Ukraine warns of 'unpleasant surprises' awaiting Russia; Moscow shows the world something; Red Sea 'stormy'

The conflict in Ukraine, the Russian President's visit to the Far East, the US Secretary of State's "productive" activities in the Middle East, the largest attack in the Red Sea, prison riots in Ecuador... are some of the outstanding international events in the past 24 hours.

Ecuador is on security alert due to the escape of dangerous prisoners and the strong activity of criminal gangs. (Source: AFP)

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

Russia-Ukraine

* Ukraine announced that "unpleasant surprises" await Russia soon: On January 9, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (VSU) Valeriy Zaluzhny and Chief of the General Staff Sergei Sheptala visited the city of Kupyansk in Kharkov province to visit and encourage soldiers.

Warning that “unpleasant surprises” would soon await Russian troops in Kupyansk, Mr. Umerov said: “I had the honor to meet with the commanders of the units currently fighting in this direction. They reported on the situation and current challenges. Ukraine will soon make decisions that will upset the enemy.”

Also during this trip, Ukrainian defense and military officials discussed with the country's land army commander Alexander Syrsky, who is also the commander of the Khortitsa group of troops.

General Syrsky reported on the situation around Kupyansk, saying that despite the constant attacks by the Russian army, the VSU continues to “hold its positions.” (The Kyiv Independent)

* Russia announces Ukrainian military casualties in 2023: At a meeting on January 9, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that in 2023, the VSU lost more than 215,000 soldiers and 28,000 weapons.

Saying that Russia "maintains the strategic initiative along the entire front line", Shoigu warned that the Ukrainian army's efforts to add troops "will not change" the situation on the ground but "will only prolong the military conflict".

Earlier, former Prosecutor General of Ukraine Yury Lutsenko said that about 500,000 VSU servicemen had been killed and wounded since the start of the conflict. (Al Jazeera)

* Britain announced that it will continue to support Ukraine in its conflict with Russia in 2024, 2025 and 2026, according to British Foreign Secretary David Cameron on January 9.

"The combined GDP of Ukraine's allies is 25 times larger than Russia's. A significant increase in arms production would not be a problem for us," Mr Cameron said.

According to this diplomat, Britain and its allies "want to show Russia that their 'wait and see policy' will not work with us... Britain will soon announce a new aid package for Kiev". (The Kyiv Independent)

Middle East

* US Secretary of State met Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank on January 10, according to AFP.

During the talks, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that Washington reaffirmed its long-standing stance of supporting "clear measures" towards the goal of establishing a Palestinian state "side by side with Israel", "both living in peace and security".

Secretary of State Blinken cited “growing instability” in the West Bank, where hundreds of Palestinians have been killed in Israeli military raids.

As part of efforts to stabilize the region, he "emphasized the US position that all Palestinian taxes collected by Israel must be transferred consistently to the Palestinian Authority in accordance with previous unity agreements."

Earlier, on January 9, during a direct meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a military base in Tel Aviv, the US Secretary of State called on Israel to avoid causing civilian casualties and maintain the roadmap towards the establishment of a Palestinian state.

* The US Secretary of State will visit Bahrain on January 10 (local time), the latest leg of his Middle East crisis-solving tour, according to a US State Department official.

Mr. Blinken will discuss with the host country's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa about preventing the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip from escalating in the region. (AFP)

* Britain and the US repelled the Houthis' "largest attack" in the Red Sea on January 10, according to an announcement by British Defense Secretary Grant Shapps.

He also stated that a British warship destroyed "multiple attack drones (UAVs) with guns and missiles at sea", a few hours after Washington announced that the two countries' forces had shot down 18 UAVs and 3 missiles on January 9.

Britain has also recently announced the dispatch of the warship HMS Richmond to the Red Sea to ensure maritime safety in the region along with the Royal Navy destroyer HMS Diamond. (AFP)

* Israel allows a UN mission to visit the northern Gaza Strip to assess the state of infrastructure and consider the possibility of returning Palestinians to the area.

The decision was made after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with members of the Israeli Cabinet, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Minister Benny Gantz.

Previously, Israel repeatedly affirmed that it could not allow Palestinians to return to the northern Gaza Strip due to many difficulties on the ground and no progress in efforts to rescue hostages.

Israeli officials also set a condition that Palestinian civilians would only be allowed to return to their old homes in the northern Gaza Strip if armed movements in the territory released all remaining hostages. (Times of Israel)

Europe

* Russia proves to be an autonomous country in all aspects: On January 10, Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Chukotka in the far East for the first time, which has a maritime border with the US state of Alaska.

Mr. Putin once declared that the Far East region plays an important role in Russia's position in the multipolar world.

Speaking to local residents, the Russian leader said: "The important thing that we have shown to ourselves and the whole world is that Russia is a self-sufficient country in all respects. We are moving forward strongly and confidently towards the future."

According to the leader, this is "certainly the most important result of the past year".

