NATO summit: Heads of state warn China not to intervene in Ukraine war

Created: 03/25/2022, 06:32

By: Christian Stör

NATO decides new sanctions against Russia because of the Ukraine war.

A clear warning is also sent to China.

• At the NATO* summit, the member countries discuss further measures to solve the Ukraine conflict* peacefully.

• In addition to NATO, the EU* and G7 in Brussels are also dealing with the Ukraine war*.

  New aid for Ukraine* and further sanctions against Russia* will be decided.

• US President Joe Biden* sees a united NATO.

  However, the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj* is critical.

  Instead of sanctions against Vladimir Putin*, Selenskyj calls for weapons for Ukraine.

>>> Update news ticker <<<

+++ Update, March 25th, 2022, 6:16 a.m .:

In relation to the Ukraine war, NATO sent a clear warning to China* after the summit in Brussels.

In a joint statement, the leaders called on China to "respect the international order," which would include "the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity as set out in the UN Charter."

In the past, both the EU and NATO have expressed the suspicion that China would support Russia with money and weapons in the Ukraine war.

Beijing has consistently denied this claim while blaming NATO for the war.

The NATO summit in Brussels on the Ukraine war ends with a clear warning to China.

© Brendan Smialowski/afp

NATO summit: US President Biden to exclude Russia from G20 – sanctions “for the rest of the year”

++ 9:25 p.m .:

In a press conference at the NATO summit, US President Joe Biden emphasized NATO’s unity with Moscow.

“NATO has never, never been more united than it is today.

Putin is getting exactly the opposite of what he promised himself as a consequence of invading Ukraine.”

With a view to the effectiveness of the sanctions imposed by the West against Russia, Biden was confident.

"The maintenance of the sanctions" drives the "pain" up, he emphasized.

He convened the NATO special summit this Thursday to ensure that the West would not only maintain the sanctions against Moscow for a few months "but for the rest of this entire year".

US President Biden to exclude Russia from G20

+++ 19:22:

US President Joe Biden has spoken out in favor of excluding Moscow from the G20 group in view of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine.

Biden said yes to a question from a journalist on Thursday in Brussels.

He again warned the Russian army against the use of chemical weapons in Ukraine.

Should such a mission take place, there will be a "response" from NATO, he stressed.

Biden made the statement after a special NATO summit and a meeting of the G7 heads of state and government in Brussels.

In their final declaration, the G7 heads of state and government called on all international organizations to review their relations with Russia.

NATO summit: Germany wants to participate in NATO combat units

+++ 6.40 p.m .:

According to Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD), Germany is ready for further participation in the planned four new NATO combat units.

"These are decisions that are made together," Scholz said in Brussels on Thursday, referring to the Bundeswehr's contribution to the existing so-called Battle Groups.

"We are also willing to discuss other things if we are asked," he added.

Scholz firmly rejected Russia's demand to pay for future gas deliveries in rubles.

"There are contracts everywhere where the currency is part of the contract," said Scholz.

And it was noted that payment had to be made in dollars or euros, he emphasized.

"That's very clear."

"Strong and united" against Russia - new sanctions decided

+++ 4.30 p.m .:

US President Joe Biden sees NATO as “strong and united”.

Biden said after the NATO summit in Brussels that they had the “privilege” of speaking to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and promised him further support.

Selenskyj was connected to the top meeting via video and demanded 200 tanks for Ukraine (see update from 1 p.m.).

As a US government representative explained, he did not repeat his call for a no-fly zone over Ukraine.

NATO summit: Alliance pledges support to Ukraine

+++ 15:36:

NATO wants to support Ukraine in the war against Russia with additional equipment to protect against biological and chemical attacks.

At the NATO summit in Brussels, the 30 allied states decided to provide further assistance so that Ukraine could exercise its fundamental right to self-defense, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said.

"Any use of chemical or biological weapons by Russia would be unacceptable and would have serious consequences," the statement said.

In addition, Vladimir Putin and the others responsible for the war against Ukraine are threatened with consequences.

"We will work with the rest of the international community to hold accountable those responsible for human and international rights violations, including war crimes," the leaders said.

NATO summit: USA impose sanctions on Duma

+++ 14:49:

The US government imposes new sanctions against Russia.

As a high-ranking US government official announced on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Brussels, hundreds of members of the Russian Duma parliament and other members of the Russian elite will be affected by the new measures.

Russian armaments companies and the Duma as a whole are also to be put on the sanctions list (see also the update from 12 p.m.).

