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Vladimir Putin has launched a horrifying conflict 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 individuals 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 pals.
However many are in concern of going towards Russia and escalating the battle right into a full-scale international conflict – with Kremlin international minister Sergei Lavrov warning the west that ‘World Conflict 3 shall 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 help 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 those that 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 primarily handled as an extension of the Kremlin.
The neighbouring nations share greater than only a land border as Belarus has change into more and more reliant on Russia for financial, political and navy help in recent times.
Belarus chief Alexander Lukashenko has change into Putin’s war-mongering sidekick by permitting Russian forces to amass on his nation’s Ukrainian border earlier than hanging.
Two days in the past, it was claimed Belarus had invaded Ukraine and joined Russia to change into 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 accordance with native studies 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 skilled 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 Overseas Workplace stated the Belarusian navy has “supported and enabled the Russian invasion of Ukraine”.
Ms Truss stated 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 shall be made to really feel the financial penalties for its help for Putin.
“There shall 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 Overseas Ministry stated that the West was responsible of “abuse of energy”.
North Korea’s ambassador to the United Nations stated the US and its allies are the foundation 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 stated threatens the safety and territorial integrity of sovereign nations.
“The best hazard the world faces now could be high-handedness and arbitrariness by the US and its followers which are shaking worldwide peace and stability,” Mr. Kim stated at a U.N. Normal 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 likely one of the nations that has come out strongest of their backing for Putin.
Putin intervened in Syria in 2015 to save lots of the regime of Bashar al-Assad – with the nation then turning into a spot for him to check new weapons which at the moment are getting used on Ukrainian individuals.
The Russian air power and artillery commonly 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 boldness that his navy can’t 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 the planet after the breakup of the Soviet Union”.
He added: “Syria stands with the Russian Federation based mostly 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 residing in exile in Turkey instructed The Guardian.
“We all know higher than anybody else on the 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 simply too.”
Myanmar
Myanmar’s navy authorities has given their help 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.
Normal Zaw Min Tun, a spokesperson for the junta’s council, stated: “Primary is that Russia has labored to consolidate its sovereignty.
“I believe that is the precise factor to do. Quantity two is to point out the world that Russia is a world energy.”
Nonetheless, the federal government in exile has backed Ukraine in a Twitter assertion the place they condemned Russia’s actions.
There’s 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 acquired military coaching and college scholarships in Russia, which has additionally change into a significant supplier of navy {hardware} for a regime dealing with an arms embargo from the West.
A UN human rights skilled stated final week the 2 powers are offering Myanmar’s navy junta with fighter jets which are 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 known 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 help behind Russia have explicitly blamed the battle on US led NATO enlargement.
However Eritrea has remained largely quiet on the worldwide scene so it is onerous to know why they’ve made the transfer.
Hundreds of Eritrean refugees are at present caught in an limitless cycle of violence in Ethiopia’s civil conflict, being chased by gunmen and artillery strikes from one place to the following.
They first arrived in 2000, when a border conflict between the 2 nations was killing tens of hundreds.
Over the past 20 years, tens of hundreds of recent arrivals saved 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 the world over.
However the Communist Social gathering has tried to remain impartial and China was one in every of 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
Overseas Minister Wang Yi stated 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 known as for the 2 nations to “discover a approach to resolve the problem by negotiations”.
Putin is now deeply reliant on President Xi to bail him out as 30% of oil and gasoline produced in Russia goes to China.
It might be catastrophic to his plans if China carried out sanctions, however to date they’ve truly lifted wheat import restrictions in an financial increase to Moscow.
Chinese language officers have now been accused of asking Russia to delay their invasion of Ukraine as a way to keep away from disruption to the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.
An explosive report within the New York Occasions alleges that senior Chinese language officers instructed Russian officers in early February to delay their declaration of conflict.
The report stated 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 studies are speculations with none foundation, and are meant to blame-shift and smear China.”
India
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Picture:
AFP by way of Getty Pictures)
One other nation attempting 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 known 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 stated: “Extremely admire India’s unbiased and balanced place on the voting within the UNSC.
“Within the spirit of the particular and privileged strategic partnership, Russia is dedicated to keep up shut dialogue with India on the scenario round Ukraine.”
Specialists say the choice stemmed from New Delhi’s reliance on its ally for power, weapons and help in conflicts with neighbours – with Russia being India’s greatest arms provider.
India is in a novel 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 stated 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 dwelling, 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 attempting to reset relations after aligning with the US in the course of the chilly conflict.
Placing Pakistan’s financial pursuits forward of anything, Prime Minister Khan stated his nation will import about 2million tons of wheat and provides of pure gasoline after assembly the Russian President.
