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Vladimir Putin has launched a horrifying battle on Ukraine which has already claimed the lives of hundreds of civilians.
Russian forces are bombarding the Ukrainian cities of Kharkiv and Kyiv with shells whereas making an attempt to grab management however are being held by courageous locals.
President Volodymyr Zelensky is inspiring his folks and is desperately calling for assist in the struggle towards Russia – with NATO and their allies offering weapons and imposing harsh sanctions on Putin and his associates.
However many are in concern of going towards Russia and escalating the battle right into a full-scale international battle – with Kremlin overseas minister Sergei Lavrov warning the west that ‘World Conflict 3 might be nuclear and harmful’.
Some nations abstained from voting on a UN Safety Council decision condemning the invasion as they stroll a diplomatic tightrope and urge peace between each nations.
Whereas others have pledged their assist to Putin on account of historic shut ties with Russia or a hatred for the West and supposed US ‘aggression’.
Here’s a have a look at which nations are backing Putin and people who are sitting on the fence.
Putin’s supporters
Belarus
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Picture:
by way of REUTERS)
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Belarus is so tied to Russia it’s basically handled as an extension of the Kremlin.
The neighbouring nations share greater than only a land border as Belarus has turn out to be more and more reliant on Russia for financial, political and navy assist in recent times.
Belarus chief Alexander Lukashenko has turn out to be Putin’s war-mongering sidekick by permitting Russian forces to amass on his nation’s Ukrainian border earlier than placing.
Two days in the past, it was claimed Belarus had invaded Ukraine and joined Russia to turn out to be the second nation to assault them.
A tweet from the official Twitter account of the Ukrainian parliament claimed that troops “have entered” the area of Chernihiv, in northern Ukraine.
In keeping with native reviews from the area, a column of 33 tanks rolled previous residents of Slabyn, Pakul and Mykhailo-Kotsyubynsky at 11.30am native time.
State information company company Belta quoted Lukashenko as saying: “These are nicely educated speedy deployment teams that are able to cease any provocation and any navy motion towards Belarus.”
The UK has slapped sanctions on various Belarusian officers to inflict “financial ache on Putin and people closest to him”.
The International Workplace mentioned the Belarusian navy has “supported and enabled the Russian invasion of Ukraine”.
Ms Truss mentioned Belarus president Alexander Lukashenko’s administration “actively aids and abets Russia’s unlawful invasion” and needs to be made to really feel the “penalties”.
She added: “The Lukashenko regime actively aids and abets Russia ’s unlawful invasion and might be made to really feel the financial penalties for its assist for Putin.
“There might be nowhere to cover. Nothing – and nobody – is off the desk.”
North Korea
Picture:
ALEXANDER ZEMLIANICHENKO/POOL/EPA-EFE/REX)
It’ll come as no shock that North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un has backed President Putin.
In its first official assertion on Russia’s assault, the International Ministry mentioned that the West was responsible of “abuse of energy”.
North Korea’s ambassador to the United Nations mentioned the US and its allies are the basis trigger for the disaster in Ukraine, having ignored Russia’s “affordable and simply” calls for for safety.
Kim Track, the North Korean diplomat, criticized the “hegemonic coverage” of the US and the West that he mentioned threatens the safety and territorial integrity of sovereign nations.
“The best hazard the world faces now could be high-handedness and arbitrariness by the USA and its followers which might be shaking worldwide peace and stability,” Mr. Kim mentioned at a U.N. Basic Meeting assembly.
The Soviet-era allies share an 11-mile-long border and are each strongly motivated by anti-West and anti-NATO sentiments.
North Korea famously has nuclear capabilities and carried out its eighth weapons take a look at of the yr final weekend.
Syria
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Picture:
SANA/AFP by way of Getty Pictures)
Unexpectedly, Syria is among the nations that has come out strongest of their backing for Putin.
Putin intervened in Syria in 2015 to avoid wasting the regime of Bashar al-Assad – with the nation then changing into a spot for him to check new weapons which are actually getting used on Ukrainian folks.
