‘UN Security Council must prioritize Arab and global crises, not only Ukraine’ says league secretary general

UN official Rosemary DiCarlo noted about the role of Arab countries that would be ‘key’ to end the conflict in Sudan. (AFP)

The League of Arab States on Thursday called on the UN Security Council not to let the Ukraine war take priority over other global conflicts and their ensuing humanitarian crises, especially in the Arab region including Yemen, Syria, Somalia and Sudan.

The league’s Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit told council members that the world was at a “very critical juncture,” which has seen heightened tensions and the polarization of major powers. This has pushed the world “to the precipice of a nuclear confrontation,” with the mitigating effects of collective action increasingly unlikely.

Aboul Gheit said this has resulted in an inadequate response to modern challenges including counterterrorism, climate change, disruptions caused by technological advances, and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

Aboul Gheit’s remarks came at a council meeting organized by the UAE, the Security Council’s president for the month of June, to discuss ways to enhance joint action by the UN and Arab League on various issues including regional security and humanitarian challenges.

The UAE’s concept note for the meeting emphasized that such challenges, including ongoing conflicts in Libya, Syria, Sudan and Yemen — and the Israeli-Palestinian situation — “have led to unimaginable suffering for millions of people.

“In addition, countries such as Lebanon and Somalia are facing deep economic crises, high unemployment and spiraling inflation, thereby exacerbating fragilities and humanitarian needs.”

The note said that the earthquakes that hit Syria and Turkiye earlier this year have compounded the suffering in the region, resulting in widespread destruction of homes and infrastructure, a high death toll and the displacement of millions.

“While the humanitarian response was substantial, it faced considerable obstacles, in particular in coordinating assistance from various donors.”

Aboul Gheit said “the prevailing tension at the pinnacle of the international order diminishes any opportunities to address regional conflicts. It also comes at the expense of the global attention that should be paid to humanitarian and relief aid.”

Sudan has for two months been witnessing an “unprecedented situation in its contemporary history with Khartoum turning into a battlefield,” where death, displacement, looting and dismantling of state institutions continue, said Aboul Gheit.

“The League of Arab States senses the seriousness of this situation both on Sudan and its neighboring countries and (it) is actively working in coordination with other regional organizations, especially the African Union, towards achieving a total cessation of hostilities (and) creating an environment conducive to the resumption of political action.”

He urged member states to help keep “a unified Sudan as our aim without any threats to its territorial integrity and without weakening its national institutions.”

Palestinians also continue to suffer from persisting occupation, and “heightened oppression and violence on the part of the Israeli government” whose practices and “extreme ideologies reflect an unprecedented turn to the right.

“This is a government that chooses annexation and settlement instead of peace,” Aboul Gheit told world ambassadors.

“This government, every single day, applies policies and practices that are totally divorced from international law, undermining any future prospect for the two-state solution.

“What is most concerning today is the feeling of despondency and despair currently felt by the Palestinian people as they have lost all hope in giving impetus to the political settlement process.”

He called on the council to renew its commitment to a two-state solution, one of the “mainstays” of the Arab League, as the “only path, and I do repeat the only path for sustainable peace.”

Syria’s return to the Arab League should serve as a step toward tackling its decade-long crisis, said Aboul Gheit.

“Maybe this step would also compel us all to actively work towards a political settlement in Syria according to Security Council Resolution 2254.”

He expressed hope that Arab countries hosting Syrian refugees would be able to “reach a solution for the voluntary and dignified return of Syrian refugees by creating the environment conducive for this return.”

In Yemen, notwithstanding the Houthis’ breaches, the truce has contributed considerably to de-escalating tensions, said Aboul Gheit.

Despite the ongoing “catastrophic” humanitarian crisis in the country, a political solution remains possible, “especially if enough efforts were made on the part of the Houthis,” said Aboul Gheit. He added that the rapprochement agreement last March between Saudi Arabia and Iran “opens new prospects that should be optimized to achieve de-escalation and maybe even settlement in Yemen.”

He voiced the Arab League’s support for UN efforts in Libya and reiterated that elections there are the only path toward a sustainable solution for the protracted crisis in the country.

