It is “Global Village Today” which provides important news from various countries of the world.
Host) What news do you have today?
Journalist) Yes. Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he wants a quick diplomatic end to the war in Ukraine. The US government claims that North Korea has supplied weapons to a Russian mercenary company.
Host) Global Village Today, this is the first news. Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he wants to end the war in Ukraine.
Journalist) Yes. President Putin said in a press conference held in the Kremlin on the 22nd: “Our goal is not to turn the wheel of war, but to end it.”
Moderator) Do you want the war to end, and the sooner the war ends, the better?
Journalist) Yes. “As I have said many times before, the escalation of hostilities leads to unnecessary losses,” Putin said. “The sooner those who oppose us realize this reality, the better,” he said, “we have never abandoned this position.”
Moderator) By the way, is it evident that President Putin called the war in Ukraine a “war” this time?
Journalist) Yes. When President Putin announced the invasion of Ukraine on February 24, he said that he had launched a “special military operation” in Ukraine. Until now, this war has been referred to as a “special military operation” rather than a “war”. But this time I used the word “war”.
Host) Why did you use the term special military operation instead of war?
Journalist) Yes. It appears that the intention was not to raise Russian concern about the war. Hence, it appears that the name Special Military Operation was used, meaning limited operations performed by professional soldiers instead of warfare.
Presenter) Even in Russia it is known that if you use the word war now, you will be punished, right?
Journalist) Yes. This is because the Russian parliament effectively forbade calling the war in Ukraine a “war” by passing a law punishing disinformation or discrediting the military with up to 15 years in prison. In fact, it is known that there is an activist who was sentenced to 7 years in prison for having defined the war in Ukraine as war.
Moderator) What else did you say at this day’s press conference (22)?
Journalist) Yes. President Putin downplayed the Patriot air defense missiles that the United States promised to supply to Ukraine. “The Patriot is quite obsolete and less capable than Russia’s S-300 missiles,” he said, “an antidote can always be found and Russia will destroy the Patriot.”
Moderator) You mean you don’t care about the Patriot deal and you’re going to get rid of it?
Journalist) Yes. Putin also said that the gas price ceiling recently agreed by the European Union will not hurt the Russian economy.
Moderator) How did the United States react to President Putin’s remarks?
Journalist) Yes. The answer came that they didn’t believe the words they hoped for the end of the war. White House National Security Council (NSC) strategic communications coordinator John Kirby told reporters, “Putin has shown no sign that he will negotiate to end the 10-month-old conflict.” “Everything Putin does on the ground and in the air proves that he is a man who wants to continue the violence against Ukrainians and escalate the war,” he said.
Host) Global village today, the next news. Has the US government revealed that North Korea has supplied weapons to the Wagner Group, a company of Russian mercenaries?
Reporter) Yes. Strategic Communications Coordinator Kirby stated on the 22nd that the Wagner group had received weapons from North Korea to help Russian forces fighting in Ukraine. Kirby said US intelligence officials believe North Korea already completed delivery of the first shipment, including rockets and missiles, last month.
Host) Last month, the United States also revealed that North Korea has been secretly supplying weapons to Russia, right?
Journalist) Yes. At that time, the White House said that North Korea supplied a significant amount of shells to the Russian side. North Korea has denied this.
Moderator) If the White House announcement is true, could North Korea’s supply of weapons affect the charter situation in Ukraine?
Journalist) No. Coordinator Kirby stressed that “the amount of weapons that got into the Wagner group will not change the situation in Ukraine.” However, he said he was “seriously concerned that North Korea is trying to supply more military equipment”.
Moderator) The Wagner Group is a company that supplies mercenaries to conflict areas, right?
Journalist) Yes. It was established in 2014 after Russia forcibly annexed the Kram peninsula of Ukraine and the activity of pro-Russian rebels in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine reached its peak. It is owned by Yevgeny Prigozhin, a close associate of President Putin.
Presenter) Do you know that Prigogine is called ‘Putin’s chef’?
Journalist) Yes. Mr. Prigozhin is known as one of President Putin’s most trusted people. He was nicknamed because the restaurant business he owns has a contract with the Office of the President of Russia. Prigozhin made headlines last month when he revealed to Russian media that “we did intervene in the US election, we still do, and we will continue to do so.” Western countries believe Prigozhin supported Russian agencies that worked to influence US elections, including spreading fake news on the Internet.
Moderator) Haven’t mercenaries from the Wagner group already appeared in various conflict areas?
Journalist) Yes. The Wagner Group, made up of Russian veterans, has already fought in Libya, Syria, the Central African Republic and Mali. They do not represent Russia. However, as long as Russian law is not violated, the Wagner Group reserves the right to send mercenaries anywhere in the world.
Presenter) It is known that mercenaries from the Wagner group are fighting in Ukraine, right?
Journalist) Yes. Kirby explained that about 50,000 Wagner Group agents are active in Ukraine, of which 10,000 are contract workers and the remaining 40,000 are recruited from Russian prisons. According to US intelligence officials, Wagner group mercenaries played a major role in the fighting in Bakhmut, Ukraine. Up to 1,000 mercenaries have been reported dead in recent weeks.
Moderator) If there are 50,000 Wagner Group mercenaries operating in Ukraine, isn’t that a small number?
Journalist) Yes. Coordinator Kirby explained that as Russian forces in Ukraine struggled, they increasingly turned to the Wagner group. He also said that the Wagner group is looking for arms suppliers from all over the world to support its military operations in Ukraine.
Moderator) Is North Korea’s sale of weapons to Russian mercenary companies a violation of UN sanctions?
Journalist) Yes. Due to the sanctions foreseen by the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council, North Korea cannot sell or buy weapons.
Moderator) What has been the Wagner Group’s response to the US government’s announcement that it has received arms from North Korea?
Journalist) Yes. Company owner Prigogine has refuted the US government’s claims as rumors and speculation. He issued a statement and said, “Everyone knows that North Korea hasn’t supplied Russia with weapons for a long time” and “there has never been such an attempt.”
Moderator) Did the North Korean government react to the US government’s announcement?
Journalist) Yes. On the 23rd, the North Korean Foreign Ministry stated that the US government’s announcement was unfounded and instead accused the United States of supplying lethal weapons to Ukraine.
Moderator) Yes. Global Village Today, I will listen to this.
