This is “Global Village Today”, which brings you important news from various countries around the world.

Presenter) What’s new today?

Reporter) The United States has announced that it will provide Ukraine with its last military aid of the year. Meanwhile, an analysis has emerged that the Ukrainian army lost the area it regained during the last major counteroffensive. China has called on its citizens along Myanmar’s northern border to evacuate. Finally, we would like to share the news that the Indian Foreign Minister visited Russia and the two countries reaffirmed their friendly relations and committed to increasing trade exchanges and expanding cooperation.

Host) This is today’s first news from the global village. Has the United States announced that it will provide additional military aid to Ukraine?

Journalist) Yes. On the 27th the US government announced that it would provide $250 million in military aid to Ukraine. The US State Department released a statement today saying that this support includes air defense ammunition and other components of the air defense system, additional ammunition for the High Speed ​​Maneuverable Artillery Missile System (HIMARS), artillery shells 155 mm and 105 mm and more than 15 million rounds of ammunition deployed.

Host) This is the last question of the year, right?

Journalist) 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 so far.

Host) So unless Congress passes an additional budget, we can no longer support Ukraine?

Journalist) Exactly. “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 US Congress on the issue of additional support for Ukraine, right?

Journalist) 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, rejects it. Republicans argue that further aid can only be approved if Democrats agree to broad immigration reform, including strengthening security at the southern border.

Host) The White House emphasized that we must continue to support Ukraine in its fight against Russia, right?

Journalist) Exactly. President Biden has prioritized support for Ukraine and stressed that U.S. financial and military 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?

Journalist) Yes. However, President Zelensky failed to persuade Republican lawmakers who opposed further aid. Meanwhile, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Sviridenko stressed in an interview with the British newspaper Financial Times on the 27th: “Support from partner countries is really important” and “We urgently need support.” He also said that without further support the government may not be able to guarantee national pensions or salaries of public employees.

Host) Additional support for Ukraine from not only the United States but also the European Union (EU) is also blocked by obstacles, right?

Journalist) Exactly. The EU is pushing for additional support worth $55 billion for Ukraine. The project was not completed due to opposition from Hungary, an EU member state.

Guest) It is known that Ukrainian troops on the front lines are experiencing difficulties due to decreasing military support. However, is there an analysis that the Ukrainian army has recaptured the territory recaptured in the previous counteroffensive?

Journalist) Yes. The Institute for War Studies (ISW), a private US 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, the ISW had assessed that “the current situation on the front is an unstable stalemate in which the balance could tip in either direction depending on the decisions of the West or Russia.”

Host) There have been no reports recently that Ukrainian troops have retreated from Marinka to the eastern Donetsk region?

Journalist) Exactly. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced on the 26th that the military occupied Marinka, a key point in the Donetsk region. In response, Ukraine said it was continuing to fight in Marinka, but later confirmed that its troops had retreated to the outskirts of Marinka.

Host) So far, the West has imposed sanctions on Russia’s crude oil exports as it battles Ukraine. Is it known that Russia managed to escape these sanctions?

Journalist) Yes. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, in charge of economic affairs, said in a televised conference on the 27th that most of its crude oil exports were diverted to China and India in response to Western sanctions.

Presenter) Where before Russia mainly exported crude oil?

Journalist) Yes. Prime Minister Novak explained that previously 40-45% of exports of crude oil and petroleum products went to Europe, but now China’s share has increased from 45% to 50%, and that of ‘India has increased to around 40%. Therefore, Deputy Prime Minister Novak said that currently the share of European exports does not exceed 4%-5%.

Host) The West tried to prevent Russia from financing the war in Ukraine through crude oil exports, right?

Journalist) Exactly. However, these sanctions proved ineffective as China and India imported the majority of Russian crude oil.

Myanmar rebels are transporting civilians rescued from the site of an air raid. (archive photo)

Host) This is the next story from Global Village Today. Has the Chinese government called on its citizens in Myanmar’s northern border area to evacuate?

Journalist) Exactly. On the 28th, the Chinese embassy in Myanmar urged Chinese people in Laukai, Kokang Autonomous Region in northern Myanmar, to avoid the area as quickly as possible. “The conflict in the Laukai region continues and the risk to people’s safety is increasing,” the embassy said.

Host) In northern Myanmar, the Brotherhood Alliance of three rebel organizations is carrying out an offensive against government forces, right?

Journalist) 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 Myanmar’s military regime this week carried out an airstrike on the Kokang Autonomous Region and bombed parts of Laukai .

Host) Is there anything from the Chinese central government regarding the recommendation to evacuate Chinese citizens?

