Secretary of State for International Trade Liz Truss meets with Dan Tehan, Australian Trade Minister to discuss trade negotiations in the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office in London. Picture by Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street
According to UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, NATO members are talking about the possibility of ensuring that not only Ukraine, but also Moldova has modern defenses, reports Asian Lite News
British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss says the United Kingdom and other NATO members are discussing the possibility of sending modern weaponry to Moldova.
“I would want to see Moldova equipped to Nato standard. This is a discussion we’re having with our allies,” Truss said in a Friday interview with The Telegraph.
According to Truss, NATO members are talking about the possibility of ensuring that not only Ukraine, but also Moldova has modern defenses.
If the military alliance agrees on the issue, NATO will provide weapons to Moldova in order to replace Soviet-era equipment and will also provide training to Moldovan military personnel, The Telegraph said on Friday. (ANI/Sputnik)
Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) shakes hands with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin ahead of their talks in Moscow, Russia, June 5, 2019. (Xinhua/Li Xueren/IANS)
Although Beijing has extended firm diplomatic support to Russia during the Ukraine conflict, it appears unwilling to back Moscow in a whole-hearted manner to avert Western sanctions due to the fear of secondary sanctions.
In an effort to stem growing suspicions over its ties with the Kremlin, China was sending a delegation headed by Huo Yuzhen, China’s special representative to China-Central & Eastern Europe Cooperation, to the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Slovenia, Estonia, Latvia, and Poland in the coming days, reported Russian media council.
China’s support to Russia in opposition to the enlargement of NATO has given rise to concerns in the Eastern and Central European countries about the reliability of the Asian giant as a partner which can be counted on.
While on one hand, China was looking for heavy discounts on the purchase of Russian oil/oil products and gas, it was at the same time denying the supply of Russian oil to Asia through tankers, thus depriving Moscow of economic benefits.
It was also unwilling to route Russian payments through its financial system for fear of secondary sanctions and expressed an inability even to shift products of Russian processors deemed necessary for the Russian industry from Taiwan to China.
In order to expedite the freight movement, the first cross-border railway bridge between China and Russia was expected to be fully operational by August 2022, cutting the train journey from Heilongjiang to Moscow by 800 km and travel time by 10 hours. The Bridge would further facilitate China to the transport of coal, iron ore, timber, and mineral fertilizers from Russia, which was expected to boost cross-border trade.
Interestingly, Chinese customs data revealed (March 2022) an increase in trade with Russia by over 12 percent as compared to March 2021 as well as a rise in imports from Russia by 26 percent.
According to reports, China’s interest in the Russia-Ukraine conflict was purely economic, other indicators also suggest that the relationship between Beijing and Moscow was more than just numbers. A survey conducted between March 28 and April 5, 2022, by the ‘Carter Center China Focus’ on Chinese public opinion regarding Russia’s actions in Ukraine, reveals that the majority of China’s netizens feel that supporting Russia was in China’s best interest.
US President Joe Biden, when he was the vice president, with China’s President Xi Jinping during a visit to Beijing in 2011. (File Photo White House_IANS)
China’s Deputy permanent representative to the UN Dai Bin too stated that arms supplies to Ukraine and sanctions against Russia will not bring peace to Ukraine.
The whole world is currently paying for economic pressure on Russia, and the sanctions have led to a food crisis and rising energy prices.
On April 14, 2022, CIA Director William Burns, speaking at the Georgia Institute of Technology, termed Chinese President Xi Jinping ‘a silent partner in Putin’s aggression in Ukraine’ and pointed to the “immediate threat posed by renewed Russian aggression against Ukraine” as well as the “longer-term problem posed by China’s ambitious leadership”, calling it “the single most important geopolitical challenge” of the 21st century.
It seems that Beijing wants to have the best of both worlds; however, it must keep in mind that sailing simultaneously in two boats may lead to capsizing one, if not both of them.
China’s subtle isolation from Russia can be attributed to protecting its own interests as Beijing has recently come under international scrutiny, with a never-ending stream of US officials urging it to distance itself from Russia or suffer “consequences.”
