Russia expands economic sanctions against Ukraine; Trump sets conditions for US government to reopen

Russia expands economic sanctions against Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev. Photo: Reuters

AFP news agency quoted Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev's decree on December 25 saying that the Russian government has added 245 individuals and 7 companies from Ukraine, mainly in the energy and defense sectors, to the list of sanctions imposed by Russia. On his Twitter account, Russian Prime Minister Medvedev said that these sanctions are aimed at "protecting the interests of the Russian government, businesses and people".

Thus, with the expansion of the sanctions, a total of 567 individuals and 75 companies from Ukraine are now facing economic sanctions from Russia. These organizations/individuals will have their assets in Russia frozen by the Russian authorities.

President Trump sets conditions for US government to reopen

US President Donald Trump announced that the government will shut down until the Senate passes a budget for the border wall. According to Reuters, President Trump made the statement in the Oval Office while chairing an online conference with the participation of US military forces abroad on December 25.

About 25% of the government has been shut down for days as Congress stalemates over President Trump’s request for $5 billion to build a wall along the border with Mexico. “I can’t say when the government will reopen. I can say it’s not going to happen until we have a wall or a fence. That’s a barrier to people coming into our country,” he said.

Prime Minister Hun Sen threatens to jail Sam Rainsy if he returns to Cambodia

Mr. Sam Rainsy lives in exile in France after leaving Cambodia. Photo: AFP

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said on December 26 that he had “prepared handcuffs” and would immediately imprison opposition politician Sam Rainsy if he returned to Cambodia as he had recently announced. “I have prepared handcuffs and will immediately imprison the person who is preparing to return to Cambodia if he dares to do as he said,” Prime Minister Hun Sen emphasized during a rally with garment workers in Phnom Penh.

Sam Rainsy told supporters in Paris on December 16 that he would return home next year and called on people to join forces to oppose the government. Sam Rainsy, who is in exile abroad, is the founder and former president of the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP). The party was dissolved by a court ruling in 2017 after its president, Kem Sokha, was arrested on treason charges.

Syrian government forces enter Kurdish-controlled Manbij area

Syrian government forces have entered Manbij, a northern border area controlled by Kurdish fighters. Trucks carrying Syrian government troops, equipment, two tanks and other armored vehicles have arrived at the village of Arimah, located on the western outskirts of Manbij and 25km from the city centre.

The move comes a day after Turkish-backed Syrian fighters reinforced their forces and armored vehicles at the Manbij frontline and just days after the US announced a surprise withdrawal from Syria. Manbij is controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), led by the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), which Türkiye considers a terrorist group.

South Korea's Defense White Paper Will Drop Its Confrontational Stance on North Korea

Cover of the 2012, 2014 and 2016 South Korean Defense White Papers.

KBS reported on December 26 that the South Korean Ministry of National Defense's White Paper, scheduled to be released in January 2019, will remove hostile phrases toward North Korea. On the same day, a South Korean government official also confirmed that the Defense White Paper will remove previously prescribed hostile phrases and expressions. Instead, it will include cooperative content between the two countries aimed at protecting each side's territory and national security.

This is the first time that a South Korean Defense White Paper has been released under President Moon Jae-in. The previous Defense White Paper released in 2016 strongly criticized North Korea's threats to South Korea's security, with its missile and nuclear development.

Hodeida ceasefire monitoring committee meets for first time

Scenes of devastation after fighting in Hodeida, Yemen on December 17. Source: AFP/VNA

On December 26, the United Nations Ceasefire Monitoring Committee in the Yemeni city of Hodeida, including representatives of the warring parties in Yemen, met for the first time in the port city of this country. The Ceasefire Monitoring Committee, headed by retired Dutch General Patrick Cammaert, along with several Saudi Arabia-backed Yemeni government officials and representatives of the Houthi rebel group.

A Yemeni government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, expressed hope that the two sides would achieve good results after this meeting. The ceasefire in the port city of Hodeida, through which 90% of Yemen's food imports pass, is part of a peace push that is seen as the best chance to end the four-year conflict between Houthi rebels and government forces alongside a Saudi-led coalition.