DiCarlo said that the role of Arab countries would be “key” to end the conflict in Sudan, as she commended for their peace efforts the Arab league, the AU, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, and other partners.

The UN official said that the Jeddah Agreement, brokered by Saudi Arabia and the US on May 20, “gave rise to much hope (but) unfortunately, the parties have failed to implement (it).

“Furthermore, the Sudanese Armed Forces announced the suspension of their participation in the talks, citing the Rapid Support Forces’ violations of the ceasefire.

“It is critical that the parties remain committed to the ceasefire agreement. But this will not be enough. We need a permanent cessation of hostilities and, eventually, a resumption of the political process.”

DiCarlo also echoed Aboul Gheit’s call for a renewed commitment to a two-state solution for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and also commended the Arab League’s efforts in trying to reach a solution for the Libyan crisis.

Turning to Syria, DiCarlo noted the Arab meetings in Amman and Jeddah, and the resolution adopted at the Jeddah Summit, “which reflected the importance of Security Council Resolution 2254 (2015), the only internationally agreed roadmap to resolve the Syrian conflict.”

She said that “if the renewed regional attention on Syria is translated into action, we could see momentum build toward a negotiated political settlement of the conflict,” adding that “addressing the fate of the detained, the disappeared and the missing is essential to move closer towards sustainable peace.”

She called on all parties to “take meaningful steps to this end,” and urged member states to support the establishment of a body dedicated to clarifying the fate of the missing.

Wildfires spread in British Columbia, Quebec sees signs of progress

Smoke rises from a wildfire in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, Canada, in this screen grab taken from a video, June 8, 2023. BC Wildlife Service/Handout via REUTERS

Wildfires spread in the western Canadian province of British Columbia on Friday, while in the east, Quebec said it would start efforts to control blazes that have sent smoke billowing across North American cities.

Canada is enduring its worst start to the wildfire season, with 2,392 fires so far this year and 4.4 million hectares (10.9 million acres) burned, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC), roughly 15 times the annual average over the last decade.

The CIFFC reported 427 active fires, of which 232 were out of control.

Around 2,500 people were told to evacuate the community of Tumbler Ridge in northeastern British Columbia on Thursday. Officials also expanded evacuation orders for the Donnie Creek fire, the second-largest recorded in the province.

In the eastern province of Quebec, forestry minister Maite Blanchette Vezina said that as extra resources arrived, authorities would be better able to control the fires. Hundreds of firefighters from across the world have flown to Canada.

"This sprint phase is over - now we're in a marathon phase. So in the next days and weeks we will be working to contain those active fires to bring them under control and eventually extinguish them," she told a briefing.

"We also hope the weather will cooperate. Some precipitation is expected in some areas, but in the next few days the situation will remain critical."

Earlier, fire fighters contained blazes that had threatened hydro-electric facilities in the Lac-Saint-Jean area, about 300 km (190 miles) north of Quebec City, public broadcaster Radio-Canada said.

Federal authorities said this week they were concerned by the threat that blazes could pose to critical infrastructure.

Temperatures in parts of British Columbia soared to more than 30 degrees Celsius (86 Fahrenheit) this week, nearly 10 degrees above the seasonal average. While rain is expected over the weekend there is a risk of lightning strikes.

Although wildfires are common in Canada, it is unusual for blazes to be burning simultaneously in the east and west, stretching resources and fuelling concerns about the worsening consequences of climate change.

In the western province of Alberta, more than 3,500 people remain under evacuation orders and heat warnings were in effect over much of the central area.

Wildfire smoke continued to plague millions of people across eastern Canada and the northeastern United States.

Poor air quality is expected to persist in cities including Ottawa, Toronto, New York and Washington until Sunday when the wind direction shifts.

Nearly a third of the fires burning across Canada are in Quebec, more than any other province. Rain is expected in Quebec and neighbouring Ontario on Monday.

VIDEO shows destroyed Ukrainian Bradleys and Leopard tanks

©Telegram / voin_dv

Videos emerged on Friday purporting to show the destruction of a Leopard 2A6 tank as well as several US-made Bradley infantry fighting vehicles during a failed Ukrainian offensive in Russia’s Zaporozhye Region.