The Russian air pressure and artillery recurrently bombed civilian targets, killing hundreds and laying waste cities and villages whereas propping up Assad on the world scene.
Russia has by no means been held to account for the function it performed in Syria and its given Putin the arrogance that his navy cannot be challenged.
Assad praised Putin for invading Ukraine and denounced Western ‘hysteria’ over the manoeuvre, claiming it’s “a correction of historical past and restoration of stability which was misplaced on this planet after the breakup of the Soviet Union”.
He added: “Syria stands with the Russian Federation primarily based on its conviction that its place is appropriate and since confronting NATO expansionism is a proper for Russia.”
However Syrian civilians, particularly within the north-west, have rallied behind Ukraine, sending messages of solidarity.
“Their struggling is ours,” Elham Shaheen, a Syrian dwelling in exile in Turkey instructed The Guardian.
“We all know higher than anybody else on this planet what Ukraine goes by. In the event that they win, we do too. All of my household is watching on. A lot of Syria is just too.”
Myanmar
Myanmar’s navy authorities has given their assist for Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.
The regime additionally accused the US and its NATO allies of plotting to pit Russia and Ukraine towards one another.
Basic Zaw Min Tun, a spokesperson for the junta’s council, mentioned: “Primary is that Russia has labored to consolidate its sovereignty.
“I feel that is the fitting factor to do. Quantity two is to point out the world that Russia is a world energy.”
Nevertheless, the federal government in exile has backed Ukraine in a Twitter assertion the place they condemned Russia’s actions.
There may be additionally a pure affinity between the 2 authoritarian regimes of Russia and Myanmar because the each really feel remoted by the West.
Greater than 7,000 Myanmar navy officers have obtained military coaching and college scholarships in Russia, which has additionally turn out to be a serious supplier of navy {hardware} for a regime going through an arms embargo from the West.
A UN human rights professional mentioned final week the 2 powers are offering Myanmar’s navy junta with fighter jets which might be getting used to slaughter civilians.
Eritrea
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Picture:
AFP by way of Getty Pictures)
Eritrea was the one African nation to to vote towards a United Nations decision on Wednesday that referred to as on the Kremlin to withdraw from Ukraine.
Whereas many African nations abstained, Eritrea went out by itself to again Russia.
The others nations which have put their full assist behind Russia have explicitly blamed the battle on US led NATO growth.
However Eritrea has remained largely quiet on the worldwide scene so it is exhausting to know why they’ve made the transfer.
Hundreds of Eritrean refugees are at the moment caught in an countless cycle of violence in Ethiopia’s civil battle, being chased by gunmen and artillery strikes from one place to the subsequent.
They first arrived in 2000, when a border battle between the 2 nations was killing tens of hundreds.
Over the past 20 years, tens of hundreds of latest arrivals stored arriving, fleeing the rule of Eritrea’s totalitarian dictator Isaias Afwerki.
These refusing to take sides and ‘impartial’ historic allies
China
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Picture:
by way of REUTERS)
Many consider China maintain the important thing to sorting peace talks between Russia and Ukraine.
President Xi Jinping is thought to have designs on taking on Taiwan and a few feared Russia’s invasion would begin a domino impact internationally.
However the Communist Get together has tried to remain impartial and China was one among solely a handful of nations who determined to abstain from voting on a UN Safety Council decision condemning Russia’s unlawful invasion.
China has refused to name Russia’s motion an ‘invasion’ or criticise Putin however has signalled its willingness to play a mediator function within the battle
International Minister Wang Yi mentioned Beijing “deeply regrets that battle has damaged out between Ukraine and Russia, and is paying excessive consideration to the hurt suffered by civilians”, state broadcaster CCTV reported.
Wang referred to as for the 2 nations to “discover a method to resolve the difficulty by negotiations”.
Putin is now deeply reliant on President Xi to bail him out as 30% of oil and fuel produced in Russia goes to China.
It could be catastrophic to his plans if China carried out sanctions, however to this point they’ve really lifted wheat import restrictions in an financial enhance to Moscow.
