Ukraine: NATO ‘increasingly’ concerned about Beijing’s possible military support for Moscow

“We are increasingly concerned that China might consider providing deadly support for Russia’s war” in Ukraine, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg responds, echoing Washington’s fears about possible Chinese military support for Russia.

European Foreign Minister Josep Borrell said his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi assured him that China is not supplying arms to Russia and has no plans to do so. “We have to remain vigilant, but as far as I know, there is no evidence that China has done what it says it is not doing,” Borrell said.

“Russia is the aggressor”

Jens Stoltenberg also refutes allegations made by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who said in a speech this morning that the Western threat justifies an invasion of Ukraine. “No one is attacking Russia. Russia is the aggressor. Ukraine is a victim (…) President Putin started this imperialist war of conquest. It is Putin who continues to escalate the war,” insists the Secretary General of the Alliance.

“We see no signs that President Putin is preparing for peace. On the contrary, as he made clear today, he is preparing for a new war,” added the Norwegian official. The head of NATO also regrets Russia’s decision to suspend its participation in the New START program for nuclear disarmament. “I call on Russia to reconsider its position,” Jens Stoltenberg insists. More nuclear weapons and less arms control make the world more dangerous,” the NATO chief begins, as Vladimir Putin this morning announces he is “ready to test nuclear weapons if” Washington does it first.