Another video apparently shot by Ukrainian soldiers showed a Leopard 2A4 that had been blown up by a mine during an unsuccessful attempt to break through the front line near the town of Orekhov in Zaporozhye.

On Thursday, Colonel-General Aleksandr Romanchuk, a commander of a Russian unit operating in Zaporozhye Region, reported that Kiev’s forces had lost over 30 tanks during an overnight offensive. Ukrainian losses also reportedly included up to 350 personnel, as well as three Leopard tanks and more than 10 infantry fighting vehicles.

According to Romanchuk, the first losses suffered by the Ukrainian army were during an attempt to cross a minefield. The official claimed that four tanks had been destroyed, as well as a demining machine.

He stated that Russian forces had then opened fire on Ukrainian troops, who chose to abandon their plan to cross the minefield.

On Friday, Russia’s Defense Ministry released its latest battlefield report in which it claimed that Ukraine had lost up to 1,240 troops and 39 tanks in just 24 hours. The losses are in addition to the heavy toll suffered during a week when Kiev is believed to have finally launched its long-anticipated counteroffensive.

The ministry claimed that Ukraine’s armed forces also lost 30 infantry fighting vehicles, 38 armored vehicles, dozens of pieces of artillery and other military hardware, as well as two military jets, two UK-supplied Storm Shadow cruise missiles, and 13 drones.

Earlier this week, the Russian Defense Ministry also released a black-and-white video that purportedly showed a Ukrainian Leopard tank being hit by a Russian anti-tank missile. That was after the ministry claimed that eight similar tanks as well as three French-made AMX-10 wheeled tanks had been destroyed by Russian forces on Monday.

Kiev has not commented on the reported losses, having repeatedly stated that it would not confirm or deny any information about its casualties.

The commander of the 58th Army of the Southern Military District, Major General Popov, told the details of the night battle in the Zaporozhye direction:

▪️the grouping of Kyiv forces that participated in the attempted offensive in the Zaporozhye direction included the most combat-ready units;

▪️the enemy tried to break through the defenses of the 58th army, in order to then go to the sea;

▪️the highest density of minefields made it possible to stop all four columns of Ukrainian troops;

▪️an important role in the defense was played by special forces, reconnaissance, artillery, aviation, an important role in repelling the attack was played by infantry;

▪️"Hard work ahead of us, everything is just beginning"

Special operation, June 8th. Main:

▪️Shoigu said that Kyiv tried to break through the defenses in the Zaporozhye direction tonight, the enemy was detected in a timely manner, and a preemptive strike was delivered. As a result of a two-hour battle, the enemy lost 30 tanks, 11 infantry fighting vehicles, up to 350 personnel;

▪️On Thursday night, Ukrainian troops tried to break through the defenses of the 58th Army of the Russian Armed Forces in order to then go to the sea, said Army Commander Major General Ivan Popov. "We have hard work ahead of us, everything is just beginning," he said, commenting on the repulse of the offensive in the Zaporozhye direction;

▪️Ukrainian troops lost 945 soldiers and more than 100 units of military equipment in battles over the past day, Shoigu said;

▪️Shoigu at the arsenals and storage bases of the Western Military District checked the preparation of equipment for shipment to the special operation zone. The minister demanded to reduce the time for receiving equipment from enterprises and its delivery to the troops, drew attention to the installation of additional protection for armored vehicles, taking into account the special operation;

▪️Putin discussed by phone with the acting head of the Kherson region Saldo the situation in the region after the sabotage at the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station and instructed the Ministry of Emergency Situations to provide assistance to all affected households in accordance with the norms of the Russian Federation, Peskov said;

▪️Pushilin, in an interview with RIA Novosti, described the situation in the liberated Artemovsk as difficult due to the constant shelling of Ukrainian troops, but controlled;

▪️The Russian heavy flamethrower system "Solntsepek" hit the strongholds of the Ukrainian military near the villages of Kirovo and Druzhba in the Artyomovsk region of the DPR, Astafiev, head of the press center of the "South" group of troops, told RIA Novosti;

▪️Ukrainian troops shelled an evacuation point in Hola Pristan, killing two people, including a pregnant woman, Saldo said;

▪️The death toll during the shelling of Gorlovka by Ukrainian troops increased to 4, another wounded man died in the hospital, the mayor said.

