NATO Secretary-General: China must stop supporting Russia if it wants to improve relations with the West
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg speaks during a press conference at the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank in Marrakech, Morocco, October 11, 2023.
Suzanne Vera | Reuters
NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg said during a visit to Berlin that if Beijing wants to improve relations with the West, it must stop supporting Russia’s war with Ukraine.
“Last year, Russia imported 90 percent of its microelectronics from China for the production of missiles, tanks and aircraft. China is also working hard to provide Russia with improved satellite capabilities and imaging technology,” Stoltenberg said on Thursday.
“China says it wants good relations with the West. At the same time, Beijing continues to fuel Europe’s largest armed conflict since World War II. They can’t have it both ways,” Stoltenberg said.
Beijing denies directly aiding Russia in its war in Ukraine but praises its “unlimited” friendship with Moscow, which has strengthened trade and military ties since the West imposed sanctions on Russia over its incursions into the neighboring country.
— Natasha Turak
Pentagon: Weapons in new weapons package will arrive in Ukraine “within days or even sooner”
On December 29, 2023, an M142 HIMARS fired a rocket from an unspecified Russian position in Ukraine. The M142 HIMARS proved to be a highly effective weapon, capable of striking targets deep on the front lines and in the Russian rear.
Serhiy Michalchuk | Global Image Ukraine | Getty Images
According to Ukrainian state media Ukrinform, the Pentagon said that approximately $60 billion worth of weapons from the recently approved U.S. military aid package to Kyiv will arrive in Ukraine within days.
“We have begun the transfer of some weapons, ammunition and equipment that will arrive (in Ukraine) within a few days or even sooner,” Pentagon spokesman Gen. Patrick Ryder told Ukrainian News.
The package, which took a lot of time and political wrangling to pass in Congress, comes at a critical time as Ukraine’s military strives to regain more territory from Russia.
According to reports, the Pentagon has begun shipping weapons and equipment to Ukraine. The Ukrainian package includes air defense system missiles, Stinger missiles, HIMARS ammunition, NATO standard artillery, military vehicles and additional parts for early deliveries of equipment.
— Natasha Turak
Russia expels two Latvian diplomats in retaliation
Russia’s Foreign Ministry said on Thursday it would expel two Latvian diplomats in retaliation after the Baltic state ordered Russian embassy officials to leave.
Since the war in Ukraine began, Western countries have expelled hundreds of Russian diplomats, many on suspicion of espionage, and Russia has often responded in kind.
— Reuters
Russia says it may downgrade diplomatic ties with U.S. if assets are seized
Russia may downgrade diplomatic ties with the United States if Washington moves to seize its frozen assets, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said on Thursday.
The United States and Western allies, including the European Union, have been considering using frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine and have been discussing how and whether that would be feasible.
“We are now studying the best form of response, which includes actions against the assets of our Western adversaries, as well as diplomatic responses,” Ryabkov said, according to a Google Translate quote published by the state-run RIA Novosti news agency.
“Lowering the level of diplomatic relations is one of the options,” he added.
——Sophie Kidlin
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