Defending the transfer, Khan stated Pakistan’s financial pursuits “required it” and Russia has already agreed to spend money on the $2bn Pakistan Stream Fuel Pipeline undertaking between Karachi and the town of Kasur in Punjab.
“We went there as a result of we now have to import 2million tons of wheat from Russia,” stated Khan in the course of the two-day journey to Moscow.
“Secondly, we now have signed agreements with them to import pure gasoline as a result of Pakistan’s personal gasoline reserves are depleting. Inshallah (God keen), the time will inform that we now have had nice discussions.”
The highest diplomats of twenty-two nations, together with European Union member states, have collectively known as on the federal government of Pakistan to help a decision condemning Russian aggression.
A Pakistan international workplace spokesman stated Islamabad has been participating with members of the worldwide group to “trade views” on the scenario.
“We now have all alongside advocated dialogue and continued engagement to de-escalate and work for a diplomatic answer,” he stated.
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’d 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 really 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 stated he spoke immediately with Putin for 2 hours, however the nation’s international minister later clarified this was not in the previous couple of days and he was referring to a earlier chat in Moscow.
In Sunday’s press convention, Bolsonaro stated Brazil will stay impartial and claimed Russia and Ukraine are “virtually brother nations”.
He added: “We is not going to 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 may convey destructive penalties for Brazil and he will not give his opinion on Putin till the scenario is resolved.
Claiming he does not assume Putin will trigger a lot bloodshed, he stated: “A chief of state like that of Russia doesn’t wish to undertake a bloodbath, anyplace.”
In an assault on Ukrainian President Zelensky, Bolsonaro stated Ukrainians have “positioned the hope of their nation within the arms 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 likely one of the nations attempting to carry out a fragile balancing act.
The nation shares centuries-old sturdy historic, political, ethnic, non secular and cultural ties with Russia and has been attempting to strengthen their alliance.
They’re one of many solely nations nonetheless flying planes out and in of Russia – with Air Serbia including further capability to flights between Moscow and Belgrade.
Nonetheless, Serbia additionally has European aspirations and has been looking for 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 stated: “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 willpower, however (Serbia) will not rush into hostilities solely as a result of somebody desires it to.”
The President has admitted the nation is coming underneath “large strain” because it resists imposing sanctions on Russia, which it strongly depends on for power wants.
“Serbia is in an exceptionally tough scenario, there may be much less understanding than ever for the place of our nation,” Vucic stated in a televised tackle. “We face large strain.”
Central Asian neighbours
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Picture:
Sergei Guneyev/POOL/TASS)
Do it is huge dimension, Russia has a substantial amount of neighbours who’re cautious of the present scenario.
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 preserve strategic partnerships with Russia, however none have spoken out in help 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 wish to preserve ties with the US.
Nonetheless, Kazakhstan, which has traditionally been one in every of Russia’s closest allies, has reportedly denied a request for its troops to hitch the invasion of Ukraine.
As an alternative, they’re stated 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 stated in an announcement. “We additionally welcome Kazakhstan’s refusal to ship its forces to hitch Putin’s conflict in Ukraine.”
Calling for a negotiated answer, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev stated: “There isn’t any different method. A nasty peace is best than a superb conflict. With out peace, there shall be no improvement.
“Kazakhstan, for its half, is able to present all doable 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 tug out 2,400 troops from the nation, the place they’d been combating jihadists, as a result of he suspected the Wagner Group had struck a cope with Mali’s ruling junta.
Public opinion in Mali was very a lot towards the French and protestors have been seen waving Russian flags in help.
The group of navy specialists are believed to reply to Putin, one thing which the Kremlin denies, with 4,000 “thugs for rent” now being unleashed to seek out Kyiv’s elite.
Russian Overseas 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 gaggle of Western nations, together with the UK, issued an announcement condemning the alleged determination to deploy Wagner group mercenaries in Mali.
They stated the deployment threatened the settlement for peace and reconciliation in Mali and slammed “using already scarce public funds” to pay international mercenaries as an alternative 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 help to the deployment of the Wagner group in Mali and name on Russia to revert to a accountable and constructive behaviour within the area.”
Nonetheless, 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 truly suspected to be from the Wagner Group.
The British international workplace described the Wagner group as “a driver of battle” and stated it “capitalises on instability for its personal pursuits, as we now have seen in different nations affected by battle equivalent to Libya and the Central African Republic”.
With assist from Russia, the armed forces took again management from a free 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 difficulty within the nation now could be the quantity of landmines, that means pupils in some areas are unable to go to high school 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 known as on Putin to withdraw his forces from Ukraine.
Nonetheless, 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 did not condemn and even title Russia or communicate in regards to 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 susceptible are likely to endure most, throughout and put up the battle.”
Ramaphosa’s supporters say that the road is according to South Africa’s custom of nonalignment in warfare.
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