“China is ready to continue, together with Russia, to support each other on issues related to fundamental interests and important concerns such as sovereignty and security.”
Residents gather on Wednesday near houses damaged by a Russian rocket attack in Pokrovsk, Donetsk region, Ukraine. Credit: AP
Moscow and Beijing have increasingly aligned their foreign policies to oppose liberal democratic forces in Asia, Europe and beyond, taking a stand for an authoritarian government with narrow borders and little respect for freedom of expression. minority rights or opposition policy.
Meanwhile, German Olaf Scholz, Frenchman Emmanuel Macron and Italian Mario Draghi are scheduled to visit Ukraine on Thursday to meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
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The three European leaders would be the most prominent visit to Ukraine since the invasion.
Russia has further tightened control of European energy markets by reducing gas shipments by about 60 percent. Germany said the move was politically motivated “to unsettle and raise prices.”
U.S. President Joe Biden called Zelensky and promised to provide an additional $ 1 billion ($ 1.4 billion) in military aid. It will be the largest stretch of weapons and equipment since the war began. Assistance will include anti-missile, howitzer and more round missile launchers for high-mobility artillery rocket systems, all key weapon systems that Ukraine has urgently requested.
The head of the Ukrainian army said Russia was attacking the north of the Luhansk region in the east from nine directions simultaneously Thursday morning (AEST).
“The fierce fighting for the Luhansk region continues,” Valeriy Zaluzhny, commander-in-chief of the armed forces, said in an online message. The Russians were using planes, rocket-propelled grenades and artillery, he added.