Developments in Ukraine | China’s effort to create the conditions for dialogue between Moscow and Kiev

According to the report of the international group Tasnim news agency, in the opinion It turns out that China recently wants more than any other country to end the military conflict in Ukraine. Geng Shuang, the Deputy Permanent Representative of the People’s Republic of China to the United Nations, announced at last night’s meeting of the Security Council regarding the supply of weapons to Kiev, that the Beijing authorities are ready to provide the necessary conditions for the start of peace talks for Russia and Ukraine.

This diplomat emphasized that the continuous supply of Western military weapons to the battlefield will only increase the risk of worsening the situation and will not help to resolve this conflict. He added: China once again calls on all involved parties to increase their diplomatic efforts and help solve the crisis in Ukraine.

Shuang continued: It supports an international conference recognized by Russia and Ukraine as soon as possible, with equal participation of all parties and a fair discussion of all peace options, and is ready to provide the necessary conditions for negotiations between Russia and Ukraine and tireless efforts to achieve a to make an early political solution to the crisis.”

Earlier, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, after talks with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, bar He also announced that when resolving the conflict, the concerns of all involved parties should be considered rationally, and he was looking for a stable political solution that would also eliminate the main causes of this conflict.

Next, you can follow the developments related to the 780th day of the Ukrainian war:

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Chinese Embassy in America: Beijing will not give weapons to Russia and Ukraine

The Chinese embassy in Washington announced this morning, Saturday, that the country does not provide weapons to any of the parties to the conflict in Ukraine and asks Washington not to interfere in trade relations between Beijing and Moscow.

The spokesperson of the embassy emphasized: “Trade relations between China and Russia should not be interfered or limited by anyone.” We ask the American side to refrain from making baseless accusations and denigrating the normal relations between Beijing and Moscow, and refrain from trying to find the culprit in the problems that it is fueling.”

This diplomat added: “China is not involved in the military conflict in Ukraine and certainly does not give weapons to the Russian side. We have played a constructive role in promoting a political solution, and unlike the United States, China does not provide weapons to either side of the conflict.”

Yesterday Reuters reported The United States has accused China of providing military aid to Russia and supporting its defense industry.

Last night, during a conversation with students in the city of Chernivtsi in the west of the country, the president of Ukraine admitted the fact that the forces of one of the army units that were under siege voluntarily left their positions on the contact line of the battle front.

Zelensky, while blaming such behavior, said: There were people, I will not say where they were, because it will be clear what happened. But in any case, a group left their positions, and as a result, a large number of soldiers were surrounded and killed.

He opposed the amnesty of deserting soldiers from the armed forces of Ukraine and said: “Why should you pardon a person who left his place of service?”

Ukraine needs about 700 billion dollars for reconstruction

Vladimir Zelensky, In this speech, the president of Ukraine also mentioned that at least 700 billion dollars of funds are needed to rebuild the country. Pointing out that the amount of money he mentioned is still approximate, he added: “We will trust the honesty of our partners and we hope that they will really start rebuilding Ukraine, not just talk about it.” Of course, I think it will be.

Earlier it was reported that the World Bank estimated the cost of reconstruction of Ukraine at 500 billion dollars. It is also emphasized that a significant part of the costs will be needed to rebuild the country’s infrastructure, especially its energy system. Trump: Aid to Kiev should be It should be a loan, not a “gift” agree to Ukraine, but this aid must be paid as a loan.

Trump mentioned this in a press conference with Mike Johnson, the speaker of the US House of Representatives and said: “We (the Republican Party) think that providing aid Let’s give Ukraine a loan instead of a gift.”

Furthermore, Trump believes that the expansion of aid to Kiev should be through European countries. Not by the US government.

US bans aluminum, copper and nickel imports from Russia

US authorities have banned imports of aluminum, copper and nickel of Russian origin, and thus such metals of Russian origin are subject to new sanctions by the US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control.

In the document published by this ministry, it is reminded that the ban on importing certain metals of Russian origin to this country includes metals that are produced after April 13, 2024.

In addition, the U.S. Treasury Department on Friday, along with the U.K., imposed two new bans to undermine the Russian government’s revenue from aluminum, copper, and nickel exports. . Thus, the London Metal Exchange and the Chicago Mercantile Exchange can no longer supply aluminum, copper and nickel reserves in their warehouses by supplying raw materials from Russia. The new restrictions do not apply to titanium and platinum metals.

Previously, the US Department of Commerce imposed export restrictions on three companies from Russia, six companies from China and Two companies from the United Arab Emirates had applied.

Switzerland will soon decide whether to invite Russia to the Ukraine conference or not

Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis announced that the country’s authorities will soon decide to invite Russia and Belarus to the peace conference on Ukraine. According to him, the fact that Russian President Vladimir Putin mentioned the upcoming conference for the first time is a good sign, as Russian officials have already announced that Moscow is not interested in participating in the event.

