Wang Yi, China's top diplomat, has arrived in Moscow for a high-profile visit that includes a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. The visit comes as tensions between Washington and Beijing continue to rise, with the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations warning China against providing lethal aid to Russia in its war against Ukraine. Wang's visit is the final stop in an eight-day international tour and it is unclear what topics will be discussed, but it is likely to include the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and U.S.-China relations.
Posts tagged as “Germany”
US and China have exchanged strong words following the shooting down of a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon off the coast of South Carolina. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Wang Yi, director of the People's Republic of China CCP Central Foreign Affairs office, met at the Munich Security Conference in Germany to discuss the incident. The meeting is seen as a potential step towards de-escalating tensions between the two countries.
Vice President Kamala Harris declared at the Munich Security Conference that the US government has determined that Russia has committed crimes against humanity in Ukraine. She warned that those responsible for these crimes will be held accountable, and that the US will not stand by and allow them to go unpunished. Harris also stressed the need to uphold international rules and norms, and to prevent other nations from following Russia's example.
In his State of the Union address, President Joe Biden announced a package worth more than $2.17 billion to Ukraine, including longer-range missiles, tanks, and other military support. RowVaughn and Rodney Wells, the parents of Tyre Nichols, a Black man who died after being beaten by Memphis police officers, were invited to the address to honor his memory and recognize the fight for racial justice. This package is part of the US' commitment to global security and stability, and a strong signal of support for Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression.
A 23-year-old German-Iraqi woman is being held in a prison in Ingolstadt, Germany, in connection with the death of a 23-year-old Algerian woman. The case, dubbed the “doppelganger murder”, began when the suspect’s parents reported her missing and the car was later found with the body of the woman inside. The suspect and her friend have now been issued arrest warrants on suspicion of murder, and the Kosovan man is also in custody in connection with the murder.
The situation in Ukraine has become increasingly tense, with the EU accusing Russia of taking its war against Ukraine to a "different stage" by targeting civilians and non-military targets. In response, Germany and the United States have decided to supply military equipment to Ukraine in order to help the country better defend itself, while the EU is calling for a diplomatic solution to the conflict and urging Russia to de-escalate the situation.
President Joe Biden announced on Wednesday that the United States will be sending 31 advanced tanks to Ukraine, in an effort to unlock similar moves all over Europe. This decision was made after Secretary of State Antony Blinken presented potential solutions to the issue, and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had argued for weeks that it did not make sense for the U.S. to send the tanks. The tanks are expected to arrive in Ukraine in the coming weeks, and will help them punch through entrenched Russian lines and fuel an advance on Russia’s land bridge to annexed Crimea.
Key takeaways: Russia launched 55 missiles at Ukraine on Thursday morning in response to US and Germany’s plans to supply Ukraine with modern M1 Abrams…