Military Space News
SUPERPOWERS
Putin tightens China ties as Biden slams Russia over treaty
Putin tightens China ties as Biden slams Russia over treaty
By Sebastian Smith
Warsaw (AFP) Feb 22, 2023

US President Joe Biden on Wednesday called Russia's suspension of a nuclear treaty a "big mistake" as Moscow sought closer ties to China and said it was fighting for "historical" lands in Ukraine.

Biden spoke before meeting NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg and eastern European leaders in a bid to shore up support for Kyiv nearly a year after Russia invaded Ukraine.

Asked by a journalist for a reaction to Russia's decision, Biden at first joked in Warsaw that he didn't "have time", then said: "big mistake".

The leaders of Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Slovakia attended the talks with Biden in Warsaw amid widespread concern in their countries that the conflict could spill over.

Stoltenberg urged allies to "step up our support for Ukraine" saying that "we cannot allow Russia to continue to chip away at European security".

In Moscow, President Vladimir Putin attended a patriotic rally, telling a crowd of tens of thousands that Russia was fighting "for our historical lands, for our people".

Earlier, he held talks with China's top diplomat Wang Yi, who was visiting Moscow after Washington and NATO voiced concern that China could be preparing to supply Russia with weapons to pursue its war in Ukraine.

"We will not be overwhelmed by threats and pressure from third parties," Wang said.

On Tuesday, Putin announced the suspension of Moscow's participation in the New START arms treaty and vowed to press on with the campaign in Ukraine, during a state of the nation address.

- Wang in Russia -

On Wednesday, Russian lawmakers approved the suspension of the 2010 deal -- the last remaining nuclear arms control treaty between the world's two main nuclear powers.

Putin's treaty announcement was met with widespread international condemnation, though Russia's foreign ministry later said Moscow would continue to comply with the treaty's restrictions in a "responsible approach".

Biden on Tuesday delivered a rock star-style speech to a flag-waving crowd in Warsaw, one day after making a surprise visit to Kyiv.

He vowed that Ukraine would "never be a victory for Russia" and that "our support for Ukraine will not waver".

Russia's state-organised patriotic rally packed Moscow's main Luzhniki stadium for performances and speeches hailing Russian fighters in Ukraine.

"I just heard from the top military leadership of the country that a battle is ongoing right now, for our historical lands, for our people," Putin said.

Wang is on the last stop of a European tour during which he also met Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba.

Beijing has sought to position itself as a neutral party, while maintaining close ties with strategic ally Russia.

It has said it is "deeply concerned" and that the conflict is "intensifying and even getting out of control".

China has promised to publish a proposed "political solution" to the Ukraine conflict this week.

- Tensions with Wagner -

At the start of the meeting with Wang, Putin said cooperation between Russia and China was "very important to stabilise the international situation".

When the Kremlin launched its Ukraine offensive, the operation was designed to be a rapid conquest leading to capitulation and the installation of a pro-Russian regime.

Since then, Russia has been forced to give up ground but has kept up a barrage of drone and missile attacks, while the military and civilian toll has spiralled.

Various Western sources estimate the conflict has caused 150,000 casualties on each side.

Moscow's relentless struggle to capture the city of Bakhmut has also exposed tensions between the Russian military and the Wagner mercenary group.

The group's head, Yevgeny Prigozhin, on Wednesday urged Russians to pressure the country's regular army into sharing ammunition with his fighters in Ukraine.

Prigozhin stopped short of calling on Russians to protest but urged everyone from "driver" to "flight attendant" to help him.

He already made headlines on Tuesday when he accused Russia's top brass of essentially committing "treason".

Russia's defence ministry denounced reports of ammunition shortages as "absolutely false".

Related Links
Learn about the Superpowers of the 21st Century at SpaceWar.com
Learn about nuclear weapons doctrine and defense at SpaceWar.com

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
SUPERPOWERS
Hungary to vote on Finland, Sweden NATO bids early March
Budapest (AFP) Feb 22, 2023
Hungarian lawmakers will vote on the NATO bids by Finland and Sweden in early March, according to the parliamentary agenda published on Wednesday. The general debate on their membership bids will take place next week, and the votes - for each country separately - will be held from 6-9 March, the parliament said on its website. Turkey and Hungary are the only NATO members still to ratify the bids from both Nordic countries, which must be accepted by all 30 existing members of the military organ ... read more

SUPERPOWERS
Germany to give Slovakia Mantis air defence systems

Advanced manufacturing powering development of Next Generation Interceptor

Kremlin keeps mum on missile systems seen on Moscow rooftops

Netherlands set to boost push for Patriot missile defenses in Ukraine

SUPERPOWERS
Putin says Sarmat nuclear missile to be deployed this year

Ukrainians pray, ready for strikes one year after Russian invasion

Lockheed Martin gets $1BN contract for sea-based hypersonic strike capability

N. Korea ballistic missile appears to have landed in Japan's EEZ: PM

SUPERPOWERS
Russia in talks with Chinese drone maker on supplies: report

US ends search for downed Chinese balloon debris, other objects

Japan says past aerial objects likely Chinese spy balloons

US still in dark over mystery flying objects, rejects China balloon accusation

SUPERPOWERS
Advanced comms satellite launched from Sichuan

Babcock secures UK Military Skynet satellite contract

Multi aircraft and naval ships showcase interoperability

SES, ThinKom and Hughes enable multi-orbit resilient connectivity for critical airborne missions

SUPERPOWERS
Northrop Grumman's new multifunction sensor designed for rapid production

US pledges $2 bn in Ukraine security aid on invasion anniversary

Ukrainian soldiers take German tank course in double time

Northrop Grumman to manufacture US Marine Corps next generation handheld targeting system

SUPERPOWERS
BAE Systems announces record military orders

Sanction-hit Russia displays combat-tested arms at UAE fair

Beijing slams 'false' US claims that China may arm Russia

Germany slams Swiss ban on munitions for Ukraine

SUPERPOWERS
Key takeaways from China's Ukraine position paper

Hungary to vote on Finland, Sweden NATO bids early March

China urges Russia, Ukraine to hold talks, warns against using nuclear weapons

UN to vote on demand for Russia to withdraw from Ukraine

SUPERPOWERS
Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.