Noting that even Europe's leading economies are going through difficult times, although "their problems cannot even be compared to those of Russia," President Putin asserted that Moscow is currently on the rise while Europe is in recession. (TASS)

* Ukrainian President visits Baltic countries: On January 10, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made a surprise visit to Lithuania, a Baltic country belonging to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

On social network X , formerly Twitter , Mr. Zelensky announced that he would visit Estonia and Latvia after his trip to Lithuania, emphasizing that: "Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are our reliable friends and principled partners."

During the visit to Lithuania, Vilnius announced: "The two presidents will discuss the conflict in Ukraine, support for Kiev and the country's accession to the European Union and NATO." (Reuters)

* Russia to start mass production of Drel glide bombs in 2024: On January 10, TASS news agency quoted a representative of the Russian state defense corporation Rostec as saying that Moscow plans to start mass production of the new Drel glide bomb this year, after the weapon has passed all types of tests.

According to TASS , the Drel glide bomb, one of Russia's newest weapons - is capable of flying independently using a glide path to a target at a greater distance and exploding above the target at the "right moment".

The Drel bomb is designed to destroy armored vehicles, ground-based radar stations, power plant control centers, and air defense missile systems. Military analysts note that the bomb is also resistant to jamming and radar detection, making it difficult to destroy.

* Azerbaijan-France tensions over a citizen suspected of espionage: On January 9, Azerbaijan's Ambassador to France Leyla Abdullayeva said that Baku arrested a French man in December 2023 on espionage charges and will detain him for four months.

Following this information, Paris issued a statement accusing Baku of arbitrarily detaining the French citizen and demanding his immediate release.

On January 10, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry stated: "The statement of the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs is baseless... aimed at distorting the truth and interfering in Azerbaijan's internal affairs as well as the legal investigation process. We once again strongly demand that the French side stop interfering in Azerbaijan's internal affairs." (Reuters)

* The foreign ministers of Iran and Russia held a phone call on January 9 to exchange views on the situation in the Red Sea, the developments of the Israel-Hamas conflict in the Gaza Strip, as well as issues related to bilateral relations.

According to the announcement of the Iranian Foreign Ministry, in a phone call with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian emphasized the importance of ensuring security for shipping routes through the Red Sea.

According to him, it is necessary to end the conflict in the Gaza Strip to prevent casualties among Palestinian people in this territory.

For his part, Foreign Minister Lavrov said that Russia wants to end the violence and escalation of tensions in the Gaza Strip.

The two sides also pushed for the completion of the drafting of a treaty on comprehensive strategic partnership as well as bilateral cargo transportation. (TASS)

Asia

* China is willing to cooperate with the US to improve bilateral relations: In a letter responding to a friend in Iowa (USA) on January 5, Chinese President Xi Jinping said that the achievements in Beijing-Washington relations are mainly thanks to the joint efforts of the people of the two countries.

Noting that China is the world's largest developing country and the United States is the world's largest developed country, Xi stressed that the future of the planet needs stability and improvement in China-US relations.

According to the leader, China is willing to cooperate with the US to promote stable, healthy and sustainable development of bilateral relations. (THX)

* Bhutan's new Prime Minister is Mr. Tshering Tobgay , leader of the People's Democratic Party (PDP), when the party won the parliamentary election on January 9 with 30/47 seats.

Mr. Tshering Tobgay, 58 years old, served as Prime Minister of Bhutan from 2013 to 2018. He graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Pittsburgh and a Master of Public Administration from Harvard University (USA).

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Mr Tobgay on his victory. For his part, Mr Tobgay affirmed that he would continue to strengthen relations with India. (Al Jazeera)

* Philippines-Indonesia promote bilateral relations: On January 10, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. held talks with Indonesian President Joko Widodo, who is on a 3-day official visit to Manila.

Speaking to reporters after the talks, the two leaders said they discussed measures to strengthen bilateral relations, especially in the economic field.

President Widodo emphasized the need to open markets to boost trade. Indonesia hopes to receive support from the Philippines in applying special protection measures for its coffee products.

In addition, the two leaders also had an open and substantive exchange on regional issues of mutual concern. President Marcos Jr. stressed the importance of enhancing cooperation among ASEAN member countries. (VNA)

America

* Prison riots in Ecuador: Violence is escalating after one of Ecuador's most dangerous prisoners and 39 other inmates escaped from prisons, leading to riots at six other prisons across the South American country.

At least 10 people, including two law enforcement officers, have been killed in violence linked to organized crime.

On January 9, Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa was forced to declare a state of "internal armed conflict", one day after declaring a 60-day nationwide state of emergency and ordering the armed forces to carry out military operations under international humanitarian law to dismantle transnational criminal organizations.

In light of the above situation, from January 10, China will temporarily close its embassy and consulates general in Ecuador until further notice.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning said Beijing supports Ecuador's efforts to ensure social stability and hopes the situation in the South American country will quickly normalize.

On the same day, US Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Brian Nichols said that Washington is very concerned about the current violence in Ecuador and will maintain close contact with the administration of President Daniel Noboa. (THX, Reuters)

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