This is ‘Global Village Today’, which brings you important news from various countries around the world.
Host) What news is there today?
Reporter) The United States announced that it would provide Ukraine with its last military aid of the year. Meanwhile, an analysis has emerged that the Ukrainian army has lost the area it recovered during the last major counteroffensive. China has urged its citizens along Myanmar’s northern border to evacuate. Lastly, we would like to share the news that the Indian Foreign Minister visited Russia and the two countries reaffirmed their friendly relations and pledged to increase trade and expand cooperation.
Host) This is the first news from the global village today. The United States announced it is providing additional military aid to Ukraine?
Reporter) Yes. The U.S. government announced on the 27th that it would provide $250 million in military aid to Ukraine. The U.S. State Department issued a statement today, saying that this support includes air defense munitions and other air defense system components, additional ammunition for the High-Speed Maneuverable Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), 155mm and 105mm artillery shells, and more than 15 million rounds of ammunition. explained.
Host) This is the last application of the year, right?
Reporter) Yes. This is not only the last support of the year, but also the last military support that can be provided under the budget approved by Congress to date.
Host) So, unless Congress approves additional budget, we can no longer support Ukraine?
Reporter) That’s right. “It is essential that Congress act as quickly as possible to advance U.S. security interests by helping Ukraine defend itself,” the State Department said in a statement.
Host) There is still no progress in the U.S. Congress on the issue of additional support for Ukraine, right?
Reporter) Yes. Previously, the Joe Biden administration asked Congress to approve $50 billion in additional aid to Ukraine. The Republican Party, the majority party in the House, is rejecting this. Republicans maintain that additional aid can only be approved if Democrats agree to broad immigration reform, including strengthening southern border security.
Host) The White House has emphasized that we must continue to support Ukraine in its fight against Russia, right?
Reporter) That’s right. President Biden has prioritized support for Ukraine and emphasized that U.S. financial and weapons support is essential to help Ukraine fight the powerful Russian military.
Host) Didn’t Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently come directly to the United States and request additional support?
Reporter) Yes. However, President Zelensky failed to persuade Republican lawmakers who opposed additional aid. Meanwhile, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Sviridenko emphasized in an interview with Britain’s Financial Times newspaper on the 27th, “Support from partner countries is really important,” and “We urgently need support.” He also said that without additional support, the government may not be able to provide national pensions or civil servant salaries.
Host) Additional support for Ukraine from not only the United States but also the European Union (EU) is also blocked by obstacles, right?
Reporter) That’s right. The EU is pushing for additional support worth $55 billion for Ukraine. The project has not been completed due to opposition from Hungary, an EU member state.
Host) It is known that Ukrainian troops on the front lines are experiencing difficulties due to a decrease in military support. However, there is an analysis that the Ukrainian military has regained the territory it had recaptured in the previous counteroffensive?
Reporter) Yes. The Institute for War Studies (ISW), a U.S. private research institute, stated in its daily war situation report on the 27th that the Russian army appears to have reoccupied the area that the Ukrainian army had recovered in western Zaporizhia through a major counteroffensive last June. Previously, ISW assessed that “the current frontline situation is an unstable stalemate where the balance could tilt in either direction depending on the decisions of the West or Russia.”
Host) Hasn’t there been news recently that Ukrainian troops withdrew from Marinka in the eastern Donetsk region?
Reporter) That’s right. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced on the 26th that the military has occupied Marinka, a key point in the Donetsk region. In response, Ukraine claimed that it was continuing to fight in Marinka, but later confirmed that its troops had withdrawn to the outskirts of Marinka.
Host) So far, the West has been imposing sanctions on Russia’s crude oil exports as it fights against Ukraine. It is known that Russia has successfully evaded these sanctions?
Reporter) Yes. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, who is in charge of economic affairs, said in a television conference on the 27th that most of his crude oil exports were diverted to China and India in response to Western sanctions.
Host) Where did Russia mainly export crude oil before?
Reporter) Yes. Prime Minister Novak explained that previously, 40% to 45% of crude oil and petroleum product exports went to Europe, but now, China’s share has increased from 45% to 50%, and India’s share has increased to about 40%. Therefore, Deputy Prime Minister Novak said that currently, the share of European exports does not exceed 4% to 5%.
Host) The West tried to prevent Russia from financing the war in Ukraine through crude oil exports, right?
Reporter) That’s right. However, these sanctions were ineffective as China and India imported most of the Russian crude oil.
Myanmar rebels are transporting civilians rescued from the site of an air raid. (file photo)
Host) This is the next news from Global Village Today. The Chinese government has urged its citizens in the northern border area of Myanmar to evacuate?
Reporter) That’s right. On the 28th, the Chinese Embassy in Myanmar urged Chinese people in Lau Kai, Kokang Autonomous Region in northern Myanmar, to avoid the area as quickly as possible. “Conflict in the Laukai region continues and the risk to the safety of people there is increasing,” the embassy said.
Host) In northern Myanmar, the Brotherhood Alliance formed by three rebel organizations is carrying out an offensive targeting government forces, right?
Reporter) Yes. Fierce fighting is taking place as the Brotherhood Alliance intensifies its offensive against government forces. Media from the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), which leads the Brotherhood Alliance, announced that the Myanmar military regime this week carried out an airstrike on the Kokang Autonomous Region and shelled parts of Laukai.
Host) Is there anything from the Chinese central government regarding the recommendation to evacuate Chinese citizens?
Reporter) Yes. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maoning said at a regular briefing on the 28th, “The current security situation in Myanmar’s Kokang Autonomous Region is dangerous and complex.” He emphasized, “We expect the relevant parties in Myanmar to exercise the highest level of restraint, take the lead in mitigating the current situation, and work together to promote a soft landing in the situation in northern Myanmar.”
