Thu 23 February 2023:
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said he personally shared with Zelenskyy, in October 2021, Washington’s assessment that Russia would likely invade Ukraine.
“He took it very stoically, very seriously,” Blinken said, describing the Ukrainian president’s response.
The top US diplomat said he delivered the news to Zelenskyy on the sidelines of an international summit in Europe. He added that while Russia was openly amassing forces on Ukraine’s border, the US had “exclusive” information about Moscow’s plans.
Blinken praised Zelenskyy’s leadership throughout the conflict, calling him an “extraordinary figure” on the world stage.
Asked whether he thinks the US will succeed in its efforts to dissuade China from coming to Russia’s aid in Ukraine, Blinken said at an event held by the Atlantic magazine: “I certainly hope so, and ultimately, I believe so. But the proof will be in the pudding.”
The top US diplomat said Washington has conveyed directly on several occasions warnings to Beijing against assisting Moscow in its war efforts, and many other countries have shared the same message.
“To the extent China is trying to engage in a charm offensive these days – to re-engage with other countries as it comes out of COVID – I don’t think it wants to be in the business of further alienating them by providing lethal support to Russia,” Blinken said. “The jury’s out; we’re watching it very, very carefully. We’ll see how they react.”
“The concern that we have now is based on information we have that they’re considering providing lethal support, and we’ve made very clear to them that that would cause a serious problem for us and in our relationship,” Blinken told CBS.
Blinken clarified that he was referring to weapons and ammunition, but did not say what type of weapons.
“It is the US, not China, that has been pouring weapons into the battlefield,” shot back Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin the following day. “The US is in no position to tell China what to do.”
Biden had warned Chinese President Xi Jinping of “consequences” should Beijing offer Moscow “material support” on March 18 last year.
Wang Yi meets Putin
On Wednesday, President Vladimir Putin held talks with China’s top diplomat Wang Yi and hailed the importance of the two countries’ cooperation.
Wang’s visit to Moscow – at the end of a tour of a number of European countries – comes nearly a year after Putin ordered troops into neighbouring Ukraine, starting a conflict that has left thousands dead, forced millions to flee and left Ukrainian towns and cities in ruins.
Ties between the two had reached “new frontiers”, he said, confirming that Chinese President Xi Jinping might soon travel to Moscow for a summit. The two men have met dozens of times since Xi became Chinese president.
Beijing has not condemned Moscow over the war although the invasion, which Moscow calls a “special military operation”, took place shortly after Xi and Putin met in China and affirmed a “no limits” partnership.
SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES
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