This is ‘Global Village Today’, which brings you important news from various countries around the world.
Host) What news is there today?
Reporter) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that more than 30,000 people have died in the war against Russia so far. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that he plans to attack Rafah, Gaza Strip, regardless of whether a ceasefire is reached.
Host) This is the first news from the global village today. The Ukraine War celebrated its second anniversary on the 24th. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed the number of Ukrainian military dead at his 2nd anniversary press conference?
Reporter) That’s right. At a press conference on the 25th, President Zelensky announced that 31,000 people have been killed in the war with Russia so far. At the same time, he said that although the number of war dead was neither 150,000 nor 300,000, it was a big loss anyway.
Host) Did President Zelenskyy disclose the number of wounded in addition to the killed?
Reporter) No. President Zelenskyy said he would not disclose the number of casualties because it would help Russian military planning. Ukraine usually does not announce the number of military casualties. This time, the number of war dead was unusually revealed.
Host) What is the reason for breaking the previous practice and announcing the number of war dead?
Reporter) Yes. President Zelenskyy said he was releasing the updated death toll to counter the inflated numbers cited by Russia. Meanwhile, with regard to non-military deaths, he stated that tens of thousands of civilians were killed in Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory, but he did not know the exact number.
Host) The number of Ukrainian military casualties known so far is much higher than the number disclosed by President Zelenskyy, right?
Reporter) That’s right. Last August, U.S. officials said 70,000 Ukrainian troops had been killed and 120,000 wounded. In addition, according to the Russian-language broadcast of the BBC in cooperation with external organizations, it is estimated that more than 45,000 people have died. Although President Zelenskyy said there were 31,000 people, some analysis suggests that the actual number is higher.
Host) Is there any known damage on the Russian side?
Reporter) No. Russia also does not disclose the number of casualties incurred in this war. However, this month, the British Ministry of Defense estimated the number of Russian military casualties at around 350,000. President Zelenskyy previously claimed that 180,000 Russian troops have been killed and tens of thousands injured.
Host) What else did President Zelensky say at the press conference on the 25th?
Reporter) Yes. Regarding the war situation, they said that the Russian military is preparing to launch a new offensive in early summer or, if possible, in late May, and that they are also preparing for the Russian military offensive. He also reported that the plan for the counteroffensive carried out by the Ukrainian military last year was leaked to Russia in advance. However, it did not explain how the plan got into Russia.
Host) Russia recently achieved important results on the Eastern Front, right?
Reporter) Yes. It was announced last week that Ukrainian troops had withdrawn from Audivka, a militarily important region in eastern Ukraine. This is the biggest victory achieved by the Russian military in several months. Meanwhile, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced on the 24th that the Russian army occupying Audiuka had advanced 10 km further.
Host) The Ukrainian military is currently struggling on the front lines as military support provided by the United States has been halted due to opposition from the U.S. Congress. Did President Zelenskyy also mention this issue?
Reporter) Yes. “There is hope and I’m sure it will be positive with the U.S. Congress,” he said. “They know we will need support within a month.” President Zelenskyy also said that Ukraine’s war effort depends on Western world support, adding that although the European Union had previously promised to provide 1 million artillery shells, only 30% of them had been delivered.
Host) Meanwhile, the leaders of the seven major countries (G7) issued a statement on the 24th to mark the second anniversary of the Ukraine war.
Reporter) That’s right. G7 leaders met virtually on this day (24th) to discuss the Ukraine issue and issued a statement. He reaffirmed his full support for Ukraine and pledged to impose additional sanctions on Russia.
Host) Among the G7 leaders, the Italian and Canadian prime ministers visited Ukraine in person?
Reporter) Yes. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen visited the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, on the 24th to show solidarity with Ukraine. During the visit, Italy and Canada each signed a defense agreement with Ukraine. In particular, Canada plans to provide approximately $2.2 billion in financial and military support under this agreement.
Host) What did the United States say on the second anniversary of the Ukraine War?
Reporter) Yes. President Joe Biden says the brave Ukrainians fight unwaveringly in their resolve to protect their freedom and future. He also emphasized that the 50-nation US-led Coalition to Support Ukraine is committed to providing critical support to Ukraine and holding Russia accountable for its invasion of Ukraine.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (file photo)
Host) Global Today, this time we have news related to the conflict between Israel and Hamas, a Palestinian armed political group designated as a terrorist organization by the United States. Armistice negotiations are currently progressing at a rapid pace. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reaffirmed his plan to attack Rafah, southern Gaza Strip?
Reporter) Yes. Prime Minister Netanyahu held a meeting with CBS News of the United States on the 25th. The military said it would attack Rafah regardless of whether a ceasefire was reached. He explained that the Rafah offensive must be carried out because complete victory is their goal and they are close to achieving it.
Host) Wasn’t there news that some progress was made in ceasefire negotiations last weekend?
Reporter) That’s right. Negotiations were held in Paris, France on the 23rd, and it was reported that some progress was made, including on the issue of hostage release. Negotiations continue this week. The Israeli negotiating delegation will visit Qatar on the 26th for negotiations.
Host) But if a ceasefire is reached, won’t Israel be able to attack Rafah?
Reporter) That’s right. However, they say they will attack Rafah once the ceasefire is over. Prime Minister Netanyahu said at a conference on the 25th that if a ceasefire is reached, the attack will be postponed to some extent. But he said victory would come within weeks once the Rafah ground operation begins.
Host) The international community, including the United States and the United Nations, is very concerned about the Israeli military’s attack on Rafah, right?
Reporter) That’s right. Rafa, which borders Egypt, is currently home to more than 1.4 million people, including both indigenous people and refugees. Therefore, the international community is concerned that if the Israeli military begins ground warfare in Rafah in earnest, civilian casualties will rapidly increase.
Host) Hasn’t the United States, which supports Israel in this conflict, also called for a civilian protection plan and an attack on Rafah?
Reporter) Yes. White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan reaffirmed the US government’s position on the 25th. He said in an interview with NBC on the 25th, “We are clear that the Rafah offensive should not proceed without a clear and workable plan to protect civilians.” But Sullivan pointed out that he had not yet seen such a plan.
Host) UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres again called for no attack on Rafa?
Reporter) Yes. President Guterres attended the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland on the 26th and warned that an all-out offensive against Rafa would not only endanger more than 1 million refugees but also “put a nail in the coffin of the UN relief program.”
Host) Meanwhile, it was announced that the Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority would resign, right?
Reporter) That’s right. Prime Minister Muhammad Shitayeh announced that he formally submitted his resignation to President Mahmoud Abbas on the 26th. He announced his resignation today (26th) and said, “New steps and challenges require a new government and political measures that take into account the new reality in the Gaza Strip.”
Host) With the current Palestinian conflict, discussions on the future of Palestine have begun again, and in the midst of this, the Prime Minister of the autonomous government is resigning?
Reporter) Yes. Prime Minister Shitayeh called for consensus among Palestinians and for the government’s rule over the Palestinian territories to be expanded. He also emphasized, “We will continue to confront the occupation forces and continue to fight to establish a country in Palestine.”
Host) It was today in the global village.
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2024-02-26 13:37:15
