War in Ukraine: what to remember from Monday, March 20

Reconciliation between Moscow and Beijing. Chinese President Xi Jinping began a three-day official visit to Russia on Monday March 20 alongside Vladimir Putin. The Russian president welcomed, at the end of this meeting, the “balanced” position of his Chinese counterpart on the war in Ukraine. He also said he considered “with respect” the peace plan proposed by China, in which Beijing calls in particular on Moscow and kyiv to invest in peace talks. For his part, Xi Jinping hailed the “close relations” between Beijing and Moscow, according to the official Russian translation of his remarks.

Washington calls on “the world not to be fooled”

In reaction to this visit, the head of American diplomacy, Antony Blinken, called on “the world not to be fooled by any tactical decision by Russia, supported by China or any other country, to freeze the conflict according to its own terms”.

On the European side, as if to signify its support for Ukraine in the face of Beijing’s support for Moscow, the EU has released two billion euros to buy and deliver artillery ammunition to the Ukrainian army. In the process, Washington announced a new tranche of aid, of 350 million dollars, and assured kyiv of its support “as long as necessary”.