Russian intelligence accuses Ukraine of direct involvement in Crocus terrorist attack, Iran releases first report on plane crash

What did the CIA Director discuss in Paris? Japan and the US held a 2+2 dialogue, Armenia returned four border villages to Azerbaijan, and Russia and Cuba moved toward cybersecurity cooperation… these are some of the notable international events of the past 24 hours.

Iranian citizens gathered to express their grief over the sudden death of the Iranian president in a plane crash on May 19. (Source: IRNA)

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

Russia-Ukraine

*Ukrainian forces admit Kyiv may have to lose territory for peace with Russia: On May 23, ABC News quoted the commander of Ukraine's 57th Armed Forces Brigade, Colonel Alexander Bakulin, as saying that the Ukrainian armed forces acknowledge that Kyiv may have to agree to lose territory to end the conflict with Russia.

According to Bakulin, the current conflict will end with diplomatic negotiations and a subsequent peace agreement, just like any other similar conflict. ABC television noted that Bakulin appeared willing to accept that Ukraine would have to agree to territorial concessions, similar to what Finland did during the Soviet era.

Bakunin added that Ukrainian forces are trying to stabilize the situation on the front lines, but Russian troops "continue to achieve sustained successes" in the Kharkiv region. He also noted that the situation for Ukrainian forces remains "quite difficult" as fighting continues while US military aid has yet to be delivered. (TASS)

*Russian intelligence accuses Ukraine of direct involvement in Crocus Theater terrorist attack: On May 24, Alexander Bortnikov, Director of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), stated that Ukrainian military intelligence was directly involved in the terrorist attack at the Crocus City Hall theater on the outskirts of Moscow.

The FSB director stated: “The investigation is ongoing, but it can be said with certainty that Ukrainian military intelligence was directly involved in this attack.” He pledged that “all criminal details will be determined and all those involved in this attack will not escape punishment.”

According to official statistics, the shooting at Crocus City Hall on March 22nd, followed by a major fire, resulted in at least 144 deaths and 551 injuries. The suspects were apprehended by the FSB shortly after the incident while attempting to cross the border into Ukraine. (THX)

Asia-Pacific

*Philippines opposes law allowing Chinese coast guard to fire on foreign ships: On May 24, speaking at a Philippine Navy anniversary celebration, Defense Minister Gilberto Teodoro said the regulations governing how the Chinese coast guard operates in the South China Sea are a matter of international concern, calling it a provocation.

China has just issued new regulations to enforce a 2021 law that allows its coast guard to fire on foreign vessels.

Minister Teodoro emphasized: “Such behavior not only violates UNCLOS but also violates the principles of the United Nations Charter, which clearly stipulates the obligation of each state to refrain from the use of force or aggression to enforce unlawful claims at sea. ” (Reuters)

*Japan and the US are considering holding a 2+2 Dialogue: A Japanese source revealed on May 24 that Japan and the US are considering holding a dialogue between their foreign and defense ministers (2+2 Dialogue) in Tokyo as early as July.

Tokyo and Washington initially planned to hold the 2+2 Dialogue in late May, but the event was postponed due to disagreements from the US side. This will be the first 2+2 Dialogue between the two governments since January 2023.

Among the items on the agenda is a review of the command and control operations of the U.S.-Japan alliance, in the context of increasing Chinese military activity in the Indo-Pacific region. (Kyodo)

*North Korea prepares to launch military spy satellite: A South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) official said on May 24 that the military had detected suspicious signs indicating North Korea was preparing to launch a military spy satellite.

South Korean and U.S. intelligence officials are closely monitoring and tracking related activities.”

In December 2023, Pyongyang announced it would launch three more spy satellites this year, one month after successfully launching its first satellite into orbit. Speaking to reporters, South Korean Defense Minister Shin Won-sik asserted that North Korea's Malligyong-1 spy satellite appeared to be orbiting the Earth but was not actively conducting any operations. (Yonhap)

*Knife attack in China leaves 8 dead: On May 24, Chinese authorities confirmed that eight people were killed and one injured in a knife attack in Hubei province, central China.

The incident occurred on the morning of May 23rd in Xiaogan City. The 53-year-old suspect, believed to have mental health issues, stabbed the victims with a knife. The injuries sustained are not life-threatening.

Police have arrested the suspect and are investigating the incident. (THX)

Europe

*Armenia returns 4 border villages to Azerbaijan: On May 24, Armenia returned four border villages that Yerevan had occupied for decades to Azerbaijan. This move is seen as a new step towards normalizing relations between the two historical rivals.

Armenia's national security agency announced that its border guards had "officially" taken over the new positions, while Azerbaijan's Deputy Prime Minister Shahin Mustafayev declared that Baku's border guards had taken control of the four aforementioned settlements.

Tensions between Azerbaijan and Armenia flared up after Azerbaijan launched a military operation to retake the entire region from pro-Armenian separatist forces in late 2023. Following the outbreak of conflict, almost all of the 120,000 ethnic Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh fled to Armenia as refugees after the separatist authorities there surrendered and declared their dissolution. (AFP)

*Russia accuses Romania of interfering in its neighbor's internal affairs: On May 23, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova criticized Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu's statement that only Romanians live in the Republic of Moldova. Zakharova said these statements were "provocative" and constituted "gross interference" in the affairs of a neighboring country.

