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Vladimir Putin’s Russia is “churning out” rockets, drones and other weapons with help from China, Antony Blinken has said.
The US secretary of state said Beijing was providing Moscow with “machine tools” and other components to help Russia with its weapons production.
“Russia would struggle to sustain its assault on Ukraine without China’s support,” Mr Blinken said on a visit to Beijing on Friday.
“Beijing cannot achieve better relations with Europe while supporting the greatest threat to European security since the end of the Cold War.”
Earlier, Ukraine has withdrawn its American-made Abrams battle tanks from the frontline over concerns they can be easily detected and targeted by Russian drones.
Kyiv has lost five of the 31 Abrams tanks given to it by the US to Russian attacks since October last year. Ukraine had engaged in a months-long campaign arguing that the tanks, which cost about $10m apiece, were vital to its ability to breach Russian lines.
The US is expected to announce that it will provide another $6bn in long-term military aid to Ukraine, US officials said, adding that it will include much sought after munitions for Patriot air defence systems.
Zelensky presses the US and allies for Patriot missiles, expected in new $6bn aid package
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said that Kyiv needs Patriot missiles to create an air shield against further Russian missile attacks, and it’s likely he’ll get them in an additional $6 bin aid package expected to be announced by the US as soon as Friday.
Zelensky discussed the need for Patriots early Friday at the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, a coalition of about 50 countries gathering virtually in a Pentagon-led meeting. His address marked the second anniversary of the group, which has "moved heaven and earth" since April 2022 to source millions of rounds of ammunition, rocket systems, armored vehicles and even jets to help Ukraine rebuff Russia’s invasion, defence secretary Lloyd Austin said at the meeting.
The meeting was expected to focus largely on air defense systems, Austin said.
Zelensky said at least seven Patriot systems are needed to protect Ukrainian cities. "We urgently need Patriot systems and missiles for them," Zelenskyy said. "This is what can and should save lives right now."
He said at least seven Patriot systems are needed to protect Ukrainian cities. "We urgently need Patriot systems and missiles for them," Zelensky said. "This is what can and should save lives right now."
Europe is ‘too slow and lacks ambition’ in the face of global threats, says Macron
In a nearly two-hour speech at the Sorbonne University in Paris, Mr Macron claimed the 27-member European Union (EU) was “too slow and lacks ambition” before demanding that the bloc does not become a “vassal of the United States”.
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Sweden should spend more on defense and increase the number of conscripts, lawmakers recommend
Sweden should increase its military budget by nearly 54 billion kronor ($5 billion) until 2030 to strengthen its air defenses and beef up the number of conscripts, a Swedish parliamentary committee recommended Friday.
The Scandinavian country joined the NATO alliance in March, moving away from a decades-long policy of neutrality in the wake of Russia‘s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
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Xi tells Blinken US and China ‘should be partners and not rivals’ as Beijing sets out red lines
Mr Xi met Mr Blinken before the American diplomat concluded his three-day visit to Beijing on Friday, an unexpected direct meeting with the Communist Party leader signifying an effort to ease emerging flashpoints.
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Russia would ‘struggle' to sustain war in Ukraine without help from Ukraine - US
Russia would “struggle” to sustain its invasion of Ukraine without support from China, Antony Blinken has said.
The US secretary of state said Beijing was providing Moscow with machine tools and microelectronics that were helping Russia to “churn out” rockets, drone and other weapons.
“Russia would struggle to sustain its assault on Ukraine without China’s support,” Mr Blinken said on a visit to Beijing on Friday.
“Beijing cannot achieve better relations with Europe while supporting the greatest threat to European security since the end of the Cold War.”
Ukraine frees farm minister on bail pending probe into graft allegations
Ukrainian agriculture minister Mykola Solsky was released from custody on bail on Friday pending a corruption investigation into allegations he took part in an illegal acquisition of state-owned land worth some $7 million.
Solsky has denied the allegations, which relate to events in 2017-2021 before he started as farm minister in March 2022. He was ordered into custody on Friday, but later told Reuters that bail of 75.7 million hryvnias ($1.9 million) had been paid.
Solsky tendered his resignation on Thursday but technically remains in his post until parliament reviews his request. He is the first known minister under president Volodymyr Zelensky to be named a suspect in a graft case.
The investigation is to determine whether Solsky should be formally charged and put on trial. Prosecutors told a court hearing on Thursday the allegations were punishable by up to 12 years in jail. Solsky was unavailable for immediate comment.
Russia files hundreds of drone patents as ‘global arms race’ ramps up
Drone patents have soared across the world amid a “new arms race” for the technology’s use on the battlefield, experts have warned.
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Russian attacks wound four in northeastern Ukraine, local officials say
Russian guided bombs struck an industrial facility and a residential building in northeastern Ukraine on Friday, wounding at least four people, local officials said.
Three children and a woman were hurt when bombs hit a central part of the town of Derhachi in the Kharkiv region, governor Oleh Syniehubov said on the Telegram messenger.
Two bombs struck an industrial facility in the Sumy region, regional authorities said, but gave no further details.
The two neighbouring regions border Russia and have suffered frequent aerial attacks since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
The strikes have become more intense in recent weeks, hitting civilian and energy infrastructure.
In Beijing, Blinken raises US concerns about China's support for Russia
US secretary of state Antony Blinken raised concerns on Friday about China’s support for Russia’s military, one of the many issues threatening to sour the recent improvement in relations between the world’s biggest economies.
Blinken raised the matter during five-and-a-half hours of talks with China’s top diplomat Wang Yi in Beijing, the latest high-level contact between the countries that have reduced the acrimony that pushed ties to historic lows last year.
"The secretary discussed concerns about PRC support to the Russian defense industrial base," US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said, adding the two sides also discussed Taiwan, the South China Sea and other flashpoints.
The PRC is short for China’s official name, the People’s Republic of China.
Spain to send Patriot missiles to Ukraine - report
Spain will send a small number of Patriot missiles to Ukraine, El Pais newspaper reported on Friday, in response to pressure from EU and NATO allies to send more military aid to Kyiv.
With Russia having stepped up air attacks on Ukraine, EU governments have been urged to supply more protective systems to Kyiv, especially countries like Greece and Spain that have such arms in their arsenal.
Greece said on Thursday it would not be able to provide air defence systems to Ukraine.
El Pais, quoting unidentified government sources, said on Friday that Spain had ruled out delivering Patriot anti-aircraft launchers but it would supply the Ukrainian military with missiles for the system.
"The transfer of a small number of missiles has come after the defence ministry refused to hand over to Ukraine the battery it has had deployed since 2013 on the Turkish-Syrian border," El Pais said.
"It will be a very limited number, as the Spanish war reserve is around 50 units and interceptors are very expensive."
The defence ministry did not immediately reply to a request for comment on the report but on Thursday a Spanish diplomatic told foreign reporters that Madrid needed to step up its commitment to Ukraine.
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2024-04-26 17:00:01Z
CBMibWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmluZGVwZW5kZW50LmNvLnVrL25ld3Mvd29ybGQvZXVyb3BlL3J1c3NpYS11a3JhaW5lLXdhci1wdXRpbi1udWNsZWFyLXdlYXBvbnMtbGF0ZXN0LWIyNTM1MTMwLmh0bWzSAQA
