International press review
Headline: Westerners speed up arms deliveries to Ukraine
Audio 05:16
A US Air Force cargo consisting of ammunition, weapons and equipment bound for Ukraine, January 21, 2022. © AP / Mauricio Campino
By: Véronique Rigolet Follow
4 mins
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While "
Donbass is entering the worst of its nightmare
", headlines
Le Soir
, faced with the massive offensive launched by the Russians "
for control of the entire region
", "
the allies of Ukraine are racing to deliver heavier and more advanced weapons
,” the
New York Times
points out .
Weapons "
requested for a long time by President Zelensky
" and which finally arrive, notes the American daily which details "
fighter planes, long-range missiles, howitzers and armed drones
", and heavy artillery promise also "
Canada and Great Britain
" for "
to help Ukrainian trench-based forces repel the Russian onslaught
”.
Objective: "
to ensure that Putin fails to conquer and control Ukraine
", underlines
the Wall Street Journal
, quoting Joe Biden, the American president who also announced yesterday to his allies his desire "
to provide new military aid of 800
million dollars to Ukraine
".
"
The course of this logistical race could well determine the outcome of the war
," argues the
New York Times
, which nevertheless highlights that this strategy "
entails a significant risk
: that of upsetting Russia to the point of triggering a wider international conflict
”.
Russian TV channels are already talking about "
of World War 3
”.
New Western sanctions against Russia
New sanctions, always with the aim
of "increasing economic pressure on the Kremlin and increasing its international isolation
", explains
Le Temps
, which underlines that for the Europeans, this will be the "
6th package of sanctions against Russia
" and which will target the banking sector in particular.
“
The EU wants to block the largest bank in Russia
”, specifies for its part the
Süddeutsche Zeitung
, “
the Sberbank which alone represents 37
% of the Russian banking sector
”.
The United States has already sanctioned it, so the Europeans should not delay any longer, notes the German daily, which stresses that the European Union is also working on "
an oil embargo
" but which will not be announced immediately, the European Commission wishing to avoid, says the
Süddeutsche Zeitung
, "
a debate on the subject driving up fuel prices and triggering the anger, in particular of French motorists who are voting this Sunday
", "
an anger that could harm the outgoing president, the pro-European Emmanuel Macron, and would benefit the eurosceptic Marine Le Pen
”.
The debate on the oil embargo will therefore have to wait a bit.
Beijing still not ready to let go of its Russian ally
Beijing again yesterday hailed "
the strength of ties with Moscow 'no matter what' and pledged to safeguard their common interests
," reports the
South China Morning Post
, as "
the United States and its allies continue to fiercely criticize China for its close ties with Russia and its refusal to denounce the invasion of Ukraine
”.
The Chinese and Russian Vice-Ministers of Foreign Affairs, who met yesterday in Beijing, thus praised "
win-win cooperation
" and welcomed "
bilateral trade increasing by 30
% in the 1st quarter of this year
", further underlines the
Hong Kong Journal
, which also notes that "
China has once again remained silent
" during the latest UN vote to condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
China signs security pact with Solomon Islands
"
Despite opposition from the United States and neighboring Australia, the Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands, Manasseh Sogavare, has signed a security agreement with China
", headlines the
Wall Street Journal
, which is alarmed that this pact "
may allow Beijing to moor warships in this small Pacific nation
".
Enough to "
raise tensions with the West on the eve of the visit this week of two American diplomats to Hionara, in the Solomons
", considers for its part
The Australian
, which reports "
Canberra's concern that this agreement does not lead to the installation of Chinese military bases less than 2000 kilometers from the Australian coast
".
Even if the leaders of the Solomon Islands explain that they have "
no intention of allowing China to build such a base
", this agreement raises fears that "
China will gain a military foothold in the South Pacific
", also worries the
Japan Times
.
For its part, the
Chinese
Global Times denounces "
Washington's hysterical reaction
", castigating its desire "
to interfere and obstruct China's peaceful cooperation with the Solomon Islands
".
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Ukraine
Volodymyr Zelensky
United States
Joe Biden
Russia
Vladimir Poutine
China
Solomon Islands
European Union
Canada
UK
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