VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

South Korea's president warned a NATO summit of the threat to universal values at a time of new conflict and competition, a reference to Russia's aggression in Ukraine and China's engagement with Russia, a South Korean official said.

President Yoon Suk-yeol became the first South Korean leader to attend a NATO summit, joining national NATO leaders as an observer at a meeting in Spain as Russian forces intensified attacks in Ukraine.

"As a new structure of competitions and conflicts is taking shape, there is also a movement that denies the universal values that we have been protecting," Yoon said in a speech on Wednesday, according to a South Korean official.

While he did not identify Russia or China, Yoon said the international community was facing complex security threats that a single country could not solve, the official cited him as saying in his speech that was not made public.

"He was referring to the Ukraine war, and as most other participating countries did, he raised concern about Russia's responsibility for the war and China's responsibility in the international community," the official, who declined to be identified, said on Thursday.

South Korea is a staunch U.S. ally and hosts some 28,000 U.S. troops. It has also developed a crucial economic relationship with China, South Korea's largest trading partner.

Yoon, like his predecessors, will have to balance those two relationships while at the same time facing a belligerent North Korea developing its arsenal of nuclear weapons and the missiles to deliver them.

Yoon hopes to build relations with NATO members in the face of an unpredictable international situation and promote international cooperation on North Korea's nuclear ambitions, South Korean officials said before the summit.

South Korea's approach to NATO comes as the alliance is looking east towards a region it refers to as the Indo-Pacific, a new focus that Yoon welcomed, the official said.

NATO in its new strategic concept unveiled on Wednesday, for the first time described China as a challenge to NATO's "interests, security and values", as an economic and military power that remains "opaque about its strategy, intentions and military build-up".

China firmly opposes NATO's new strategic concept and called on NATO to "immediately stop groundless accusations and provocative remarks", Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told a regular briefing in Beijing on Thursday.

"NATO's strategic concept document ignores the facts...discredits China's foreign policy, speaks ill of China's normal military development and national defense policy and encourages confrontation," Zhao said.

Yoon, U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, also attending the NATO summit as an observer, met and agreed that the progress of North Korea's nuclear and missile programmes posed serious threats to not only the Korean peninsula but also East Asia and the world.

Chinese state media had warned against South Korea and Japan attending the NATO summit and criticised the alliance's broadening partnerships in Asia. North Korea said this week that NATO involvement in the Asia-Pacific region would import the conflict raging in Europe.

Australia and New Zealand also attended the summit, making four observers from the region. The South Korean official said the four were "exploring their own Indo-Pacific strategies".

"At the heart of that, there are concerns and various dilemmas about China," the official said.

Asked on Thursday about South Korea, Japan, Australia and New Zealand's attendance at the NATO summit, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao said that third parties should not be targeted, or their interests undermined as different countries develop relations with each other.

"China will pay close attention to the relevant trends of NATO and will not sit idly by and do nothing if matters are harming China's interests," he said. (Reuters)

Russia's Deputy Security Council Chairman Dmitry Medvedev said on Thursday that in certain circumstances, sanctions against Moscow may be seen as an act of aggression and a justification for war.

"I would like to point out once again that under certain circumstances such hostile measures can also qualify as an act of international aggression. And even as a casus belli (justification for war)," Medvedev said, adding that Russia has the right to defend itself.

Russia has faced a barrage of crippling economic sanctions from Western countries in response to its Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine, which it calls a "special military operation".

Medvedev, a former Russian president who was once seen as a liberal, has emerged as one of the most hawkish proponents of the war, delivering a series of scathing denunciations of the West. (Reuters)

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), First Lady Iriana, and a limited entourage went to Moscow, Russia to meet President Vladimir Putin.

President Jokowi's entourage headed to Russia after traveling by Extraordinary Train (KLB) for 11 hours from Kyiv, Ukraine and arriving at Przemysl Glowny Station, Przemysl city, Poland, Thursday (30/6/2022) morning local time. From the station, the President, Mrs. Iriana and their entourage went straight to Rzeszow-Jasionka International Airport, Poland and headed to Vnukovo II Airport in Moscow, Russia using the Garuda Indonesia GIA-1 aircraft.

