Monday, February 20, 2023

Blinken Warns China Against Providing Aid To Russia, Says Balloon Surveillance Must "Never Again Occur" As Beijing Slams "Excessive Use Of Force", Offers "No Apology"

"Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned China’s top diplomat on Saturday that the U.S.
will not tolerate violations of its airspace after a Chinese spy balloon flew over North America, but received no apologies from Beijing.
According to Politico, Blinken met with Wang Yi, director of China’s Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference in what was the administration’s first face-to-face meeting with the Chinese government since a balloon was discovered earlier this month and subsequently downed by the U.S. military off the coast of South Carolina. Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned China’s top diplomat  that the U.S. will not tolerate violations of its airspace after a Chinese spy balloon flew over North America, but received no apologies from Beijing.
Blinken also warned Beijing about “implications and consequences if China provides material support to Russia or assistance with systemic sanctions evasion,” as Moscow wages war against Ukraine." ZH

Netherlands' Prime Minister Comments.....

"Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte visited Kyiv for the second time since the full-scale
Russian invasion.
The Netherlands has the informal "status" of a Euroskepticist. They often block decisions on the EU enlargement process and are cautious in security matters.
 
Brief interview with Mark Rutte:
- Crimea is Ukraine. This is confirmed by the EU and the Netherlands in particular. Will you resist if the Ukrainian army begins to liberate Crimea?
- I am not going to tell Volodymyr Zelenskyy what to do. We want Ukraine to win this war. But it should decide itself what tactics to choose - where to start, what to do exactly.
We cannot decide this for Ukraine. You must win. We want to help you. That is why we are already helping by providing significant military assistance." PRAVADA

Ammunition detonated in dugout with military personnel in Russia's Kursk Oblast, causing casualties

"Ammunition detonated in a dugout where conscript soldiers were stationed, resulting in six soldiers dying in Kursk Oblast, Russia." PRAVADA

Zelensky holds talks with Biden.... Biden announces new $500M military aid package for Ukraine

"President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and President of the United States Joe Biden
held talks in a tête-à-tête format and with delegations. ......The United States will allocate a new $500 million military aid package for Ukraine, which will include missiles for the HIMARS system, Javelin anti-tank missile systems, etc." UKRIN