Putin - Ukrainian Counteroffensive Has Begun

©Sputnik / POOL / Go to the mediabank

Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced that the much-anticipated Ukrainian counteroffensive has been launched.

Putin has explained that Kiev's use of strategic reserves during recent attacks means it can be "stated with absolute certainty" that the Ukrainian counteroffensive has started.

The Russian president also observed that, so far, Ukrainian forces have failed to achieve their objectives and that their plans have been thwarted by Russian troops while addressing reporters on Friday. He did warn, however, that despite all these setbacks suffered by the Ukrainian forces, the offensive potential of the troops loyal to the regime in Kiev has not yet been depleted.

"As to whether the (counteroffensive has got) bogged down or not, it can be said that all counteroffensive attempts made so far have failed. But the offensive potential of the troops of the Kiev regime still remains," Putin said.

This week, Ukrainian forces attempted to punch their way through Russian defenses near Donetsk and in the Zaporozhye region. The attacks have been repelled by Russian forces, with Kiev troops sustaining heavy casualties.

When Could West Pull the Plug on Military Assistance to Kiev?

Russia’s Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu has announced that up to 1,500 Ukrainian soldiers and 150 armored vehicles attempted to break through the Russian defense lines in the Zaporozhye direction on Wednesday night as part of efforts to defeat Moscow’s ongoing special military operation in Ukraine.

According to Shoigu, the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) lost up to 350 soldiers, as well as 30 tanks and 11 infantry fighting vehicles as a result of a two-hour battle.

"The Russian reconnaissance forces detected the enemy in a timely manner, delivered a preventive strike by artillery, aviation and anti-tank weapons," Shoigu said.

This comes as senior Ukrainian officials continue to deny or decline confirmation that their much-anticipated counteroffensive against Russia is under way.

A Washington-based think tank monitoring the conflict in Ukraine has, meanwhile, tweeted that Kiev’s counteroffensive "has begun" and that "activity throughout Ukraine is consistent with a variety of indicators that Ukrainian counteroffensive operations are underway across the theater."

This was echoed by US media that also mentioned the beginning of the counteroffensive in "several directions", something that the news outlets reported saw the AFU suffer "stiff resistance" and losses in men and materiel.

When asked about the reports, a spokesperson for the AFU's General Staff told a UK news network, "We have no such information."

It seems that Kiev remains tight-lipped on its much-hyped counteroffensive because "instead of the victory that the Zelensky regime expected to see, they witnessed heavy casualties without any significant result," Podolyaka told Sputnik.

"They have only captured a combat outpost line of the (Russian troops’) 291st regiment, literally a few trenches. And for this to happen, the AFU lost thousands of lives and dozens of pieces of military equipment. There is information several (German-made) Leopard-2 tanks were damaged as a result of these attacks," he pointed out.

The military expert underscored that "both US journalists and AFU servicemen speak of Kiev’s counteroffensive" amid reports that Ukrainian media were banned from reporting about the matter.

F-16 Supplies

The counteroffensive-related developments come as Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov announced earlier this week that Kiev would not deploy the US-made F-16 Fighting Falcon jets in its possible counteroffensive this summer, because the process takes time and stipulates training for pilots, engineers and technicians.

"The F-16s will not [be a] game-changer this summer," he told a Japanese broadcaster, claiming that Kiev will possibly be ready to deploy the warplanes this autumn or winter.

Following the US' go-ahead to its European allies to provide Ukraine with F-16s last month, an international coalition has been recently formed to provide Ukraine with the jets and train Ukrainian pilots to fly the aircraft. Several countries have volunteered to host the training, including Denmark and Holland, but it has not yet been decided which of them would provide it and when.

Bundestag Defense Committee chairwoman Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann said in this vein that Germany can become a hub of this coalition, but that it will not provide the aircraft.

