In a day of tears and tributes, on the first anniversary of the Russian invasion, Ukraine also received good news: the arrival of the first four Leopard tanks, from Poland, and increased military aid and investment in US infrastructure. Washington also promised new sanctions against Russia and the European Union approved the 10th sanctions package. From the East came the announced “Chinese peace plan”, which, however, was less than expected.
Beijing’s proposal is a 12 points to one document “political solution to the Ukrainian crisis”, calling on both sides to resume peace talks. China calls for respect for the sovereignty of all countries, calls for the abandonment of the Cold War mentality and for an end to hostilities. It reiterates its opposition to the use of nuclear weapons (or even the threat thereof) and calls for an end to unilateral sanctions.
At a press conference, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made it clear that he will not consider negotiating with Russia until Russia “stops killing”. As for the Chinese proposal, he welcomed Beijing’s speaking. “China started talking about Ukraine and that’s not bad. The Chinese statement respects our territorial integrity,” in which he also makes it clear that there are things he disagrees with. He also revealed that he is planning a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Russia welcomed the plan and said “seeking a solution to the objectives of the special military operation through political-diplomatic channels”. However, regarding the “territorial integrity” of the countries, he insisted on the need for Kiev “to recognize the new territorial reality”, i.e. the illegal annexations since 2014 of Crimea to the regions of Donetsk, Lugansk, Zaporizhia and Kherson last August.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who last week accused Beijing of sending weapons to Russia, asked the United Nations Security Council not to be misled by Chinese proposals. UN Secretary-General spokesman António Guterres regarded the document as “an important contribution”, noting that there is “a collective responsibility to do whatever it takes to achieve peace”. In turn, the head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, recalled that the proposal is not a “peace plan” and to be credible it cannot be “partial” and “put the aggressor and the attacked on the same level”.
more support
The advanced German-made Leopard tanks arrived in the luggage of Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, who was visiting Kiev to send “a clear and measurable signal of increased support” from his country to Ukraine. Poland delivered the first four tanks of the promised 14. However, Sweden has announced that it will also send 10 Leopards to Kiev.
“I want to thank the allies and the people we will not be able to personally thank, because they are no longer with us,” an emotional Zelensky said at the press conference, indicating that “the world is not forgetting Ukraine”. Earlier he recalled in a video “the longest day of our lives” – February 24, 2022 – in which he recorded his first message, which lasted only 67 seconds, at 07:00 after the invasion. “We woke up early and haven’t fallen asleep since,” referred.
Washington, for its part, announced new sanctions involving “more than 200 individuals and entities” both in Russia and in third countries, including Europe, “aiding Russia’s war effort.” The G7 countries also announced the creation of a new body, the Execution Coordination Mechanism, which aims to “combat Russia’s attempts to circumvent sanctions already approved”.
The Pentagon has also committed to a new $2 billion military assistance package worth of munitions and drones, adding another $250 million of planned emergency aid to bolster energy infrastructure targeted by Russian bombing.
Source: DN
