Russia’s war in Ukraine is a ‘big catastrophe’, says Germany’s Scholz

Issued on: 25/02/2023 – 08:44

10:12am: Russia’s war in Ukraine is a ‘big catastrophe”, says Germany’s Scholz 

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz arrived in New Delhi on Saturday to deepen his country’s trade relations with India despite differences over Ukraine. He called the war between Russia and Ukraine a “big catastrophe” that violates economic principles.

8:46am: Biden says he does not ‘anticipate’ China providing weapons to Russia

US President Joe Biden said Friday that he does not “anticipate a major initiative” from China to provide weapons to Russia in its war against Ukraine. 

His comments come days after Secretary of State Antony Blinken told CBS that China was “considering providing lethal support” to Moscow ranging “from ammunition to the weapons themselves” — which Beijing denied. 

In a wide-ranging television interview with ABC News — covering his bid for re-election and the war in Ukraine — that aired Friday evening, Biden appeared to backtrack on Blinken’s comments.

“I don’t anticipate — we haven’t seen it yet — but I don’t anticipate a major initiative on the part of China providing weaponry to Russia,” he said.

7:50am: Belarusian President Lukashenko to visit China in coming days

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko will visit China on February 28 for a state visit, the Chinese foreign ministry said Saturday. 

“At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko will pay a state visit to China from February 28 to March 2,” spokesperson Hua Chunying said. 

Lukashenko is a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin and has backed Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. 

2:27am: China urges Russia-Ukraine talks, UN supports no nukes clause

China called Friday for urgent peace talks as it released its plan to end the war in Ukraine, but several Western powers rebuffed the proposals while warning against Beijing’s closening ties to Moscow.

The United Nations expressed cautious optimism over the Chinese proposals, particularly over the document’s call to avoid using nuclear weapons. 

Russia reacted positively to Beijing’s efforts and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky offered a muted response, saying Kyiv needed to “work with China” on approaches to put an end to the year-old war.

Zelensky told reporters he was planning to meet with Xi Jinping after the Chinese leader’s government called for the peace talks, saying it would “be important for world security.”

10:19pm: EU approves 10th package of Russia sanctions on anniversary of invasion

The European Union approved a tenth package of Russia sanctions on the anniversary of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, the Swedish EU presidency said late on Friday.

“Together, the EU member states have imposed the most forceful and far-reaching sanctions ever to help Ukraine win the war,” the Swedish EU presidency said on Twitter.

“The EU stands united with Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. We will keep supporting Ukraine, for as long as it takes.”

The package includes tighter export restrictions regarding dual-use goods as well as measures against entities supporting the war, spreading propaganda or delivering drones used by Russia.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP & Reuters)