Summit in Brussels: Stoltenberg remains Secretary General of NATO

+++ 2:20 p.m .:

Jens Stoltenberg remains Secretary General of NATO for another year.

At the NATO summit in Brussels, the alliance states decided to extend the Norwegian's mandate until September 30, 2023.

The reason is the Russian war against Ukraine (see also update from 11:19 a.m.).

The NATO members also thanked Stoltenberg for his leadership and his commitment to international security at this critical moment.

+++ 2:00 p.m .:

NATO apparently wants to expand its arms deliveries to Ukraine.

According to a high-ranking US official, the NATO members at their NATO summit also discussed the delivery of anti-ship missiles to Ukraine for the first time.

However, technical details still need to be clarified.

Previously, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj had called for 200 tanks for Ukraine in a video speech (see update from 1 p.m.).

NATO summit: Selenskyj asks for 200 tanks

+++ 1:00 p.m .:

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj has called on NATO to act again.

"NATO still has to show what it can do to save people," said Zelenskyj at a video link to the NATO summit in Brussels.

"The world is waiting.

And Ukraine is waiting for real action.”

Zelenskyj demanded at least 200 tanks for Ukraine.

“They have more than 20,000 tanks.

Ukraine asked for one percent,” said Zelenskyy.

Kyiv would also buy them.

"We don't have a clear answer yet," said the 44-year-old.

The situation is similar with the requested aircraft and missile defense systems.

Brussels would not give clear answers.

"I ask you to change your assessment and think about security in Europe and in the world," Zelenskyy appealed to NATO members.

At the same time, Brussels should stop demanding NATO standards from Ukraine in order to join.

"We have shown what our standards are capable of," emphasized the head of state.

Kyiv is able to contribute to general security in Europe.

NATO summit: Biden wants to introduce new sanctions against Russia

+++ 12.00 p.m .:

At today’s NATO summit, new sanctions against Russia are to be decided.

Just which one is still unclear.

US President Joe Biden, who is also in Brussels, apparently has a plan up his sleeve.

First of all, Biden wants to introduce new sanctions against Russia.

As the Washington Post reports, in addition to defense contractors and other companies, numerous members of the Duma are also likely to be affected - a step that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj had called for in his video address to the US Congress.

However, Biden is apparently still holding back some of his sanction options, for example in the case of Roman Abramowitsch (see first report).

NATO summit in Brussels: Stoltenberg rules out military intervention

+++ 11.19 a.m .:

The Ukraine war also upsets the plans of NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

His term of office expires on September 30, 2022, after which he should become head of the Norwegian central bank.

According to information from the Norwegian media, Stoltenberg remains at the head of the western defense alliance.

The broadcaster TV2 and the newspaper Dagens Naeringsliv report that Stoltenberg is extending his term as NATO Secretary General by one year.

The background is the Ukraine war and the serious tensions with Russia.

First report from Thursday, March 24th, 2022

: Brussels/Kiev – The Ukraine war is now in its fifth week.

How it will continue is currently still completely open.

In any case, the West wants to discuss further aid for Ukraine and new sanctions against Russia at three summits in Brussels today.

The sanctions are to be tightened in a way that will make it more difficult for Russia to circumvent the existing measures.

Above all, the NATO summit, the top meeting of the European Union and the leading democratic economic powers (G7), should send a strong signal of unity to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Before the NATO summit: Selenskyj asks for leniency with sanctions against Russia

Meanwhile, Volodymyr surprised Zelenskyy with an unexpected request.

The Ukrainian President called on US President Joe Biden not to sanction one of the most well-known Russian oligarchs for the time being.

This refers to Roman Abramovich, who gained international fame primarily as the owner of Chelsea FC.

According to a Wall Street Journal report, the US Treasury Department was ready to sanction Abramovich in early March, but was then told by the White House to wait.

But why is Zelenskyy intervening here on behalf of a Russian oligarch?

Apparently he thinks that Abramovich, who has a close relationship with Vladimir Putin, could be helpful in the negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.

However, it is not yet known whether Abramovich has actually spoken to Putin or conducted any negotiations between Russia and Ukraine since the start of the Ukraine war.

US officials told The Wall Street Journal there was no reason to believe the oligarch had been helpful in talks between Ukraine and Russia to end the invasion.

NATO summit in Brussels: New sanctions against Russia?

It is rather questionable whether Abramovich will also be an issue at today's NATO summit.

However, Joe Biden also traveled to Brussels to take part.

In addition to possible arms deliveries to Ukraine and sanctions against Russia, there should also be talks about how NATO can improve its deterrence against Russia in the long term.

(cs)