Moscow has called possible deliveries of the “Fighting Falcons” to Ukraine another stage of escalation of the conflict and warned that these warplanes will become a legitimate target for Russian forces.

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, for his part, stressed that the Russian Armed Forces have the ability to retaliate against the intention of Western countries to train Ukrainian pilots to fly the F-16s.

"As for Denmark and the Netherlands and their intention to be at the forefront of those who train Ukrainian pilots on Western aircraft, well, there is, first of all, a desire to please the hegemon. These countries are actively pursuing Washington’s line in European affairs. As for our reaction, I have no doubt that our Armed Forces have the ability to respond to this," Lavrov told reporters.

The US and its allies ramped up their military supplies to Kiev shortly after Russia launched its special military operation in Ukraine, with Washington already sending around $36 billion worth of military assistance to the Zelensky regime.

Moscow has repeatedly warned countries sending weapons to Kiev that it may further prolong the Ukraine conflict. Lavrov, for his part, emphasized that NATO allies arming and training Ukrainians is tantamount to direct involvement in the standoff.

Touching upon Kiev’s chances to get the F-16s, Podolyaka suggested that “If the so-called counteroffensive ends up at least in a draw, or with some small victories for the AFU, then, of course, the fighter jets will be in place in Ukraine.”

But if the AFU sustains a defeat, then "it is quite possible" that the Americans and Europeans will think that the supply of the F-16s to Kiev is irrelevant, he said, adding "everything will depend on the results of the battle that is now unfolding."

When asked if the West will continue increasing its military supplies to Kiev given the AFU’s stuttering attempts to launch a counteroffensive, the military expert referred to what he described as Americans and Britons’ practical approach to things.

"They are business people. They understand that if the project is unsuccessful, then it is not worth investing in it. And they are already directly saying and hinting to the Kiev regime that ‘if you don’t achieve any significant results as a result of the counteroffensive, […] then there will be a decrease in investments," according to Podolyaka.

He explained that such a scenario is fraught with a "very rapid collapse" of the Zelensky regime because it can no longer exist without Western assistance. "Militarily, the Ukrainian state would have been destroyed long ago but for the West’s aid. […] The Zelensky regime will fall or [be] significantly weakened as soon as Western assistance dries up, something that Kiev is afraid of. That is why they have launched this suicidal counteroffensive, knowing about all the risks related to the decision," Podolyaka noted.

Giving his insight into when it is relevant to expect the above-mentioned "significant results," he underlined that one should wait and see how developments will further unfold given the fact that the AFU will almost certain try to reverse the tide of the battle in its favor in the coming days.

NATO Troops in Ukraine?

Former NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen has meanwhile told reporters that several Eastern European members of the alliance were prepared to send troops into Ukraine to support the government of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky if Washington refuses to offer Kiev security guarantees at the forthcoming summit in Vilnius scheduled for July.

"If NATO cannot agree on a clear path forward for Ukraine, there is a clear possibility that some countries individually might take action," Rasmussen said.

He added that the alliance knows "Poland is very engaged in providing concrete assistance to Ukraine" and that he "wouldn’t exclude the possibility that Poland would engage even stronger in this context on a national basis and be followed by the Baltic states, maybe including the possibility of troops on the ground."

"I think the Poles would seriously consider going in and assemble a 'coalition of the willing' if Ukraine doesn't get anything in Vilnius," the ex-NATO chief argued.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba reacted by assuring that foreign countries would not send their troops to Ukraine before the end of the conflict. Deputy chief of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev also commented on the matter, writing on his Telegram page that "While Fogh Rasmussen previously was not a very smart person, he has now completely fallen into doctrinaire dementia."

He also warned that a possible scenario of NATO forces being deployed to Ukraine may have a negative impact on the US. "What does Uncle Sam think about this? After all, they’ll be impacted too. […] This is what happens when one becomes a freelance adviser to all sorts of greedy scumbags like former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and other corrupt Nazis at an inappropriate time," Medvedev added.

Dwelling on the issue, Podolyaka, in turn, said that he was "sure that Poland will try to seize a significant piece of land from Ukraine", something that he added cannot be resolved without the Polish entering Ukrainian soil.