Despite being asked to mediate a truce between Russia and Ukraine, and Beijing openly proclaiming its determination to do so, China appears to be choosing a low-profile strategy. (ANI)
US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman meets with Secretary General of the EU External Action Service Stefano Sannino. (Photo: Twitter@DeputySecState)
The US and EU have urged China not to provide any form of support for Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, and reaffirmed that such support would have consequences for our respective relationships with China, reports Asian Lite News
US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman met European External Action Service Secretary General Stefano Sannino in Brussels to hold the third high-level meeting of the US-EU Dialogue on China.
“Together, they exchanged views on their respective bilateral relations with China. In particular, they held an in-depth discussion on their recent engagement with China on Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified war against Ukraine,” US State Department said in a press statement after the meeting between the two sides on April 21 and April 22.
They underscored they will continue to urge China not to circumvent or undermine sanctions against Russia, and not to provide any form of support for Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, and reaffirmed that such support would have consequences for our respective relationships with China.
They also expressed concern about China’s repeated information manipulation, including amplification of Russia’s disinformation regarding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
On Taiwan, they underscored the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait to regional and global security and prosperity. They expressed their support for the peaceful resolution of cross-Strait issues, and discouraged any actions, which undermine the status quo.
US Deputy Secretary Sherman and Secretary General Sannino also discussed China’s stances and activities in multilateral fora, noting that U.S. and EU objectives will continue to focus squarely on upholding international law and principles, the maintenance of the centrality of the UN Charter, and respect for human rights.
US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman meets with Secretary General of the EU External Action Service Stefano Sannino. (Photo: Twitter@DeputySecState)
They expressed particular concern about, and opposition to, recent incidents of economic coercion by China, affirming their solidarity with those targeted and underscoring the importance of international cooperation in addressing growing instances of economic coercion.
They also reviewed the outcome of senior officials’ and expert-level exchanges on multilateralism, human rights, and engagement with China.
They also condemned the situation in Xinjiang, notably the existence of a large network of “political reeducation” camps, widespread surveillance, systemic restrictions on freedom of religion or belief against Uyghurs and other persons belonging to minority groups, as well as the use of forced labor. (ANI)
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said: “India certainly wants to be a friend but if the US also wants a friend, the friend can’t be a weak friend, the friend should not be weakened.” … reports Yashwant Raj
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said India’s stand on the Russia-Ukraine war was predicated on the security challenges in its own neighbourhood and the US should understand that though it has a friend in India, that “friend can’t be a weak friend (and) the friend should be not weakened”.
On Friday, the Union Minister said she found that understanding in her interactions during her ongoing visit to the US for the Spring Meetings of the World Bank Group.
She met many US officials on the sidelines, including National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and other officials, over a dinner hosted by Indian Ambassador to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu.
India’s Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman meets with World Bank Group President David Malpass.
“India certainly wants to be a friend but if the US also wants a friend, the friend can’t be a weak friend, the friend should not be weakened,” Sitharaman told reporters at a new conference concluding her visit.
She added: “So we are taking decisions, we are taking calls, we are taking calibrated positions because we need to be strong where we are, given the geographical locational realities.”
These neighbourhood challenges included, as she laid out “tension” along the northern border with China that continued despite the Covid-19 pandemic, a western border with Pakistan that is “constantly at odds”, and the influx into India of military hardware sent to Afghanistan for counter-terrorism operations.
India has been under pressure from the US to take a more forceful position against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and cease or curtail trading relations, especially energy imports. A senior US National Security Council official went as far as to threaten India with “consequences”.
India has not condemned the invasion outrightly — and abstained on two votes in the UN Security Council — but it has made clear its disapproval of it.
New Delhi has called for the cessation of hostilities and for differences to be resolved through diplomatic channels. Further, it has invoked UN Charter’s cardinal principle of respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations in a thinly disguised criticism of Russian aggression, and has sent humanitarian aid to Ukraine.
India has condemned the massacre in Bucha though and supported a call for an independent investigation called by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.
