٠٠:٠٦:٠٩Russia: China's peace plan can be taken as basis for settlement when West and Kiev are ready for it - Putin
Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed that a peace plan for the Ukraine conflict proposed by China could lay the foundations for an agreement, but 'when the West and Kiev are ready for it', during a press briefing following talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Moscow on Tuesday.
"Many of the provisions of the peace plan put forward by China are in line with Russia's approaches and could be taken as a basis for a peace settlement when the West and Kiev are ready for it," Putin stated.
The president also said that 'we haven't seen any such willingness' so far.
He also mentioned that British Minister of State for Defence Annabel Goldie "announced not only the supply of tanks to Ukraine, but also of depleted uranium shells."
"It seems that the West has really decided to fight Russia to the last Ukrainian - not in words, but in deeds. But I would like to note in this regard that if all this happens, Russia will be forced to react accordingly," the head of state said, claiming that the West 'is starting to use weapons with a nuclear component'.
On Monday, Goldie told the British Parliament that "alongside our granting of a squadron of Challenger 2 main battle tanks" the United Kingdom would "provide ammunition including armour piercing rounds which contain depleted uranium."
"Such rounds are highly effective in defeating modern tanks and armoured vehicles," Goldie stated.
For its part, the UK Ministry of Defence said on Tuesday that depleted uranium "is a standard component and has nothing to do with nuclear weapons or capabilities."
"Russia knows this, but is deliberately trying to disinform," the ministry added.
In late February, China's Foreign Ministry published a 'position on a political solution to the Ukraine crisis' which consisted of 12 points. Among them were the rejection of the Cold War mentality, the cessation of hostilities, and the resumption of direct dialogue between Russia and Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the Chinese plan contained points that 'coincide with the interests of the world' and Kiev, but that he could not agree with some provisions.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed doubts about the document submitted by China, saying it was not a peace plan, but merely the country's 'principles'.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg claimed that China did not have much credibility with the West because it 'failed to condemn the illegal invasion of Ukraine'.
Moscow launched a military offensive in Ukraine in late February 2022 after recognising the independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR), claiming that Kiev had failed to guarantee their special status under the 2014 Minsk Agreements, and urging Ukraine to declare itself officially neutral and give assurances that it would never join NATO.
Kiev denounced the Russian action as an invasion. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky imposed martial law throughout the country, announcing a general mobilisation, while the EU and the US imposed several rounds of sanctions on Moscow.
٠٠:٠٦:٠٩Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed that a peace plan for the Ukraine conflict proposed by China could lay the foundations for an agreement, but 'when the West and Kiev are ready for it', during a press briefing following talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Moscow on Tuesday.
"Many of the provisions of the peace plan put forward by China are in line with Russia's approaches and could be taken as a basis for a peace settlement when the West and Kiev are ready for it," Putin stated.
The president also said that 'we haven't seen any such willingness' so far.
He also mentioned that British Minister of State for Defence Annabel Goldie "announced not only the supply of tanks to Ukraine, but also of depleted uranium shells."
"It seems that the West has really decided to fight Russia to the last Ukrainian - not in words, but in deeds. But I would like to note in this regard that if all this happens, Russia will be forced to react accordingly," the head of state said, claiming that the West 'is starting to use weapons with a nuclear component'.
On Monday, Goldie told the British Parliament that "alongside our granting of a squadron of Challenger 2 main battle tanks" the United Kingdom would "provide ammunition including armour piercing rounds which contain depleted uranium."
"Such rounds are highly effective in defeating modern tanks and armoured vehicles," Goldie stated.
For its part, the UK Ministry of Defence said on Tuesday that depleted uranium "is a standard component and has nothing to do with nuclear weapons or capabilities."
"Russia knows this, but is deliberately trying to disinform," the ministry added.
In late February, China's Foreign Ministry published a 'position on a political solution to the Ukraine crisis' which consisted of 12 points. Among them were the rejection of the Cold War mentality, the cessation of hostilities, and the resumption of direct dialogue between Russia and Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the Chinese plan contained points that 'coincide with the interests of the world' and Kiev, but that he could not agree with some provisions.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed doubts about the document submitted by China, saying it was not a peace plan, but merely the country's 'principles'.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg claimed that China did not have much credibility with the West because it 'failed to condemn the illegal invasion of Ukraine'.
Moscow launched a military offensive in Ukraine in late February 2022 after recognising the independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR), claiming that Kiev had failed to guarantee their special status under the 2014 Minsk Agreements, and urging Ukraine to declare itself officially neutral and give assurances that it would never join NATO.
Kiev denounced the Russian action as an invasion. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky imposed martial law throughout the country, announcing a general mobilisation, while the EU and the US imposed several rounds of sanctions on Moscow.