Kyiv/PEKING (dpa-AFX) – In view of the dangerous rhetoric surrounding the Ukraine war, China has joined the West in warning of a nuclear escalation. The international community should work to ensure “that nuclear weapons cannot be used and that nuclear wars cannot be fought,” said state and party leader Xi Jinping on Friday in a conversation with Chancellor Olaf Scholz during his first visit to Beijing, according to the Foreign Ministry there . The foreign ministers of the G7 also warned Russia not to escalate the war any further and at the same time condemned nuclear threats by the President Wladimir Putin.
On the Day of National Unity in Russia, the Kremlin chief justified the crackdown on Ukraine and renewed accusations against the West, which aims to “weaken, divide, and destroy Russia.”
Medvedev on Ukraine war: We defend our homeland
Previously, the former Russian head of state Medvedev had defended the war against Ukraine on the day of national unity in Russia. Like Putin in his speeches, he also portrayed Ukraine as part of Russia. “We don’t need foreign territories, we have everything in abundance. But there is homeland on which our ancestors lived and on which our people live today. We give it to anyone,” wrote Medvedev on Telegram. Russia’s opponents in Ukraine and in the West are “part of a dying world,” the Deputy Secretary of the Security Council claimed.
Xi and Scholz condemn “nuclear threats”
After the talks with the Chinese head of state in Beijing, Chancellor Scholz said: “President Xi and I agree: nuclear threats are irresponsible and extremely dangerous.” With the use of nuclear weapons, Russia would cross a line drawn jointly by the international community.
Xi said nuclear crisis must be avoided in Eurasia. The parties concerned would have to be reasonable, exercise restraint and create conditions for a resumption of negotiations. The world community should make every effort that is conducive to a peaceful solution to the Ukraine war. “The use of nuclear weapons or the threat of using them must be rejected,” Xi Jinping was quoted as saying. Despite expressing concerns about the conflict more clearly than ever, Xi continued not to criticize his strategic partner Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.
G7 warns Moscow of escalation
The G7 foreign ministers addressed urgent words to Moscow. “Russia’s irresponsible nuclear rhetoric is unacceptable. Any use of chemical, biological or nuclear weapons by Russia would have serious consequences,” warned the chief diplomats of the economically strong democracies on Friday in their final document for the G7 meeting in Münster.
At the same time, the group announced further support for Ukraine. The country will be helped to meet its winter preparation needs. To this end, the G7 established a coordination mechanism to help Ukraine repair, restore and defend its energy infrastructure. Most recently, before the approaching winter, Putin had attacked Ukraine’s energy infrastructure in particular. In addition to Germany, the G7 includes France, Italy, Japan, Canada, the USA and Great Britain.
Buschmann promises support for EU accession in Kyiv
According to Justice Minister Marco Buschmann, Germany wants to help Ukraine to implement the necessary reforms for the desired accession to the EU. “We stand by Ukraine today and we will continue to do so in the future,” promised the FDP politician during a visit to Kyiv. Germany wants to help the country “to meet the rule of law standards as part of the admission process to the European Union.”
Ukrainian army reports heavy fighting in Donbass
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian army reported heavy fighting in the Donbass. The main areas are the cities of Bakhmut and Avdiivka, said Serhiy Tscherevatyj, spokesman for the army group in the east of the country, on Ukrainian television. “The enemy continues their assault attacks, firing all kinds of barrel artillery, multiple rocket launchers, tanks and mortars,” the officer said on Friday. The military information was not independently verifiable.
London: Russia may be shooting at deserters in Ukraine
According to estimates by the British government, Russia has deployed units in the war against Ukraine that are intended to prevent its own soldiers from retreating and deserting. “Due to low morale and reluctance to fight, Russian forces may have begun deploying ‘barrier troops’ or ‘blocking units’,” a Defense Ministry report said in London on Friday. These blocking units threatened to shoot retreating soldiers.
Borrell insists on ending Iranian arms sales to Russia
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has urged Iran to stop supporting Russia in the war against Ukraine. “We insist that Iran stop supplying arms to Russia,” he said on Friday on the fringes of the G7 foreign ministers’ meeting in Münster. Iran denies supplying arms to Moscow. “But the Ukrainians have provided evidence of the use of drones,” said Borrell./cha/DP/nas