India has also cited its long relationship with Russia going back decades to the ertswhile Soviet Union — including its decisive intervention in 1971 to keep off the US — and reliance on military hardware exports in support of its less-than-shrill condemnation of Russia.
Despite the threat of consequences, the Biden administration has acknowledged India’s reasons and assured Indian officials it understands but, as conceded by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar during his recent visit for the 2+2 meeting, India lacks the same level of understanding outside the circle of officials and policy experts.
“Your neighbourhood is what you have, as a given,” Sitharaman said, adding, “You have to keep that in mind when you’re talking about relationships.”
While the Russia-Ukraine war has brought India challenges — such as dried up supplies of sunflower oil from Ukraine and fertilisers from Russia — the Union Minister said it has also presented opportunities.
Minister Sitharaman with Ambassador of India to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu and CEA to Government of India, Dr V. Anantha Nageswaran.
Sitharaman was most upbeat about the possibility of the lifting of WTO (World Trade Organisation) restrictions on Indian exports of cereals.
“The DG WTO (Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala of Nigeria) was also present,” she said, adding, “She was gracious enough to say — addressing me in the plenary — that you raise this issue, but we are looking at it positively and hopefully sort it out.”
Indian exports of foodgrains run into WTO regulations on state-subsidised products because of the Minimum Support Price (MSP) that the government offers to guarantee farmers an assured return on their produce. WTO rules tend to extend the same restrictions to agricultural produce outside the MSP programme.
Russian President Vladimir Putin (Twitter@KremlinRussia_E)
The formal diplomatic note from Moscow was sent on Tuesday, just as word of a new US military aid package for Ukraine had started to leak out, reports Asian Lite News
Russia has formally warned the US and other allied nations against supplying weapons to Ukraine.
The warning came in a formal diplomatic note from Moscow, a copy of which has been reviewed by media outlets in the US, BBC reported.
The two-page diplomatic note – forwarded to the US State Department by the Russian embassy in Washington – warns that US and NATO weapons shipments are “adding fuel” to the conflict in Ukraine, and could lead to what Russian diplomats refer to as “unpredictable consequences”, BBC reported.
It was sent on Tuesday, just as word of a new US military aid package for Ukraine had started to leak out. Only hours later President Biden approved the shipment of $800m of military assistance – including, for the first time, long range artillery weapons such as howitzers – with the aim of matching Russia’s military capability in Ukraine.
A senior US administration official was quoted as saying the warning could be seen as a concession by Russia that US and NATO military assistance to Ukraine was proving effective.
US President Joe Biden during a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. (Photo: Twitter@POTUS)
The first part of this latest shipment is expected to arrive in Ukraine in the next few days, as Russian forces continue to mobilise in the east of the country, ahead of what is expected to be a major assault on the disputed Donbas region of Ukraine in the next few weeks.
Since the war began, the US has supplied more than $3bn in military assistance to Ukraine.
According to Ukrainian defence ministry, the Russian forces have not gained full control of the city after almost seven weeks since the siege began, reports Asian Lite News
Ukrainian Defence Ministry spokesman Olexandr Motuzyanyk has said that their forces continued to fight the Russian military for the Azov Sea key port city of Mariupol, the Ukrinform news agency reported.
“The Russian Army is constantly recruiting additional units to storm the city, and as of now there are active battles near the Ilyich plant and in the port zone of Mariupol,” Motuzyanyk said on Friday.
He emphasised that the Russian forces have not gained full control of the city after almost seven weeks since the siege began, Xinhua news agency reported.
The Ukrainian military recently carried out a tactical operation on joining the forces of two military units in Mariupol and now they are trying to unblock the city, Motuzyanyk said.
On Wednesday, Ukrainian presidential advisor Oleksiy Arestovych said that the 36th Marine Brigade had broken fighting lines and joined the Azov Battalion in Mariupol, strengthening the defense of the city.
