealand and Thailand will upgrade their relationship to a strategic partnership by 2026, according to the results of a meeting between New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart Srettha Thavisin in Bangkok on April 17.

According to the Prime Minister of New Zealand, his country and Thailand have much to discuss with each other and have a strong shared desire to build a warm, lasting bilateral relationship.

The two leaders also discussed opportunities to strengthen ties in the areas of defense, security, education, people-to-people and economic exchanges. (AP)

* Solomon Islands election: Solomon Islands voters head to the polls on April 17 in an election that could reshape regional security, with voters deciding whether their Pacific nation will deepen ties with China.

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has pledged to further strengthen ties with Beijing if he is re-elected, while his main rivals want to reduce China's growing influence in the archipelago. (AFP)

Middle East-Africa

* Israel decides to respond to Iran's attack: On April 16, Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Herzi Halevi revealed that the IDF has decided how they will counterattack Iran and its proxy forces, but has not yet decided on the timing of the action.

Israel is making it possible for its people to enjoy the full week of Passover after Ramadan. Preparations for the response plan are extremely complex and will require many adjustments, so no date can be set.

On April 17, British Foreign Secretary David Cameron confirmed that "it is clear that Israel is making a decision to act", and hoped that retaliation would take place in the "least escalatory way possible". (The Guardian, AFP)

* The US and UK conducted two airstrikes on the city of Hodeidah (Yemen), specifically in Bajil district in the east of the city.

Locals confirmed on social media platforms that they heard the sound of warplanes and saw explosions near Houthi military positions. (Al-Masirah)

* UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for restraint in hostilities in the Middle East, amid worrying escalation of tensions between Israel and Iran.

The call was made during a phone call with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian on April 16.

Previously, at an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council on April 14, Mr. Guterres also warned that “the Middle East is on the brink of collapse” and now is the time for all parties to take a step back. (UN News)

* US-EU consider sanctions against Iran: On April 16, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said that the bloc will consider tougher measures against Iran's supply of weapons, including drones, to Russia and proxy forces in the Middle East.

According to him, some members proposed to apply expanded restrictive measures against Iran and he asked his subordinates to "start the necessary work related to sanctions".

Meanwhile, the US announced it would also impose new sanctions on Iran's missile and drone programs. (AFP)

America

* A US P-8A Poseidon aircraft flew over the Taiwan Strait in international airspace on April 17, according to a US Navy statement.

"The P-8A Poseidon's transit through the Taiwan Strait demonstrates Washington's commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific region," the force said. (Reuters)

* Several Latin American countries are considering scaling back relations with Ecuador after authorities raided the Mexican Embassy in Quito and arrested Former Vice President of Ecuador Jorge Glas on April 5.

On April 16, the Honduran government announced the recall of its Charge d'Affaires in Ecuador to conduct consultations to send a message about "the need to respect international law."

Venezuela also announced on the same day that it plans to close its Embassy and Consulate in Ecuador and recall all diplomatic staff at these representative offices until Quito reverses the actions it has taken.

* Mexico asks CELAC to file a complaint against Ecuador to the ICJ: On April 16, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador called on member countries of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) to jointly file a complaint against Ecuador to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over the April 5 raid.

Mr. López Obrador reaffirmed that the purpose of the lawsuit is to suspend Ecuador's membership in the United Nations, unless Quito makes a public apology and commits not to repeat the same attack.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/tin-the-gioi-174-so-chi-huy-quan-doi-ukraine-bi-tan-cong-trung-quoc-nhac-my-thu-dung-bao-gio-dung-den-israel-da-ra-quyet-dinh-268193.html