Chinese language officers have now been accused of asking Russia to delay their invasion of Ukraine with the intention to keep away from disruption to the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.
An explosive report within the New York Instances alleges that senior Chinese language officers instructed Russian officers in early February to delay their declaration of battle.
The report mentioned that info on the trade between the 2 nations was collected by a western intelligence service, and is taken into account credible by officers reviewing it.
China has refuted the allegations, with Liu Pengyu, a spokesman for the nation’s embassy in Washington, saying: “The claims talked about within the related reviews are speculations with none foundation, and are supposed to blame-shift and smear China.”
India
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Picture:
AFP by way of Getty Pictures)
One other nation making an attempt to stability ties with Moscow and the West is India.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s authorities has not explicitly condemned Russia’s actions or referred to as them an invasion however they haven’t backed Putin.
Ukraine and Russia even issued public appeals for Delhi to take a transparent stand, nevertheless India selected to abstain from the UNSC vote however a cautious studying of its assertion.
This stance was welcome by the Russian embassy in India, who mentioned: “Extremely respect India’s impartial and balanced place on the voting within the UNSC.
“Within the spirit of the particular and privileged strategic partnership, Russia is dedicated to take care of shut dialogue with India on the state of affairs round Ukraine.”
Consultants say the choice stemmed from New Delhi’s reliance on its ally for vitality, weapons and assist in conflicts with neighbours – with Russia being India’s greatest arms provider.
India is in a singular place because it’s one of many few nations which has good relations each with Washington and Moscow.
Indian Prime Minister Modi has spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, whileForeign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar has held talks with officers in Washington.
Former Indian diplomat JN Misra mentioned India “has dangerous and worse choices to select from”.
“One cannot tilt each methods on the similar time. India has not named any nation, which exhibits it will not go towards Moscow. India needed to be refined in choosing a facet and it has achieved that,” he added.
Again residence, The Chase star Paul Sinha has blasted India over its response to the Russian invasion on Ukraine.
Taking to social media, he fumed: “Disgrace on you, India. Your boast about being the world’s largest democracy means little or no now.”
Pakistan
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Picture:
by way of REUTERS)
Pakistan grew to become the primary main nation to again Putin and even signed a brand new commerce deal.
Even after Russia ordered troops into the breakaway areas of Donetsk and Luhansk final week, Prime Minister and former cricketer Imran Khan determined to go forward together with his deliberate journey to Moscow.
Prime Minister Khan and his delegates have been settling into their resort rooms in Moscow when Putin formally introduced the invasion into Ukraine.
It was the primary official state go to by a Pakistani head of presidency in 20 years – with the nation making an attempt to reset relations after aligning with the US throughout the chilly battle.
Placing Pakistan’s financial pursuits forward of anything, Prime Minister Khan mentioned his nation will import about 2million tons of wheat and provides of pure fuel after assembly the Russian President.
Defending the transfer, Khan mentioned Pakistan’s financial pursuits “required it” and Russia has already agreed to put money into the $2bn Pakistan Stream Gasoline Pipeline mission between Karachi and the town of Kasur in Punjab.
“We went there as a result of now we have to import 2million tons of wheat from Russia,” mentioned Khan throughout the two-day journey to Moscow.
“Secondly, now we have signed agreements with them to import pure fuel as a result of Pakistan’s personal fuel reserves are depleting. Inshallah (God prepared), the time will inform that now we have had nice discussions.”
The highest diplomats of twenty-two nations, together with European Union member states, have collectively referred to as on the federal government of Pakistan to assist a decision condemning Russian aggression.
A Pakistan overseas workplace spokesman mentioned Islamabad has been partaking with members of the worldwide group to “trade views” on the state of affairs.
“We’ve all alongside advocated dialogue and continued engagement to de-escalate and work for a diplomatic resolution,” he mentioned.
Brazil
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Picture:
Anadolu Company by way of Getty Pictures)
Brazil is one other nation with shut ties to Russia by the BRICS group of 5 rising economies.