He added that while the probability of the scenario of Polish forces being stationed in Ukraine remains, this won’t take place right now because Warsaw “will wait for the Armed Forces of Ukraine to fall apart” as a result of the Russian special military operation.

At the same time, Poland hopes that Russia will be purportedly weakened due to NATO’s actions and that it will allow Warsaw to claim and annex the territory of Western Ukraine in line with the 1939 borders,” he concluded.

Ex-Japanese Prime Minister Says Tokyo's Stance Towards Moscow 'Wrong

©AFP 2023

The attitude of the Japanese government led by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida towards Russia is wrong, former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama told Sputnik on Friday.

On Friday, ambassadors of some 40 states visited the Russian Embassy in Japan on the occasion of the upcoming Russia Day, which is celebrated annually on June 12. Hatoyama was among those who visited the embassy.

"I think that the Japanese government's attitude towards Russia is wrong. There have been various discussions, including on the territorial issues, and I thought that the improvement of relations would bring the solution of this problem closer. However, at present [Japan], in obedience to the United States, is almost giving military support to Ukraine, so Japan is supporting Ukraine and looking at Russia as an enemy. As a result, the friendship that we had until now is deteriorating. I deeply regret this," Hatoyama said.

The former prime minister said that Japan's power elite should adopt a more balanced approach to building relations with Russia.

"I think it is necessary to formulate a policy with a more correct point of view. Kishida's administration, as well as Japanese media that take the government's side, are fixated on supporting Ukraine, but I think [they] should have approached the problem with a more neutral attitude," Hatoyama said.

A total of 700 individuals, including 311 individuals from Russia's new regions, and 207 companies have been sanctioned by Japan since the beginning of Russia's military operation in Ukraine on February 24, 2022. A total of 437 Russian entities have been affected by export restrictions under Japan's sanctions packages.

Russia and Japan have been locked in a dispute over the four southernmost Kuril Islands (Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan, and Habomai) since the two countries never signed a permanent peace treaty after World War II. Japan has refused to give up its claims over the four islands, which it refers to as its Northern Territories. Moscow and Tokyo have tried to negotiate separate aspects of their disagreements, but have never signed a full postwar peace treaty.

In 2018, Japan and Russia agreed to accelerate negotiations on a peace treaty based on the 1956 Soviet-Japanese Joint Declaration. However, in March 2022, Moscow withdrew from talks with Japan on signing a post-World War II peace treaty, and suspended visa-free travel for Japanese citizens to the Southern Kuril Islands and joint economic activities on the disputed islands. The move was due to Tokyo's "unfriendly" steps over the Ukraine conflict, Moscow has said.

Brussels Says Not Halting Military Aid to Kiev Even Without Clarity on Arms Use in Russia

Belgium is not going to suspend military aid to Kiev even without clarity on the issues of possible use of the country's supplied weapons in Russia's Belgorod Region by Ukrainian sabotage group, Belgian Defense Minister Ludivine Dedonder said on Friday.

Last week, Belgian media reported that the Belgian Foreign Ministry and Defense Ministry will turn to Kiev "at the first opportunity" for an explanation due to the use of Belgian-made weapons in the Belgorod Region of by a Ukrainian sabotage and intelligence group.

"Are we going to suspend deliveries in anticipation of its [Kiev's] response? No, it is not on the agenda. We are in the zone of conflict, a lot can happen. I hope that we find everything out at some point," Dedonder told Belgian newspaper.

All weapon supplies to Ukraine are accompanied by a document stating that their goal is "protecting the Ukrainian territory and its population," but not for attack on another state, the minister explained.

Putin gives timeline for deployment of nukes to Belarus

The deployment of Russian nuclear weapons in Belarus will begin as soon as adaptation work at the relevant storage facilities is completed, around the first week of July, Russian President Vladimir Putin said during a meeting with his Belarusian counterpart on Friday.

“Everything is going according to plan,” Putin told President Alexander Lukashenko, adding that on July 7-8 “the preparation of the relevant facilities will be completed and we will immediately begin measures related to the deployment of the relevant types of weapons on your territory.”