Host) Wasn’t it recently announced that Myanmar government forces and rebels have agreed to a temporary ceasefire through Chinese government mediation?
Reporter) That’s right. China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on the 14th that China mediated peace negotiations between the two sides and that government forces and rebels agreed to maintain a temporary ceasefire and dialogue.
Host) But given that Chinese people were told to evacuate, it seems like this intervention had little effect?
Reporter) Yes. Although it was announced that both sides had agreed to a temporary ceasefire, the Brotherhood Alliance reaffirmed its intention to defeat the Myanmar dictatorship. There was no mention of peace negotiations or a ceasefire.
Host) So the rebels said they would continue to fight against the military regime?
Reporter) That’s right. The Brotherhood previously posted on social network service (SNS) He also emphasized, “There is.”
Host) Didn’t the rebel coalition launch an offensive at the end of October and have pushed back government forces in various parts of northern Myanmar so far?
Reporter) Yes. The rebels pushed the government forces and occupied many government military posts and key points in the Chinese border area. Fighting is still taking place in parts of northern Shan State. The Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), a member of the Brotherhood Alliance, claimed to have captured two additional villages in recent days.
Host) Myanmar’s military regime is taking seriously the situation in which government forces continue to be pushed back in northern Shan State, right?
Reporter) That’s right. Acting President Min Swe warned early last month that there was a risk of the country splitting up if the government failed to control the fighting that broke out in Shan State.
Host) Isn’t China concerned about the intensifying fighting between rebels and government forces in the northern border area of Myanmar?
Reporter) Yes. China has maintained relations not only with Myanmar’s military regime but also with ethnic rebel groups active in northern Myanmar. In particular, the northern border area of Myanmar is where trade between China and Myanmar is active, so the Chinese government is paying close attention to the local situation.
Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmany Jaishankar (left) and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrived at a joint press conference after meeting in Moscow on the 27th.
Host) Let’s look at one more news from the global village today. Indian Foreign Minister visited Russia?
Reporter) That’s right. Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmany Jaishankar is on a five-day visit to Russia. Minister Jaishankar met with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the 27th, the third day of his visit.
Host) Isn’t it unusual for Russian President Putin to meet a foreign minister-level figure?
Reporter) Yes. President Putin usually does not meet foreign ministers from other countries who visit Russia, so his meeting with Minister Jaishankar is being evaluated as meaningful. Experts see the meeting as an effort to emphasize that Russia is not isolated.
Host) What was discussed in the meeting between President Putin and Minister Jaishankar?
Reporter) Yes. According to Russia’s TASS news agency, President Putin discussed various current issues and prospects for the development of relations between the two countries. At this meeting, President Putin especially emphasized that trade between the two countries has increased for two consecutive years.
Host) This period almost coincides with the period of the Ukraine war, right?
Reporter) That’s right. India has emerged as one of Russia’s important economic partners by ignoring Western sanctions against Russia and exponentially increasing its imports of Russian crude oil following the outbreak of the Ukraine war in February last year. Currently, the volume of trade between the two countries exceeds $50 billion.
Host) Did India and Russia always have friendly relations?
Reporter) That’s right. The two countries have traditionally maintained friendly relations, holding summit talks every year for the past 20 years. However, no summit meeting has been held since the war in Ukraine broke out. President Putin met with Minister Jaishankar on this day (28th) and proposed that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visit Moscow.
Host) Why was the summit meeting between the two countries suspended?
Reporter) The Indian government has not released an official position on the reason for not holding the summit. Regarding this, some point out that India is trying to maintain a certain line with Russia as its relations with Western countries have recently improved. “India is avoiding a summit with Putin because it does not want to be seen as too close to Russia,” said Manoj Joshi, a researcher at the Observer Research Foundation in New Delhi. But at the same time, Joshi pointed out, “it is important to show Russia and the international community in some way that India has not abandoned Russia.”
Host) Can Minister Jaishankar’s visit to Moscow be interpreted in that context?
Reporter) That’s right. Joshi said Minister Jaishankar’s visit to Russia was significant in signaling that India and Russia still have close ties. But the Indian government has so far avoided high-profile summits. Attention will be paid to how Prime Minister Narendra Modi will react to President Putin’s invitation.
Host) Prime Minister Modi visited the United States this year, right?
Reporter) That’s right. Prime Minister Modi visited the White House last June and had a summit meeting with US President Joe Biden. Prime Minister Modi, who has been in power since 2014, has visited the United States several times. He attracted attention by visiting the United States as a state guest for the first time last June. The Biden administration, which is making efforts to develop relations with India as a counterweight to China, treated Prime Minister Modi at the time lavishly.
Host) Minister Jaishankar also met Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on this day (27th)?
Reporter) That’s right. The foreign ministers of the two countries held a joint press conference after the meeting. Minister Lavrov said the two men “discussed issues of military-technical cooperation between the two countries, including joint production of modern weapons.” Russia has been India’s main arms supplier for the past several decades. Although India has sought to diversify its arms supply chain in recent years, it still imports two-thirds of its military equipment from Russia.
Host) Is there anything else worth noting from the press conference?
Reporter) Yes. The two countries also agreed to strengthen nuclear cooperation. Currently, India is building the Kudankulam nuclear power plant in the south of the country with Russian support. The two countries also signed an agreement on the construction of future power plants. Minister Jaishankar also met Indians living in Moscow on the 26th. At this event, he emphasized, “Usually, cooperation in the defense, nuclear, and space fields occurs only with highly reliable countries.”
Host) We will listen to this part of the global village today.
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2023-12-28 13:39:36