Arriving in Russia later, President Jokowi is scheduled to hold a meeting with President Putin, at the Kremlin. The meeting was to discuss a peaceful solution to the Russo-Ukrainian war.

Previously, President Jokowi first met with the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, at the Maryinsky Palace, Kyiv, Ukraine, Wednesday (29/6/2022).

During the meeting, President Jokowi said that his visit to Ukraine was a manifestation of the Indonesian people's concern for Ukraine.

"I conveyed to President Zelenskyy that I made this visit as a manifestation of Indonesia's concern for the situation in Ukraine," said President Jokowi when delivering a press statement with President Zelenskyy after the meeting.

President Jokowi emphasized that Indonesia's position has always emphasized the importance of respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Although it is still very difficult to achieve, President Jokowi also continues to convey the importance of a peaceful settlement. According to him, the spirit of peace should never fade between the two sides.

"In this regard, I offer to carry a message from President Zelenskyy for President Putin which I will visit soon," he added.

In addition, President Jokowi also expressed his concern for the impact of war on humanity. With existing capabilities, the people and government of Indonesia are trying to provide assistance, including medicine and commitments to reconstruct hospitals around Kyiv.

In addition, President Jokowi also conveyed the importance of Ukraine for the world food supply chain. The Head of State said that all efforts must be made so that Ukraine can resume exporting food.

"It is important for all parties to provide security guarantees for the smooth export of Ukrainian food, including through sea ports. I support the United Nations' efforts in this regard," he stressed.

In this meeting, President Jokowi again conveyed a direct invitation to President Zelenskyy to participate in the G20 Summit which will be held next November in Bali. President Jokowi also conveyed Indonesia's commitment to continue to strengthen bilateral cooperation with Ukraine.

"This year is 30 years of diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Ukraine. I convey Indonesia's commitment to continue to strengthen better cooperation," he said.

Meanwhile, President Zelenskyy expressed his appreciation for President Jokowi's presence in Ukraine. According to him, this is the first visit by a leader of an Asian country to Ukraine since the invasion.

"Thank you for the presence of President Jokowi, which is the first visit by an Asian leader since the invasion of Ukraine. I also invite Indonesian businesses to participate in the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine," said President Zelenskyy.

Also accompanying President Jokowi and Mrs. Iriana on the flight to Moscow were Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi and Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung. (RRI)

Presidential Chief of Staff General TNI (Purn) Moeldoko said Indonesia's neutrality in the Russia-Ukraine conflict demonstrated by President Joko Widodo was the hope of many countries.

"Seeing such a situation, the president wants to do something not only for the Indonesian state but for the world," he said in the Pro3 RRI dialogue, Thursday (30/6/2022).

It should be noted that President Jokowi visited Ukraine and Russia to reconcile the two countries that were at war. So far President Jokowi has met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

"The President also wants to open a dialogue room so that President Zelenskyy has a new view on how the dialogue can be partnered. So it could also be because of the sincere intentions of Pak Jokowi, with all the risks he has taken, maybe President Zelenskyy will finally be open to building a positive dialogue," he said.

According to him, the effort to reconcile Russia-Ukraine is because President Jokowi wants all countries to work together in dealing with the problems at hand.

"What President Jokowi sees at this time is how to bring the world to peace, to bring this world back to normal, like the real problems that are currently being faced by various worlds," explained Moeldoko.

Moreover, continued Moeldoko, the war between Russia and Ukraine has had a very significant economic impact, both internally to both countries and the world economy.

"The impact of this war is that the logistics of the world are disrupted, and it is felt by all parties, things like that are the basis why the President takes and defeats risks, but chooses for the greater interest," he explained.

Moeldoko also asked all Indonesians to support President Jokowi in this peace mission.

"Thank you for your prayers and enthusiasm for our President and let's voice good things related to humanity because the impact of war is terrible for all parties and terrible for the nation as well," he concluded. (RRI)