Chinese foreign minister visits Moscow amid Ukraine war anniversary – National

Russia and China showcased their deepening ties at Wednesday’s talks, with others watching for signs that Beijing may offer the Kremlin stronger support for its war in Ukraine. .

Wang Yi, the Chinese Communist Party’s top foreign policy official, came to Moscow at a time when the conflict in Ukraine continues to rock the global diplomatic order.

Relations between Russia and the West are at their worst since the Cold War, and relations between China and the United States are also under serious strain. Moscow this week suspended its participation in the final nuclear arms control treaty with Washington. The United States also expressed concern over China’s possible provision of arms and ammunition to Russia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomed relations between the two countries at the beginning of his meeting with Wang, adding that the Kremlin expects Chinese President Xi Jinping to visit Russia.

The Russian leader, whose sovereignty over Russia is endangered by war, noted rising international tensions and said, cooperation is particularly important for stabilizing the international situation,” he added. ”

Wang said, “China-Russia relations are not directed at a third country, and it is absolutely impossible to come under pressure from a third country.” and questioning what deepened the divide with Russia: the meeting with Putin.

For example, Wang emphasized that both Moscow and Beijing support “multipolarization and democratization of international relations.” This refers to the common goal of countering US dominance in world affairs.

Earlier Wednesday, the king met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. “Our relationship continues to develop dynamically, and despite the intense turmoil on the global stage, we have shown that we are ready to speak out to protect each other’s interests.” Lavrov said.

Wang responded kindly, emphasizing Beijing’s focus on deepening its ties with Russia, which “there are no limits” to.

China has blatantly refused to criticize its aggression against Ukraine while refuting Moscow’s claims that the US and NATO were responsible for provoking the Kremlin. Beijing also condemned sanctions imposed on Russia after it invaded Ukraine.

Russia, on the other hand, has been a firm supporter of China amid tensions with the United States over Taiwan.

The two countries held military exercises to mark their defense ties. China, Russia and South Africa are conducting naval exercises in the Indian Ocean this week.

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The Russian frigate Admiral Gorshkov recently arrived in Cape Town and has the letters Z and V on its sides, marking Russian weapons on the Ukrainian front lines and being used in Russia as a patriotic symbol. It is a character that has

The settlement worried the West. US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said China’s involvement in the Kremlin war would be a “serious problem”.

Asked on Wednesday if there were any indications that NATO might provide weapons or other support to Russia’s war, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told the Associated Press in Warsaw, Poland: told to

“There are some indications that they may be planning to do so, and of course our NATO ally, the United States, has issued a warning against this as it should not happen. should not support Russia’s illegal war.”

Stoltenberg argues that potential Chinese support “will (directly) support blatant violations of international law and, of course, (as) China, a member of the UN Security Council, will be required to comply with the UN Charter or We must never support violations of international law.” law. “

Government-backed Chinese academics have dismissed Washington’s warnings about its ties to Moscow. This reflects what they call a polarized and distorted view of America.

The Global Times quoted Zhang Hong, a deputy researcher at the Institute of Russia, Eastern Europe and Central Asia at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, saying that the United States and its allies have viewed the conflict between Russia and Ukraine through “coloured glasses.” rice field. ”

“Anyone who speaks to Russia seems to be seen as siding with Moscow in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict,” an English-language Chinese newspaper quoted Mr Zhang as saying.

The king’s meeting with Lavrov follows Tuesday’s meeting with Nikolai Patrushev, the powerful secretary of Russia’s National Security Council, as the West seeks to maintain control by sabotaging an alliance between China and Russia. and called for closer cooperation with Beijing to counter what he described.

China has emphasized its close ties with Moscow in recent days, but is also being cautious to avoid escalating tensions with the West as it seeks to stimulate its economy in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. There is a need to.

Yu Jie, a senior research fellow for China in the Asia-Pacific program at British think tank Chatham House, said in comments published Wednesday that “Isolation from the West is a risk[for Beijing]to take.” It’s not what I want,” he said. “President Xi Jinping and his colleagues have begun to realize that there are considerable limits to cooperation with Russia in order to avoid undermining China’s own political priorities and long-term economic interests. .”

The king’s visit to Moscow took place against the backdrop of heavy fighting in Ukraine, with neither side appearing to be gaining momentum. At least seven civilians were killed between Tuesday and Wednesday morning, the Ukrainian president’s office said.

In a speech at a patriotic concert on Wednesday, Putin welcomed Russia’s “heroic” army, saying Moscow’s armed forces are committed to the country’s “history” to defend its “interests, people, culture, language and territory.” He claimed that he was fighting for the “realistic frontier”.

“When we are united, we are unrivaled,” he shouted to an enthusiastic crowd at a sports arena in Moscow.

The growing relationship between China and Russia is another example of how war can expand into dangerous new territories.

The other was President Putin’s announcement on Tuesday that Russia would suspend its participation in the New START Treaty, raising new concerns about the fate of an arms deal already on life support.

Last fall, Moscow decided to allow U.S. inspections of nuclear sites to resume, but refused to hold scheduled talks under the agreement.

The lower house of the Russian parliament on Wednesday immediately backed President Putin’s move to suspend the treaty, with officials and lawmakers casting it as an 11-hour warning to Washington.

Reflecting Beijing’s cautious stance, China’s foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said the treaty was the key to peace and stability and that China hoped “both sides can properly resolve their differences.” Stated.