The Brazilian authorities’s official stance on the UN was to say they might stay impartial, however that is not shared by President Jair Bolsonaro, who visited Putin in Moscow forward of the invasion.
The far-right populist has a way more beneficial view of Putin and Russia and departed his authorities’s official stance by refusing to sentence the invasion of Ukraine.
Bolsonaro angered Western allies by saying he was “in solidarity with Russia” with out elaborating on what that truly means.
On Friday, Brazil voted for a draft U.N. Safety Council decision that may have denounced the Russian invasion of Ukraine, regardless of reluctance by Bolsonaro.
At a press convention, the Brazilian President mentioned he spoke straight with Putin for 2 hours, however the nation’s overseas minister later clarified this was not in the previous few days and he was referring to a earlier chat in Moscow.
In Sunday’s press convention, Bolsonaro mentioned Brazil will stay impartial and claimed Russia and Ukraine are “virtually brother nations”.
He added: “We won’t take sides, we’ll proceed being impartial, and assist with no matter is feasible. An enormous a part of Ukraine’s inhabitants speaks Russian.”
Bolsonaro said that he fears sanctions might deliver destructive penalties for Brazil and he will not give his opinion on Putin till the state of affairs is resolved.
Claiming he would not assume Putin will trigger a lot bloodshed, he mentioned: “A chief of state like that of Russia doesn’t need to undertake a bloodbath, anyplace.”
In an assault on Ukrainian President Zelensky, Bolsonaro mentioned Ukrainians have “positioned the hope of their nation within the fingers of a comic”.
However he has been proactive in getting Brazilians out of Ukraine, together with various footballer who performs for Shakhtar Donetsk and Dynamo Kyiv, eradicating 70 nationals from the nation.
Serbia
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Picture:
ANDREJ CUKIC/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)
Serbia is among the nations making an attempt to carry out a fragile balancing act.
The nation shares centuries-old sturdy historic, political, ethnic, spiritual and cultural ties with Russia and has been making an attempt to strengthen their alliance.
They’re one of many solely nations nonetheless flying planes out and in of Russia – with Air Serbia including additional capability to flights between Moscow and Belgrade.
Nevertheless, Serbia additionally has European aspirations and has been in search of EU membership and a partnership with NATO.
The Serbian authorities have tried to stay impartial, however protestors in Montenegro are calling for them to sanction Russia.
President Aleksandar Vucic mentioned: “The Republic of Serbia expresses most honest remorse over what is going on in Ukraine. Each Russia and Ukraine are pleasant nations.
“Naturally, Serbia stays on its European path and that is its strategic dedication, however (Serbia) will not rush into hostilities solely as a result of somebody desires it to.”
The President has admitted the nation is coming beneath “enormous stress” because it resists imposing sanctions on Russia, which it strongly depends on for vitality wants.
“Serbia is in an exceptionally tough state of affairs, there may be much less understanding than ever for the place of our nation,” Vucic mentioned in a televised handle. “We face enormous stress.”
Central Asian neighbours
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Picture:
Sergei Guneyev/POOL/TASS)
Do it is monumental measurement, Russia has quite a lot of neighbours who’re cautious of the present state of affairs.
They’re understandably not eager to take sides and have tried to stay impartial within the ongoing battle in Ukraine.
Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan all keep strategic partnerships with Russia, however none have spoken out in assist of Putin.
The Kremlin tried to say the respective leaders ‘respect’ the land seize however this has been denied by their governments.
Among the nations are members of the Collective Safety Treaty Group navy alliance with Russia, however in addition they need to keep ties with the US.
Nevertheless, Kazakhstan, which has traditionally been one among Russia’s closest allies, has reportedly denied a request for its troops to affix the invasion of Ukraine.
As an alternative, they’re mentioned to be sending an airplane carrying humanitarian help to Ukraine and they don’t recognise the Russia-created breakaway republics.
“We welcome Kazakhstan’s announcement that they won’t recognise the LPR and DPR,” the US Nationwide Safety Council mentioned in a press release. “We additionally welcome Kazakhstan’s refusal to ship its forces to affix Putin’s battle in Ukraine.”