Journalist) Yes. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maoning said in a regular briefing on the 28th: ​​“The current security situation in Myanmar’s Kokang Autonomous Region is dangerous and complex.” He stressed: “We expect 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 government forces and rebels in Myanmar have agreed to a temporary ceasefire through the mediation of the Chinese government?

Journalist) Exactly. China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on the 14th that China mediated peace negotiations between the two sides, and government forces and rebels agreed to maintain a temporary ceasefire and dialogue.

Host) But given that the Chinese were told to evacuate, it seems that this intervention had little effect?

Journalist) Yes. Although it was announced that both sides had agreed to a temporary ceasefire, the Brotherhood Alliance reaffirmed its intention to defeat the dictatorship of Myanmar. There was no talk of peace negotiations or a ceasefire.

Host) So the rebels said they would continue to fight against the military regime?

Journalist) Exactly. The Brotherhood previously posted on the social networking service (SNS) He also stressed: “There is.”

Host) The rebel coalition did not launch an offensive in late October and has so far repelled government forces in various parts of northern Myanmar?

Journalist) Yes. The rebels pushed back government forces and occupied many government military posts and key points in the Chinese border area. Fighting is still ongoing in parts of northern Shan State. The Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), a member of the Brotherhood Alliance, said it had captured two more villages in recent days.

Host) Myanmar’s military regime is taking seriously the situation where government forces continue to be pushed back in Northern Shan State, right?

Journalist) Exactly. Acting President Min Swe warned early last month that there was a risk of the country dividing if the government failed to control the fighting that erupted in Shan State.

Host) Is China not concerned about the intensifying fighting between rebels and government forces in Myanmar’s northern border area?

Journalist) Yes. China has maintained relations not only with the Myanmar 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, which is why the Chinese government is paying close attention to the local situation.

Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmany Jaishankar (left) and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrive at a joint press conference after meeting in Moscow on the 27th.

Host) Let’s look at another news from today’s global village. Has the Indian Foreign Minister visited Russia?

Journalist) Exactly. Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmany Jaishankar is on a five-day visit to Russia. On the 27th, the third day of his visit, Minister Jaishankar met Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

Host) Isn’t it unusual for Russian President Putin to meet a foreign minister-level figure?

Journalist) Yes. President Putin usually does not meet foreign ministers of other countries who visit Russia, so his meeting with Minister Jaishankar is assessed as significant. Experts see the meeting as an attempt to underline that Russia is not isolated.

Host) What was discussed in the meeting between President Putin and Minister Jaishankar?

Journalist) Yes. According to the Russian news agency TASS, President Putin discussed several current issues and prospects for the development of relations between the two countries. At this meeting, President Putin especially highlighted that trade between the two countries has increased for two consecutive years.

Host) This period almost coincides with the period of the war in Ukraine, right?

Journalist) Exactly. 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 war in Ukraine in February last year. Currently, the trade volume between the two countries exceeds 50 billion dollars.

Host) Have India and Russia always had friendly relations?

Journalist) Exactly. The two countries have traditionally maintained friendly relations, holding summit talks every year for the past 20 years. However, no summit has been held in Ukraine since the war broke out. President Putin met with Minister Jaishankar this day (28) and proposed that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visit Moscow.

Guest) Why was the summit between the two countries suspended?

Reporter) The Indian government has not released an official position on the reason for not holding the summit. In this regard, 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 doesn’t 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 stressed, “it is important to somehow show Russia and the international community that India has not abandoned Russia.”

Guest) Can Minister Jaishankar’s visit to Moscow be interpreted in this context?

Journalist) Exactly. 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 is being paid to how Prime Minister Narendra Modi will react to President Putin’s invitation.

Host) Prime Minister Modi visited the US this year, right?

Journalist) Exactly. Prime Minister Modi visited the White House in June and had a summit meeting with US President Joe Biden. Prime Minister Modi, in power since 2014, has visited the United States several times. He attracted attention by visiting the United States for the first time as a state guest last June. The Biden administration, which is working to develop relations with India as a counterweight to China, treated Prime Minister Modi generously at the time.

Guest) Did Minister Jaishankar also meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on this day (27)?

Journalist) Exactly. At the end of the meeting, the foreign ministers of the two countries held a joint press conference. 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 few 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 noteworthy from the press conference?

Journalist) Yes. The two countries also agreed to strengthen nuclear cooperation. India is currently 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. On the 26th Minister Jaishankar also met the Indians living in Moscow. During this event he underlined: “Usually, cooperation in the fields of defense, nuclear and space is conducted only with highly reliable countries.”

Host) We will listen to this part of the global village today.

2023-12-28 13:39:36
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