- Xi Jinping's three-day Moscow official visit concluded Wednesday, which allowed the two allies to show off their strong connection amid Vladimir Putin's increasing isolation.
- Though the China peace plan discussions did not resolve the Russia-Ukraine war, Vladimir Putin noted that several of the proposals might serve as the cornerstone for a diplomatic resolution to the conflict.
- Putin warned Russia would "respond accordingly" if the UK provided Ukraine with armor-piercing tank ammunition with depleted uranium.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a long statement affirming their cooperation on several subjects during discussions in Moscow this week.
Xi Jinping's three-day official visit to Moscow ended Wednesday. The event gave the two allies a chance to show off their strong relationship and discuss the possibility of working together to establish a global order that opposes the US and its Western allies.
However, little progress was made in the negotiations on the China peace plan toward ending the Russia-Ukraine war.
China's Foreign Ministry published a joint statement from the two presidents in which they called for an end to initiatives that "increase tensions" and "prolong" the Russia-Ukraine war.
The presidents also asked NATO to "respect the sovereignty, security, and interests" of other nations, reiterating lengthy claims from both nations that the Western security coalition instigated Russia's attack on Ukraine, according to a CNN report.
In recent weeks, Beijing has released its China peace plan on a "political solution" to the Russia-Ukraine war, inviting for a truce and peace negotiations, giving the impression that it is acting as a peace broker. But since there is no guarantee that Russian forces would be withdrawn from Ukrainian territory, the plan has been rejected by the West and Ukraine.
Russia Welcomes China's Peace Proposal for Ukraine Conflict
In a message to journalists after Tuesday's discussions, Vladimir Putin said that many of the measures might be used as the foundation for a peaceful solution to the Russia-Ukraine war.
"We believe that many of the provisions of the peace plan put forward by China are consonant with Russian approaches and can be taken as the basis for a peaceful settlement when the West and Kyiv are ready for it," Vladimir Putin remarked.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that a truce would just "freeze" the Russia-Ukraine war, allowing Russia to "prepare and come back again" to fulfill its goal "to occupy" Ukraine.
Vladimir Putin also reacted to the news that the UK would supply depleted uranium shells to Ukraine. The Russian head of state warned that Moscow would be compelled to respond if the UK supplied Ukraine with depleted uranium-tainted armor-piercing tank ammunition.
Putin said: "It seems that the West really has decided to fight Russia to the last Ukrainian - no longer in words, but in deeds. But in this regard, I would like to note that if all this comes to pass, then Russia will have to respond accordingly. What I mean is that the collective West is already starting to use weapons with a nuclear component," per Kremlin's official site.
Vladimir Putin Accused of Spreading Misinformation
The Russian leader's comments came on Tuesday when UK defense minister Annabel Goldie acknowledged that depleted uranium ammunition was included in a military assistance package supplied to Ukraine with Challenger 2 battle tanks.
On Monday, Goldie claimed that alongside the UK supplying a squadron of Challenger 2 main combat tanks to Ukraine, it would deliver ammunition, including armor-piercing shells, including depleted uranium, Al Jazeera reported.
The UK official noted the ammunition was "highly effective in defeating modern tanks and armored vehicles."
British officials have stressed, however, that the ammunition poses no radiation danger and its depleted uranium component "has nothing to do with nuclear weapons."
Armor-piercing shells containing depleted uranium have been employed by the British military for decades, according to the BBC.
A former tank commander in the British Army, Col. Hamish de Breton-Gordon, who is also a chemical weapons specialist, called Vladimir Putin's remarks "classic misinformation."
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