Mariupol in eastern Ukraine saw one of the worst violence in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
The Ukrainian military command announced in the afternoon of April 14 that the cruiser “Moskva” began to sink due to the hit of Ukrainian missiles…reports Asian Lite News
There could be two nuclear warheads aboard the sunken Russian cruiser, Moskva, as per Ukrainian experts, media reports said.
Andrii Klymenko, project manager at the Black Sea Institute for Strategic Studies, said: “Experts say that there are 2 nuclear warheads for cruise missiles on board the ‘Moskva’ (perhaps this could be news for many, but yes, this ship is a carrier of nuclear weapons),” the Ukrayinska Pravda reported.
“Where are these warheads? Where were they when the ammunition exploded? Where is the point on the map? Coordinates? – These are the competencies of the UN Security Council, the IAEA…
“The Black Sea coastal states – Turkey, Romania, Bulgaria, Georgia – should join this immediately,” he added.
In the evening of 13 April, it was reported that Ukrainian anti-ship Neptune missile hit the missile cruiser of the Russian Black Sea Fleet. After that, the cruiser with 16 cruise missiles was disabled.
On the morning of April 14, the Russian Defence Ministry admitted that there was a fire on the deck of the flagship of the Black Sea Fleet, but dropped everything on the accidental detonation of ammunition. The command personally reported the incident to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Ukrayinska Pravda reported.
The Ukrainian military command announced in the afternoon of April 14 that the cruiser “Moskva” began to sink due to the hit of Ukrainian missiles.
It later was reported that the Russian ship sank after a long fire on board while being towed to Sevastopol.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy President of Ukraine.(photo:Facebook)
“The UN system must be reformed immediately so the veto isn’t the right to die. “There can be no more exceptions or privileges,” said Zelensky…reports Asian Lite News
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for the expulsion of Russia from the United Nations Security Council for the atrocities it has committed in the ongoing war.
He also demaded that If the body fails to do this, it should be dissolved, media reported.
Zelenskyy made the remarks while speaking at a United Nations Security Council meeting where he also called for fair representation of all the regions in the most powerful organ of the United Nations.
“UN needs to act immediately, its system must be reformed immediately… There must be a fair representation of all regions in the Security Council. The Russian military must be brought to justice,” Zelenskyy said.
He said the UN system must be reformed immediately so the veto isn’t the right to die. “There can be no more exceptions or privileges,” Zelensky said.
Zelenskyy appealed to the UN and the world community to interfere in the ongoing conflict and stop the atrocities against civilians.
“Civilians were crushed by tanks, women were raped and killed in front of their children. What Russian military did in Bucha is cruelty. The UN Charter has been violated literally. The massacre in Bucha is only one of many examples…” the Ukrainian President further said referring to the massacre of civilians in the Ukrainian town of Bucha which was abandoned by the Russian Forces on April 1.
“Maximum access for journalists, maximum cooperation with international institutions, involvement of the International Criminal Court — complete and full accountability. I’m sure that every member state of the UN should be interested in this. For what? In order to punish once and for all those who consider themselves privileged and believe that they can get away with anything,” Zelenskyy further said while calling the Russian actions as “war crimes”.
“So, show all the other potential war criminals in the world how they will be punished if the biggest one is punished,” he urged the UN Security Council.
The strong remarks by the Ukrainian President came, even as Under-Secretary-General for political and peacebuilding affairs Rosemary A Dicarlo informed that the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has received credible allegations that Russian forces have used cluster munitions in populated areas at least 24 times during the course of the conflict while adding that allegations that Ukrainian forces have used such weapons are also being investigated.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also spoke at the UNSC meeting and talked about the damage to the global economy while also recalling the Bucha massacre.
India's Permanent Representative T S Tirumurti addresses the emergency meeting of the Security Council on Ukraine developments on Monday, February 21, 2022. (Photo: UN/IANS)
While making probably the harshest criticism of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, Tirumurti straddled the fine line of neutrality by not naming Russia….writes Arul Louis
In what is likely its strongest statement on the Ukraine situation so far, India on Tuesday “unequivocally condemned” the killings of civilians in Bucha after hearing Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky and UN officials giving heart-rending descriptions of the atrocities in the city.
