Chief NATO calls for cost to China due to Russia's support

Secretary - General NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, said China was offering Russia technology that is extending the Russian invasion of Ukraine and urged Beijing to face the consequences of that support.

“Pejkin cannot have both sides. In a moment and if China doesn't change course... Allies must impose a cost. There must be consequences,” said Stoltenberg on June 17th at Wilson Centre in Washington.

Stoltenberg said that in the last two years 90 percent of Russian microelectrics originated in China and that this country is working to improve Russian satellite skills.

White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby also said China is continuing to provide Russia with components for military equipment and weapons systems.

Speaking at a conference on June 17th, he said microelectrics had helped “strengthen ... what would have been a Russian industrial defence base really destroyed”.

Kirby added that the United States had raised the issue with China.

Russia has also built relations with North Korea.

Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit North Korea this week, for the first time in 24 years.

Such a rare trip will take place as Moscow boosts partnership with this state that has nuclear weapons.

The northeastern leader Kim Jong Un extended an invitation to Putin during his trip to the Far East of Russia in September last year.

Deep relations are a concern for the United States, Kirby said.

“We know North Korean ballistic missiles are being used to hit Ukrainian targets”, he said.

Both Phenani and Moscow have denied accusations of North Korea's transfer of weapons, which would be contrary to UN Security Council resolutions.

The secretary general said Russia's continuing fight against Ukraine would be the most urgent “emma” for discussion at the NATO summit, which will be held from 9 July to 11 July, along with NATO defence expenses.

Although Ukraine will not become a member of the alliance at the Washington summit, Stoltenberg said NATO would build a “bridge to Ukraine's next membership.

“We are helping the Ukrainian Armed Forces to be increasingly interoperable with NATO, to meet NATO standards”, Stoltenberg said.

The idea is to draw them so close to membership that when we reach a consensus, we make them members immediately”.

Ukraine has been facing Russian invasion since February 2022. / REL