(EFE).- The US on Thursday asked China to intercede in the Ukraine crisis in a “constructive” manner to reduce tensions with Russia, arguing that the outbreak of a war would have negative effects for Beijing, as well as other nations.
US State Department spokesman Ned Price noted at a press conference that China has a close relationship with Russia, in contrast to Western countries, and he urged Beijing to take advantage of that “influence” to help avert an armed confrontation between Moscow and Kiev.
The US responded after Beijing on Thursday weighed in on the political chessboard of the Ukraine crisis with a warning that Washington should “respect (Moscow’s) legitimate concerns.”
During a telephone call with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi criticized the military “expansion” of NATO at the same time that he called for “calm” and “restraint.”
The US government responded to Beijing’s call for calm in the phone call and noted that China could exert its influence to help avert a conflict that would not serve its interests.
If there is armed conflict in Ukraine, that will not be good for China, said Deputy Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland, adding that it would have a significant impact on the world economy.
One day after Washington and NATO responded in writing in separate messages to the Kremlin’s demands for security guarantees in Eastern Europe, a tense calm continued to prevail between the US and Russia.
The government of Vladimir Putin had demanded that the Atlantic Alliance halt its eastward expansion in Europe, in particular by banning Ukraine and Georgia from ever joining NATO, and also cease military cooperation with now-independent former Soviet republics and withdraw NATO troops to the positions they occupied prior to 1997.
Although the precise content of the Western response has not been publicly revealed, the US has said that NATO’s door “remains open” to new members, should they want to join the alliance.
“There are not many reasons for optimism,” said Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the White House continues to maintain that a Russian invasion of Ukraine is “imminent,” given the more than 100,000 combat troops that Moscow has deployed along its border with the neighboring country.
And the Pentagon said that there are combat teams and infantry units among the 8,500 soldiers it has placed on “heightened alert” for their deployment to Eastern Europe if Russia does invade.
Those soldiers would be deployed on NATO’s eastern flank, although not to Ukraine itself, but Washington is assisting Kiev by sending assorted weaponry.
Specifically, President Joe Biden spoke by telephone on Thursday with his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, and expressed to him once again Washington’s commitment to the territorial integrity of his country.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said at a press briefing that the aim of this communication, the third between the two leaders, was to ratify the US commitment not to do anything on Ukraine “without Ukraine.”
In another effort to close ranks with its allies, the White House on Thursday reported that Biden on Feb. 7 will meet with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
In recent days, the unity between the US and the European Union has chilled given that Washington insists that a Russian invasion could happen at any time, while the EU has said that the situation should not be dramatized.
This distancing has become evident, in particular, between Washington – which considers sending weapons to Ukraine to be necessary – and Berlin, which has ruled out this option, evidently cognizant of Germany’s role in World War Two.
Psaki, however, said that all the Atlantic allies remain united in their “support (for) Ukraine.”
Being united does not mean making identical decisions, with each country having its own abilities and laws, said Psaki, adding that the “most important” thing is to remain united against bellicose rhetoric from Russia.
EFE er/pamp/rrt/bp
© 2022 EFE News Services (U.S.) Inc.
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Since Joe and Hunter have made over $30 million on shady dealings with the Chinese Leaders, maybe he should offer to give it back to the Chinese if they intercede and stop Russia from invading the Ukraine. Of course, Joe and Hunter made millions in shady deals with the Russians as well, so you would think he had some leverage with Putin, but as usual Putin has all the leverage over Joe. When it comes to troops, Joe just sends his Thousands, Putin hundreds of thousands. You’d have to have had an I.Q. lower than Joe’s to have voted this loose cannon as Commander and Chief. Are you people not feeling if not stupid, betrayed?
IF their IQ is that low, i highly doubt they are worried about their vote…
THE Democrat Socialist, Communist, Party of America shouldn’t Look upon CHINA as America’s Friend as China is more a friend of Russia’s than a Friend of America’s
Asking one enemy to help with another—great strategy, Joe.
At least he didn’t ask Hillary Clinton for her help talking to Russia. I’m thinking Putin would not take Hillary’s calls after her Russia hoax on Trump.
I am still irked, NOT ONE OF HER STAFF or her, herself, have gone to jail, FOR THAT WILLFUL PERJURY and lying to us…
Hillarry Clinton, ” At this Point, What Difference Does It Make…. ” Germany Ain’ t Going To Help US….
CHINA Is a friend to themselves only!
” THE ENEMY OF MY ENEMY IS MY FRIEND,” Do YOU Even believe that Joe Biden realizes the fact that China Isn’t America”s Friend but a FRIEND Of Russia’s.
Democrat, Socialiat,- Van Jones ,George Soros,, Communist Party of America , President Joe Biden, Remember that you and your Party elite Gave Russia A oil pipe line Approcal that Supplied Germany With Russian Oil, Its Winter Time And Mighy Cold Right Now In Germany – Joe Biden, Did You really think Germany was Going to HELP AND GO Against Russian oil ???
China welcomes this Biden disaster. The current administration probably doesn’t realize China has its own game it is playing in regards to the south China sea, Tiawan, and seizing more islands claimed by its neighbors.
As for Ukraine in NATO, why would Putin view Ukraine joining NATO any differently then we viewed Russian missiles in Cuba?
Alert ! This is not a Game in regards The Russian Amassing Russian Troops along Uraine’s Border, Russia And China Are Calling Your Bluff, President Joe Biden, Its Time To Wake Up, Wake Up, democrat President Joe Biden, Wake Up…
He’d need a brain transplant, to “Wake up and smell the roses”…
The dullard in chief strikes again. The man couldn’t be any dumber if had his brain surgically removed.
That may make him smarter…
………j.,Looking For Joe Biden’s Brain, Is , ” like Loojing Foe A Needle In AHay Stack . “
Looking for Joe Biden’s Brain Is,Like Looking For A Needle In A Hay Stack. ” A Correction To Above Comments .
Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. What the Biden administration seems to be lacking is the understanding that Eastern thinking of war and peace (really all political thinking) is decidedly different that Western thinking. Add to that the fact that while Russia appears Western it is much more Eastern in its geopolitical views than Western.
Asking China to intervene is a Western move. It has shown both China and Russia, who happen to think similarly and work fairly well together, that the US and by extension NATO are willing to do whatever it takes for peace. China doesn’t necessarily desire peace as the US/NATO does. They certainly don’t care if their people face hardship and want so that the country can become more powerful.
Just as in Afghanistan Biden has laid his cards on the table face up for all to see. This might work when you are teaching a child to play cards…it isn’t going to go well when you are playing high stakes poker with two very formidable opponents.
KIND of hard to ever learn from history, WHEN THEY REFUSE TO acknowledge it exists…. Unless its to label history as racist.
I M P E A C H this traitor to america out of his iilegitimate office.
Chinas response- sure joe, just bend over a little further so we can shove your request home!
Reply to. TImesup2022
You do have a wa with Words , Thanks For Expressing Mine and others thoughts so Clearly that only Joe Biden Could Fail to comprehend….
To Timesup2022
You do have a way with words that only Joe Biden Could Fail to Comprehend their Meaning….
I’ m Sorry for the Repeating of My Comments, I didn’t think My First Comment had Been Posted, Sorry!