Cassis added: We will analyze the various reactions of the Russian side and we will soon decide what is the best course of action in this regard and we will announce it in the coming days.

The Swiss Foreign Ministry has not yet sent an invitation to the Ukraine conference

Nicolas Bidot The head of the communications department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Swiss Confederation announced on Friday that the ministry has not yet sent invitations to participate in the Ukrainian conference. He said: Invitations have not been sent to anyone yet, this will be done in the coming days.

Ukraine conference is expected on June 15-16 in Burgenstock. Switzerland should be held.

As ​​Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis said before, in the first summit without Russia’s participation, it is possible to discuss when and how Moscow will participate. agreed on the conflict resolution process.

Vladimir Putin on Thursday, in a meeting with Alexander Lukashenko, his Belarusian counterpart in Moscow, reminded that Russia is committed to a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict. is willing and ready for peace talks, but this should not be done by imposing any plan that has nothing to do with reality.

Lavrov: Ukraine conference Switzerland is also a road to nowhere

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced that Moscow does not see a real intention among Western countries for honest negotiations on Ukraine And the upcoming conference in Switzerland about the Ukraine conflict will not lead anywhere. He said: “The fact that the Swiss peace conference is a road to nowhere is obvious to every realistic political observer. We do not see any desire in Kiev or its Western supporters to conduct honest negotiations.” Lavrov also noted that the principles of the Istanbul agreements can be used in the dialogue with Ukraine. . However, he stressed: we are talking specifically about the principles of future agreements and not a specific document and some conditions have changed now.

He said: “Swiss formula for Ukraine” and China’s 12-point peace plan do not match each other. According to him, Switzerland only acts on the orders of the United States and its allies in this regard.

Schultz mentioned his conditions for talks with Putin

German Chancellor Olaf Schultz mentioned in an interview the conditions under which a conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin may be held.

Shultz stressed that talks with the Russian leader would be possible if the military conflict stopped: “When you feel like you can make a difference, it’s useful to have a conversation like that.” In the past, I had several negotiations with Putin, which were sometimes critical. Of course, I do not rule out further negotiations in the future. “text-align:justify”>The press service of the US State Department reported that Washington and Kiev will discuss the economic recovery of Ukraine on April 17, and a conference on the reconstruction of Ukraine will also be held in Washington on this day.

Remember that the organizers are the US Department of Foreign Policy, the Agency for International Development, the Ministry of Commerce, the Government of Ukraine and the US Chamber of Commerce.

Kiev’s effort to acquire new air defense systems

Dmitry Kolhaba, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, announced that the authorities of Kiev in They are negotiating with their allies to acquire two Patriot air defense systems and one SAMP/T system for the Ukrainian army.

He said in a television interview on Friday: It ultimately depends on the decision of the United States to get the Patriot system, because it is an American system. We know exactly where this type of system is located. Active negotiations are underway in this regard.

Kuleba added: If the countries where these air defense systems are located are ready to transfer them to Kyiv, then The issue of supplying Patriot and SAMP/T to this country will be only “a matter of a week”. will

European Commission Vice President Valdis Dombroskis announced that Ukraine may receive another 1.9 billion euros from a special EU fund as early as May. to receive support from Kiev with a total budget of 50 billion euros. Quarterly goals are for improvements and investments that need to be made to unlock future payments. We will soon complete this work and present the assessment to the Council of the European Union.”

Dombroskis explained that after the approval, Kyiv will be able to will receive the 1.9 billion euros, probably in early May.

In February, all 27 leaders of the EU member states agreed at their meeting in Brussels allocate an additional 50 billion euros from the general budget of the Union as part of the support package for Ukraine. Later, Josep Borrell, the head of the EU diplomacy, announced that the union transferred the first installment of 4.5 billion euros to Kiev under the program, which was designed until 2027.

The intention of the European Union to review the plan to help Ukraine through the use of Russian assets

The Committee of Permanent Representatives of the EU Member States is considering On Monday, April 15, he is discussing the possibility of using frozen Russian revenues to finance Ukraine. This issue was determined based on the initial agenda of this meeting, which was published on the website of the European Union. They are “optimistic” that an agreement to use the profits of frozen Russian assets will be reached soon. Meanwhile, Hungary and Slovakia insist that further arms transfers to Ukraine will help escalate military tensions. This publication emphasized that the countries of Malta, Austria, Cyprus and Ireland are also not satisfied with the theory of supplying arms to Ukraine using the income from frozen assets.

Politico also confirmed It says EU representatives will discuss the possibility of using proceeds from Russian assets on April 15, but notes that such a decision “may require two rounds of negotiations.”

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