China’s Xi sits down for the second day of talks with Russia’s Putin. Japanese Prime Minister Kishida visits Bucha. Russia has likely requested lethal aid from China, NATO Secretary General said. The UK is planning to send armor-piercing depleted uranium shells to Ukraine. Informs UCMC .
Xi’s visit to Moscow erodes world’s trust in China’s “peacemaking” intentions
Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed China’s peace proposal for Ukraine on Monday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said. He did not elaborate further, refraining from comments until official statements were made.
In a joint news conference after talks with Xi ended, Putin said: “Many provisions of the Chinese peace plan can be taken as the basis for settling of the conflict in Ukraine, whenever the West and Kyiv are ready for it.” During the visit, Xi invited Putin to China this year.
Japan PM visits Bucha, expresses “anger at atrocity committed here.”
Japan Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida made a surprise visit Tuesday to Kyiv. Japan serves as president of the G7. Kishida also traveled to Bucha, the town north of the Ukrainian capital that has become synonymous with Russian atrocities and alleged war crimes. “The world was astonished to see innocent civilians in Bucha killed one year ago. I really feel great anger at the atrocity upon visiting that very place here,” Kishida said.
He laid a wreath outside a church before observing a moment of silence and bowing.
Russia likely asks China for lethal aid, NATO Secretary General says
NATO has “seen some signs” that Russia has likely requested lethal aid from China to bolster Moscow’s war in Ukraine, the NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Tuesday.
“China should not provide lethal aid to Russia. That would be to support an illegal war,” Stoltenberg told reporters at a news conference in Brussels.
Stoltenberg said Xi’s three-day state visit to Moscow signals the closer ties developing between China and Russia in recent years.
The U.S. has intelligence that the Chinese government is considering providing Russia with drones and ammunition for use in the war in Ukraine, three sources familiar with the intelligence told CNN last month.
UK sending depleted uranium shells to Ukraine
The UK is planning to send armor-piercing tank rounds “which contain depleted uranium” to Ukraine alongside a squadron of Challenger 2 tanks, the UK’s Minister of State at the Ministry of Defense, Baroness Goldie said, responding to a written question from The Lord Hylton, a member of the House of Lords.
“Alongside our granting of a squadron of Challenger 2 main battle tanks to Ukraine, we will be providing ammunition including armour piercing rounds which contain depleted uranium. Such rounds are highly effective in defeating modern tanks and armoured vehicles,” Baroness Goldie said.
Depleted uranium is the byproduct of the uranium enrichment process. It is used for tank armor and armor-piercing bullets. Media reports raised questions about the possible connection between the use of depleted uranium ammunition by NATO forces in Kosovo and Bosnia and allegedly higher cases of leukemia in troops and civilians. Britain hopes the Challenger 2 tanks it is supplying to Ukraine will arrive at the country at the end of March.
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