“Recent reports of civilian killings in Bucha are deeply disturbing. We unequivocally condemn these killings and support the call for an independent investigation,” India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, T.S. Tirumurti, said at the Security Council.
While making probably the harshest criticism of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, Tirumurti straddled the fine line of neutrality by not naming Russia.
“India continues to remain deeply concerned at the worsening situation and reiterates its call for immediate cessation of violence and end to hostilities,” he said.
“We continue to emphasise to all member states of the UN that the global order is anchored on international law, UN Charter and respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty of states,” he added in an implied criticism of Russia.
Over the weekend, harrowing images of atrocities against civilians in Bucha dominated the Security Council meeting.
Before Tirumurti spoke, Zelensky through a video link said that in Bucha, “there is not a single crime that they (Russia) would not commit” and listed a range of horrific atrocities that he said had been committed by the Russian troops that withdrew from the city near Kiev.
He likened the atrocities there to those committed by the Islamic State terrorist organisations in the Middle East.
He showed the Council a video that he said documented what he called war crimes, showing piles of bodies, some with hands bound.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the Security Council, “I will never forget the horrifying images of civilians killed in Bucha.”
Pic credits IANS
“I am also deeply shocked by the personal testimony of rapes and sexual violence that are now emerging,” he added, while calling for an independent inquiry into the matter.
Russia’s Permanent Representative to UN< Vasily Nebenzia, asserted that some images in the video were staged and others showed victims of Ukrainian forces or “neo-Nazis” and questioned the timeline of the video and other images that have emerged.
UN Under-Secretary-General, Rosemary DiCarlo, said, “The horror deepened this past week as shocking images emerged of dead civilians, some with hands bound, lying on the streets of Bucha, the town near Kiev formerly held by Russian forces. Many bodies were also found in a mass grave in the same locality.”
“Reports by non-governmental organisations and media also allege summary executions of civilians, rape and looting in Chernihiv, Kharkiv and Kiev regions,” she added.
As the invasion continues into its second month, Tirumurti said, “The situation in Ukraine has not shown any significant improvement since the Council last discussed the issue. The security situation has only deteriorated, as well as its humanitarian consequences.”
He added, “When innocent human lives are at stake, diplomacy must prevail as the only viable option. In this context, we take note of the ongoing efforts, including the meetings held recently between the concerned parties,” he added.
Representatives of Russia and Ukraine have held in-person meetings in Turkey and followed it up with virtual talks, but with no sign of a ceasefire yet.
In addition, Guterres has designated Under-Secretary-General Martin Griffiths for a UN peace effort in Ukraine.
He had visited Moscow over the weekend.
Tirumurti said that New Delhi hoped the international community would continue to support humanitarian efforts in Ukraine, adding, “We stand ready to provide more medical supplies to Ukraine in the coming days.”
India has already sent medicines and relief materials to Ukraine and its neighbours, he said.
The situation is similar with payment of mercenaries hired by Russia’s private military campaigns (PMC) to take part in the war, according to the Chief Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence, reports Asian Lite News
The Chief Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence said that that the Russian budget does not have funds for further payments to the military for participation in the ongoing war against Kiev.
“After the promised payments to the military of the aggressors’ army, the Russian military has had problems with funding. It has turned out that the budget does not provide for payment of these costs. And given the unsatisfactory state of Russia’s financial system due to sanctions, additional funds cannot be found in the budget,” Ukrayinska Pravda quoted the Directorate as saying.
In Crimea, the current budget for military units was used up in February after payments were made for “business trips” to those who took part in the war against Ukraine, it said.
“There is no funding for any payments in March.”
The situation is similar with payment of mercenaries hired by Russia’s private military campaigns (PMC) to take part in the war, the agency note.
“More and more often, these soldiers are refusing to enter the territory of Ukraine. The reason is non-fulfilment of the terms of the concluded contracts. These militants are not receiving funds for participation in hostilities, compensation for injuries or promised ‘social guarantees’.”
