Russia's nuclear threat, China's involvement behind the scenes?
The situation in Russia and Ukraine continues to escalate.
On Feb. 26, the Russian Ministry of Defense ordered an all-around attack on Ukraine, which Ukraine struggled to resist.
Meanwhile, the U.S., UK, EU, and Canada took further action to remove Russian central banks from the SWIFT international payments system. https://bit.ly/3Km30kK
On Feb. 27, the Russian army entered Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city. The fighting broke out in the city center.
Ukraine sent a delegation of officials to talk with Moscow “without any preconditions” near the Pripyat River on the Ukraine-Belarus border.
Putin claimed that due to unfriendly economic sanctions by Western countries, he ordered Russia’s nuclear weapons and other deterrents to be put on high alert.
Ukraine believes that Putin is trying to increase the bargaining card and put further pressure on the Ukrainian delegation. The United States and NATO have condemned Moscow as “threatening” and “irresponsible.”
Dr. Xiaoxu Sean Lin, a U.S. veteran, political analyst and commentator, and member of The Committee on the Present Danger: China, noted that on Feb. 24, when Russia began to invade Ukraine, the war situation has changed, and China’s rhetoric in the media has also changed significantly. https://bit.ly/3Km30kK
In the beginning, there was a view that the military strength of Russia and Ukraine was very different, and Russia would achieve its goal in a flash.
While China blocked anti-war speech on social media, it touted Russia and accused the Ukrainian government of many “crimes.”
The Chinese Embassy in Ukraine also issued a reminder on Feb. 24, saying that Chinese citizens in Ukraine can show their national flags to increase security. At the same time, they did not announce the evacuation of overseas Chinese.
However, the tide turned with the firm Ukrainian resistance, and many countries had sanctions against Russia and supported Ukraine.
The China Embassy in Uzbekistan immediately issued a warning, telling the local Chinese to “don’t show their identities and display signs at will” to reduce security risks.
In China, social media Weibo, Douyin and WeChat began to delete information about China’s support for Russia on a large scale.
Qin Peng, a current affairs commentator, highlighted that on Feb. 27, CCTV reported the war had turned into a “stalemate.” However, they also talked of peace values and raising funds to support Ukrainian. https://bit.ly/3Km30kK
The U.S. called on China to condemn Russia. In a press briefing, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said, “this is not a moment to be on the sidelines” and that Beijing should look at itself, and this is “a moment to think about where you are in history.”
But is it possible for China to stand up and condemn Russia’s invasion?
Xiaoxu Sean Lin said that a big mystery is whether Russia planned to invade Ukraine and whether it shook hands with China in advance; whether Beijing was a bystander or a behind-the-scenes participant in the Russian military’s actions.
In a New York Times report, back in November 2021, the U.S. informed China of Russia’s aggression plan. It held six emergency meetings hoping China would do something to prevent the invasion. Instead, China rejected the U.S. request and even disclosed the information to Russia.
There is also a question of China signing a large oil contract of nearly $80 billion with Putin before the war.
Qin Peng, a current affairs commentator, concluded that observers believe that China regards Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as a rehearsal for its invasion of Taiwan. Therefore, those pro-CCP are clamoring, “Ukraine today, Taiwan tomorrow.” https://bit.ly/3Km30kK
But Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is getting foiled, and Russia quickly fell into a state of isolation. So now there is a reverse saying, “Today’s Russia, tomorrow’s CCP.” https://bit.ly/3Km30kK
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How to end the war in Ukraine: with Yanis Varoufakis, Volodymyr Ishchenko and more
Our first incredible giveaway shows you how to create a steady food supply, even when space is limited. This is especially helpful in urban areas, like the suburbs, or city..➨➨ ➨ ➨ https://bit.ly/3sLO7ST
February 24 will be remembered as a dark day for Europe: Russia has attacked Ukraine. The geopolitical games between Putin and NATO have led to war, and Europe’s peoples are the great losers, as the EU has, once again, proven itself powerless and irrelevant.
Given this situation, what needs to happen for this war to end? And what role should the EU play?
Our panel takes on these issues and answers your questions.
0:00 Introduction by Mehran Khalili
2:35 Anna Koleshnichenko (Ukraine)
6:07 Elizaveta Sharygina (Moscow)
9:54 Nina Petrov (Serbia)
11:20 Yanis Varoufakis
19:00 Volodymyr Ishchenko
26:03 Questions and comments from Youtube chat
27:00 Ivana Nenadovic
31:27 Julijana Zita
35:10 Dusan Pajovic
41:05 Questions and comments from Youtube chat
41:44 Elizaveta Sharygina
43:38 Yanis Varoufakis
49:46 Nina Petrov
52:02 Questions and comments from Youtube chat
52:31 Volodymyr Ishchenko
55:51 Julijana Zita
58:13 Amir Kiyaei (DiEM25 Policy Coordinator)
1:00:25 Questions and comments from Youtube chat
1:01:05 Yanis Varoufakis
1:05:16 Closing
Our first incredible giveaway shows you how to create a steady food supply, even when space is limited. This is especially helpful in urban areas, like the suburbs, or city..➨➨ ➨ ➨ https://bit.ly/3sLO7ST
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Can Elon Musk Keep Ukraine Online?
Since the Russian invasion began, Ukrainians have shared recipes for making Molotov cocktails and instructions for driving abandoned troop carriers. https://bit.ly/3Km30kK
They’ve used encrypted apps to coordinate tactics and to ask Russians to stand up to their government, who in turn have staged protests in Moscow and other cities.
Though it may end up losing on the battlefield, Ukraine has been able to show the world the brutality and folly of the Russian attack, which is only possible because everyday citizens have retained access to the internet. https://bit.ly/3Km30kK
But maybe not for long: In areas with the heaviest fighting, internet outages are becoming common, and since information is power on the battlefield, there’s a danger that Russia will find a way to knock the country fully offline.
This is why Ukraine’s Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Transformation tweeted a plea to Elon Musk, “We ask you to provide Ukraine with Starlink stations and to address sane Russians to stand.”
https://bit.ly/3Km30kK
“Starlink service is now active in Ukraine.” Musk tweeted back later that day, collapsing a regulatory process that can take months or years into under 280 characters.
Starlink service is now active in Ukraine. More terminals en route.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 26, 2022
https://bit.ly/3Km30kK
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