The Russian government on Wednesday claimed China’s support for its security demands against the West, before a meeting of the presidents Vladimir Putin Y Xi Jinping at the opening of the Winter Olympics.
(In other news: the United States confirms the sending of 3,000 soldiers to Eastern Europe)
The Russian president will meet with his Chinese counterpart as part of the opening on Friday of the Winter Olympic Games in Beijing. According MoscowThe two leaders plan to signal their diplomatic convergence as they have grown closer as their relations with the United States deteriorate.
“A joint declaration on entering international relations into a new era has been prepared,” said Yuri Ushakov, a diplomatic adviser to the Russian president. “In it we will find the common vision of
Russia and China (…) especially on security issues,” he added.
(Also: Filtered US response to Russia’s demands not to invade Ukraine)
Ushakov assured that China he supports Russia’s “security claims,” a list of demands directed at the United States and NATO to ease tensions over Ukraine and which Westerners have rejected. At the end of January, the Chinese government had called to “take seriously” those demands.
Putin hopes for a “solution”
Russia is accused by Westerners of planning an invasion of its pro-Western neighbor Ukraine, on whose borders it has deployed some 100,000 troops for weeks.
Russia denies planning an invasion, saying it just wants to ensure their safety. But he believes that a de-escalation of this crisis is only possible if it means the end of NATO’s enlargement policy and the withdrawal of its military capabilities from Eastern Europe.
(See: Putin Accuses US of ‘Ignoring’ Russia’s Security Concerns)
Coincidence or not, Russia went to war with Georgia, another pro-Western former Soviet republic, during the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
U.S and its allies rejected the Russian demands, but Washington proposed to work on measures of confidence in military and security matters.
Putin on Tuesday accused the West of ignoring Moscow’s security concerns and the United States of using Ukraine to carry out
Russia to a conflict. But she also said to expect “a solution”. Following these statements, leaders of NATO member countries continued diplomatic efforts on the Ukraine crisis on Wednesday.
For the West, Russia threatens the security of Europe, especially since it already annexed part of Ukraine’s territory, Crimea, in 2014 and since then has supported armed pro-Russian separatist forces. For this reason, Washington believes that a de-escalation requires the return to their barracks of the Russian units camped at the gates of Ukraine.
(Also: Crisis over Ukraine: Security Council analyzes possible sanctions on Russia)
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken held a telephone conversation with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on Tuesday, in which the Russian official said that Washington agreed to continue the dialogue.
US proposals
The Spanish newspaper El País published details of the US responses to the Russian demands – which have not been denied. In them, Washington proposes that the rivals promise not to deploy offensive military means in Ukraine, that Moscow inspect certain military infrastructures that concern it in Europe and that both countries agree on arms control measures.
Moscow is currently preparing a formal response to the United States. In parallel, several Western leaders have traveled to Ukraine to meet with President Volodymyr Zelensky. Prime Ministers Boris Johnson of the United Kingdom and Poland were in Kiev on Tuesday, and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan are due to do so this week.
Erdogan will take advantage of NATO membership and his relationship with Putin to break his isolation and try to avoid a conflict that could weaken his country. And this despite the fact that the Turkish supply of drones to Ukraine caused outrage in Moscow.
The foreign ministers of France and Germany are scheduled to travel to Ukraine next week, a visit that will include a trip to the east of the country, where Ukrainian forces are fighting pro-Russian separatists.
The Ukrainian military, after years of relative scarcity, has seen Western arms deliveries increase in recent weeks, which has been denounced by Moscow. “These weapons are for defense, we only think about peace,” Zelensky said.
(See: United Kingdom prepares new sanctions law against Russia)
Western leaders warned that any such attack would have “severe consequences,” which could include economic sanctions. Threats that Johnson will surely repeat on Wednesday when he speaks on the phone with Putin. For his part, French President Emmanuel Macron could travel to Moscow in the coming days.
AFP
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