Calling for a negotiated resolution, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev mentioned: “There isn’t a different approach. A foul peace is healthier than a very good battle. With out peace, there might be no growth.
“Kazakhstan, for its half, is able to present all attainable help, together with middleman companies, if, in fact, they’re required”
Mali
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Picture:
AFP by way of Getty Pictures)
Only a week earlier than Russia began the invasion of Ukraine, Mali made a robust alliance with Putin.
In an interview with France24, Mali’s Prime Minister Choguel Maiga confirmed that his nation has signed navy co-operation agreements with Russia.
However he denied that mercenaries from the controversial Russian non-public navy firm, the Wagner Group, have been concerned.
French president Emmanuel Macron determined to drag out 2,400 troops from the nation, the place they’d been preventing jihadists, as a result of he suspected the Wagner Group had struck a take care of Mali’s ruling junta.
Public opinion in Mali was very a lot towards the French and protestors have been seen waving Russian flags in assist.
The group of navy consultants are believed to reply to Putin, one thing which the Kremlin denies, with 4,000 “thugs for rent” now being unleashed to search out Kyiv’s elite.
Russian International Minister Sergei Lavrov confirmed that Mali had “turned to a non-public navy firm from Russia” to assist struggle jihadist teams.
In December final yr, a bunch of Western nations, together with the UK, issued a press release condemning the alleged resolution to deploy Wagner group mercenaries in Mali.
They mentioned the deployment threatened the settlement for peace and reconciliation in Mali and slammed “the usage of already scarce public funds” to pay overseas mercenaries as a substitute of supporting the Malian Armed Forces and public companies.
A part of their assertion learn: “We’re conscious of the involvement of the Russian Federation authorities in offering materials assist to the deployment of the Wagner group in Mali and name on Russia to revert to a accountable and constructive behaviour within the area.”
Nevertheless, Mali’s authorities claimed “Russian trainers” have been within the nation as a part of strengthening the operational capability of the nationwide defence and safety forces.
Central African Republic
There have additionally been accusations of Russia meddling in different nations in Africa.
The Wagner Group have been additionally reported to have involvement within the Central African Republic as a part of Russia’s efforts to develop its affect throughout the continent.
Russia gave the CAR weapons, ammunition and 175 so-called navy instructors, who’re really suspected to be from the Wagner Group.
The British overseas workplace described the Wagner group as “a driver of battle” and mentioned it “capitalises on instability for its personal pursuits, as now we have seen in different nations affected by battle akin to Libya and the Central African Republic”.
With assist from Russia, the armed forces took again management from a unfastened assortment of insurgent teams, however in accordance with a UN report they dedicated virtually as many documented abuses because the rebels in 2021.
A serious problem within the nation now could be the quantity of landmines, that means pupils in some areas are unable to go to highschool due to the menace.
Each CAR and Russia deny that their forces have dedicated human-rights abuses or used landmines or different explosive units, however the rebels are placing the blame on the Russians.
South Africa
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Picture:
Anadolu Company by way of Getty Pictures)
South Africa are additionally in an alliance with Russia as a part of the BRICS group of 5 rising economies.
Initially, South Africa took a robust stance towards Russia and the Division of Worldwide Relations and Cooperation referred to as on Putin to withdraw his forces from Ukraine.
Nevertheless, it appears President Cyril Ramaphosa didn’t agree or modified his thoughts as that line from the assertion has now disappeared.
The decision for Russia to withdraw was successfully rescinded and the nation has now take a much more impartial stance.
In an up to date assertion by ambassador Mathu Joyini, he didn’t condemn and even identify Russia or converse concerning the invasion itself.
It learn: “South Africa is of the view that this armed battle, like all others, will end in pointless human struggling and destruction with international ramifications.
“In conditions of battle, essentially the most weak are likely to undergo most, throughout and submit the battle.”
Ramaphosa’s supporters say that the road is in line with South Africa’s custom of nonalignment in warfare.
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