Russia warns US, NATO to stop giving weapons to Kyiv

According to Chinese official media, Russia’s foreign minister asked the US and NATO to stop supplying armaments to Kyiv if they are “really interested in resolving the Ukraine situation.”

Moscow is stepping up operations in Ukraine’s eastern Donbas area, months after an invasion that failed to achieve its short-term goal of seizing Kyiv.

The “special military operation… is continuing completely according to plan,” according to Sergei Lavrov, who spoke to China’s official Xinhua news agency.

China has refrained from criticising Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and has defended its close ties with Moscow, with state media frequently echoing Russian positions on the conflict.

“If the US and NATO are really interested in resolving the Ukraine crisis, then first of all, they should wake up and stop supplying the Kyiv regime with arms and ammunition,”

Lavrov said.

CHINA DEFENDS ITS FRIENDSHIP

The Kremlin has repeatedly described Western weaponry sales to Ukraine as a security danger to Europe.

Lavrov said in an interview with Xinhua published Saturday that Russia may “retool” its economy to protect itself against any “unlawful hostilities.”

According to Xinhua, he stated that the sanctions-hit country will focus on moving away from the US dollar and relying less on imports while increasing its technological independence.

For several years, Moscow has adopted a “de-dollarization” policy, urging partners such as China and India to make transactions in non-dollar currencies.

Western nations have implemented sanctions on Russia’s banking sector since the invasion, effectively cutting it off from the world economy.

Prosecutors in Ukraine believe they have identified over 8000 war crimes and are investigating 10 Russian soldiers for alleged atrocities in Bucha, where dozens of remains dressed in civilian clothing were discovered following Moscow’s departure.