Biden: “Russia should be expelled from the G20… If we use chemical weapons, we will respond”

picture explanationUS President Joe Biden speaks during a press conference at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit in Brussels on the 24th, local time. [로이터 = 연합뉴스]

US President Joe Biden announced on the 24th (local time) that Russia, which invaded Ukraine, should be expelled from the G20. He emphasized that Russia will respond if it uses chemical weapons and will pay the price if China supports Russia.

When asked whether Russia should be removed from the G20, President Biden said at a press conference after talks with allied leaders in Brussels, Belgium, “My answer is yes. It depends on the G20.” “It has never been more united than today,” he said. “If Indonesia and others oppose, I will ask Ukraine to attend.” This year’s G20 chair country is Indonesia, and the summit is scheduled for October.

“The Russian invasion is getting the exact opposite of what was intended,” he said. Regarding prospects for Russia’s use of chemical weapons, he said “the type of response will depend on the type of use”. Before going on a European tour the day before, the Biden administration has been sounding warning bells every day, arguing that Russia’s use of chemical weapons is a threat.

President Biden delivered a clear message today about China’s support for Russia. “China understands the price of helping Russia,” he said in a last phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping. “China understands that its economy is much more closely linked to the West than Russia,” he said. President Biden said, “In a video call with President Xi on the 18th, instead of making any threats, he pointed out the number of US and foreign companies that have left Russia as a result of Russia’s barbaric actions.” said to have mentioned. He also said that President Xi had a great interest in economic growth or economic relations with Europe and the United States, and stressed that “If Xi supports Russia, these economic goals will be put at great risk.” President Biden said Russian President Vladimir Putin had wrongly predicted that NATO would split over Ukraine. President Biden announced on the same day that the United States has provided more than $2 billion in military aid to Ukraine so far, with an additional $1 billion in humanitarian aid and $320 million in support of democracy and human rights protection.

Not only Europe, but also allies such as Japan responded. On the same day, President Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced that they would provide an additional $100 million in health, medical care and food for Ukraine. Japan’s Ministry of Finance estimates that an additional $3.6 billion in tariffs will be imposed annually on goods imported, excluding Russia as a most-favoured country. Ukraine announced on the same day that Russia had conducted its first POW exchange. According to the order of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukrainian prisoners of war have been exchanged with 10 abducted Russian occupation forces.

In Ukraine, it is reported that the Russian ship Orsk, which was anchored in the port of the Azou Sea in the southeastern part of the country, sank in a counterattack by Ukraine amid a confrontation between Russian and Ukrainian forces. According to CNN, the ship could carry more than 20 of her tanks. In the area around the capital Kiiu, Russian troops are being pushed more than 35-70 km eastward, but Russian attacks are intensifying in the northern part of Kiiu.

Ukraine has been updating its list of additional military aid it wishes to give to the US government over the past few days. Ukraine is said to have asked the United States to add Stinger anti-aircraft and anti-tank missiles.

[이동인 기자 / 도쿄 = 김규식 특파원]
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