According to TASS news agency, Prime Minister Ciolacu told Digi24 that in the Republic of Moldova “there are no Moldovans, no Moldovan language, only Romanian language and Romanian people.” Ciolacu made these remarks in an interview on May 14th. (Reuters)

Georgia criticizes US visa restrictions: Georgia's ruling "Georgian Dream" party on May 24 described the US decision to impose visa restrictions on members of the Georgian parliament over the "foreign agent" bill as "ridiculous".

Earlier, on May 23, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that Washington would impose new visa restrictions on Tbilisi and would initiate a review of bilateral cooperation between the two countries due to the "foreign agent" bill promoted by the "Georgian Dream" party.

In a statement regarding the US actions, Secretary of State Blinken argued that the bill would stifle freedom of association and expression, as well as hinder the activities of independent media organizations. (TASS)

*The West is preparing for a direct war with Russia: Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban stated on May 24th that it is unlikely Russia will attack a NATO member state and that discussions about the “Russian threat” are nothing more than a rehearsal for war.

Prime Minister Orban also affirmed that Budapest is striving to avoid participating in NATO activities outside the alliance's territory. The Hungarian leader also stated that Western politicians and media outlets are clearly indicating that Europe is preparing for a war with Russia. According to him, what is happening in Brussels and Washington, especially in Brussels, is a form of mental preparation for a possible direct conflict. (Sputnik)

Africa - Middle East

*CIA Director travels to Paris to try to restart Gaza talks: A Western source said on May 24 that CIA Director William Burns will hold talks in Paris with Israeli representatives in an effort to restart negotiations seeking a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

The CIA Director's visit to Paris, which took place on May 24th or 25th, came after Israel gave the green light to the possibility of resuming negotiations for the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza in exchange for a ceasefire. (AFP)

*Israel bans Spanish consulate from providing services to Palestinians: Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz announced on May 24 that the Foreign Ministry had decided to "sever ties" between the Spanish diplomatic mission and Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, in response to Madrid's declaration recognizing the State of Palestine.

On social media platform X, Foreign Minister Katz wrote: “I have decided to sever ties between the Spanish representative in Israel and the Palestinians, and to prohibit the Spanish Consulate in Jerusalem from providing services to Palestinians in the West Bank… in response to Spain’s recognition of the State of Palestine and the anti-Semitic calls of its Deputy Prime Minister.”

On May 22, Ireland, Norway, and Spain confirmed they would officially recognize the State of Palestine on May 28, a move that angered Tel Aviv. (Al Jazeera)

*Iran releases report on plane crash carrying President Raisi: The General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces on May 23 released the first report on the cause of the recent helicopter crash that resulted in the death of President Ebrahim Raisi and his entourage.

According to reports, the helicopter carrying President Raisi maintained its pre-determined route throughout the journey and did not deviate from its course. The reports revealed that nearly a minute and a half before the incident, the pilot of the crashed helicopter communicated with two other helicopters in the presidential convoy.

No traces of bullets or similar objects were found on the wreckage of the crashed helicopter.

The report added that adverse weather conditions, including “fog and low temperatures,” hampered search and rescue operations. According to the report, no suspicious incidents were detected in communications between the watchtower and the flight crew. (Al Jazeera)

America - Latin America

*US affirms commitment to the Indo-Pacific: On May 24, the US Navy's 7th Fleet stated that the US Navy is paying attention to "all activities" in the Indo-Pacific region and is taking its responsibility to deter aggression in the area "very seriously."

Commenting on China's ongoing military exercises around Taiwan, a 7th Fleet officer stated: "The U.S. Navy's 7th Fleet is committed to upholding the rules-based international order that underpins security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region."

The officer said the Theodore Roosevelt carrier strike group is continuing "normal, safe and responsible exercises" as part of its routine deployments in the 7th Fleet's area of ​​operations . (Reuters)

*Cuba dismisses Minister of Foreign Trade and Investment: On May 23, Cuba decided to dismiss Ricardo Cabrisas Ruiz, Minister of Foreign Trade and Investment (MINCEX).

According to the official announcement, Ricardo Cabrisas will continue to hold the position of Deputy Prime Minister.

Mr. Cabrisas, 87, has experience in managing foreign debt and ties to the Paris Club. For decades, he has been a key figure in debt negotiations and restructuring between Cuba and Russia, China, Iran, and Venezuela.

Replacing Cabrisas at MINCEX is Deputy Minister Oscar Pérez-Oliva Fraga, 53, an electronics engineer with 15 years of experience in foreign trade and who previously worked in the Mariel Development Zone – Cuba's first and only special economic zone to date. (AFP)

*Russia and Cuba aim for comprehensive cybersecurity cooperation: On May 23, Grupo Solar, a leading cybersecurity solutions provider in Russia, and Segurmática, a Cuban information security company, signed a memorandum of understanding laying the foundation for cooperation in comprehensive cybersecurity and the development of information security solutions, cybersecurity technologies, and export support.

The CEO of Segurmática, Niurka Edith Milanes, and the CEO of Grupo Solar, Igor Lyapunov, signed the aforementioned memorandum of understanding at the annual Russian Digital Industry Conference 2024, held in Nizhni Novgorod. (Sputniknews)

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