Putin previously stated that he would discuss pressing security issues with Lukashenko “face to face” on Friday during an informal meeting in Sochi, part of which will be open to the press.

The president noted that “in general, the situation is stable, I would even go as far as to say that it is good. We are confidently cooperating in this sphere.”

Before concluding the open portion of the talks, Putin told Lukashenko that “there is always something to talk about. And that’s what we’ll do today.”

In late March, Putin announced that Russia would place its tactical weapons in Belarus in response to the UK’s decision to provide Kiev with depleted uranium munitions. The US and UK have insisted that uranium shells were “a commonplace munition” that “has been in use for decades.” Lukashenko, meanwhile, has repeatedly raised the issue of threats posed to his nation by nuclear arms deployed by the US in EU countries.

Washington and its allies in Europe have responded with outrage to the move, calling it an “irresponsible escalation and a threat to European security” and have warned that they will apply sanctions unless Minsk refuses to host Russian tactical weapons.

Moscow has dismissed the backlash, suggesting the West is “prone to hysterical reaction” and pointing out that Russia’s actions do not differ much from those of the US. It has also stressed that Minsk will not be able to use the nuclear weapons independently and that control over the munitions will remain with Moscow.

Chief of Russian General Staff holds video call with Chinese counterpart

Chief of the Russian General Staff Army General Valery Gerasimov held talks with his Chinese counterpart Liu Zhenli via a video link-up, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported on Friday.

"Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, First Deputy Defense Minister Army General Valery Gerasimov held talks via video conferencing with Chief of the Joint Staff Department of the Chinese People’s Republic’s Central Military Commission Colonel-General Liu Zhenli appointed to this post in March 2023," the ministry said in a statement.

Russia-China coordinated efforts contribute to stable global situation

Coordinated efforts by Russia and China on the international scene have a stabilizing effect on the global situation, Gerasimov said during the video call.

"Coordinated efforts by Russia and the People’s Republic of China on the international scene have a stabilizing effect on the world situation," he said.

Joint Russia-China military exercises can serve as an example of this, Gerasimov pointed out.

These drills held both on a bilateral basis and within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and the ADMM-Plus mechanism of defense ministers of ASEAN and dialogue partners contribute to deepening positive contacts in the defense sphere, the chief of the Russian General Staff stressed.

Russia favors continuous joint combat training with China

The Russia-China joint operational and combat training practice should remain a priority area, Gerasimov said.

"The practice of joint operational and combat training measures carried out by the Armed Forces of Russia and China should remain a key area of further activity. I am confident that today’s talks will help further bolster the Russia-China strategic defense partnership. I would like to use this opportunity to invite you to visit Russia at any time convenient for you," he said.

Russia, China to keep expanding defense cooperation

The appointment of Colonel-General Liu Zhenli as the Chief of the Joint Staff Department of the Chinese People’s Republic’s Central Military Commission will contribute to expanding Russia-China military cooperation, Gerasimov said.

"I am convinced that your vast experience will contribute to both developing the Chinese Armed Forces and expanding military cooperation between our countries," he said.

The chief of the Russian General Staff also congratulated his Chinese counterpart on his appointment in March this year and wished him "success in this responsible post in the cause of defending homeland, strengthening its defense capability and further modernizing the People’s Liberation Army of China."

Moscow appreciates Chinese defense minister’s first foreign visit to Russia

The Russian side highly appreciates that Chinese Defense Minister Colonel-General Li Shangfu chose Russia for his first foreign visit, Gerasimov said.

"The visit by Defense Minister of the People’s Republic of China Colonel-General Li Shangfu to Moscow in April played an important role in developing Russia-China interaction in the defense sphere. We highly appreciate that Colonel-General Li Shangfu chose Russia as the first country for his foreign trip after his appointment, as Chinese President Xi Jinping did when he came on a state visit to our country in March," Gerasimov said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping confirmed the highest level of Russia-China comprehensive partnership and strategic interaction. Amid global developments, the decisions made shape long-term national development and security goals sealed in the joint statement, including the issues of deepening military cooperation, the chief of the Russian General Staff said.