Fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces continued on Saturday in Ukraineespecially in the east, at times when China advances in its efforts to mediate in search of a way out of a conflict that has already entered its second year.
China, a close partner of Russia, had so far not taken a position on the invasion, but released a 12-point document on Friday calling on the parties for dialogue, insisting on respect for territorial integrity and opposing all use of nuclear weapons.
While Western countries greeted the Chinese diplomatic intervention with skepticism, Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky said he was willing to “work” with Beijing and announced his intention to meet with his counterpart Xi Jinping.
For its part, Russia assured “appreciate” Chinese efforts, although he insisted on the need to recognize the annexation of four Ukrainian regions claimed by Moscow.
Distancing himself from the doubts of the United States or Germany, the French president, Emmanuel Macron, considered that “the fact that China is committed to peace efforts is very good”and announced that he will travel to Beijing “in early April”.
Lukashenko in Beijing on Tuesday
Moscow’s strategic ally, China abstained Thursday from voting on a United Nations General Assembly resolution calling for an “immediate” withdrawal of Russian troops.
Macron, whose country is a member of the UN Security Council, considered that peace “It is only possible if it includes the end of Russian aggression, the withdrawal of troops and respect for the territorial sovereignty and the Ukrainian people.”
The French president has asked China to “Don’t hand over weapons to Russia” and? “help put pressure on Russia to obviously never use [armas] chemical or nuclear, and to stop this aggression before a negotiation”.
Chinese authorities announced on Saturday the visit on February 28 of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who lent the territory of Belarus for the launch of the Russian offensive.
Kazakhstan, the economic heavyweight of Central Asia and an ally of Russia but which until now had adopted a balanced position in the conflict, showed its support for the Chinese proposal.
“Inevitable Victory”
On the ground, Ukraine said it was monitoring the activity of the Russian fleet in the Black Sea. According to the spokeswoman for the Ukrainian Army’s Southern Command, Natalia Gumenyuk, Russian forces have mobilized nine ships, including a missile launcher.
“Since yesterday, they have doubled their pool, which could indicate preparations for further expansion. An air alert has already sounded twice today over the entire territory of Ukraine and in the southern regions,” he claimed.
The Ukrainian parliament approved increasing to two kilometers wide a strip along the Ukrainian-Russian and Ukrainian-Belarusian borders that “It will be mined territory.”
On Friday, when the invasion celebrated its first year, the Ukrainian president stated that he believed in the “unavoidable victory” of his country against Russia this year.
The number two of the Russian Security Council, former President Dmitry Medvedev, also promised the “victory” and stated that Russia was ready to reach “to Poland”.
On a visit to kyiv, the Polish Prime Minister, Mateusz Morawiecki, announced the first delivery of four Leopard 2 tanks and assured that other armored vehicles would arrive “in a few days”.
For his part, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also mentioned the delivery of four additional Leopard 2s, bringing the total to eight.
The European Union on Friday approved its tenth package of sanctions aimed at hitting the Russian economy and Iranian companies accused of contributing to the invasion.
In total, they will affect 121 people and entities, including Iranian drone manufacturers, he said.
Zelensky reiterated on Saturday his call for “reinforce the pressure” about Moscow.
In addition to the new restrictions on Russian exports to Community territory, worth 11,000 million euros, the EU plans to freeze the assets of three Russian banks and numerous entities, including Iranian companies accused of supplying drones to Moscow, according to diplomatic sources.
The United States has already announced, in coordination with the G7 countries, a new round of sanctions directed especially against Russian citizens and companies in the metallurgy, mining, military equipment and semiconductor sectors.
Source: AFP
Source: Gestion
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