China News Agency, Beijing, December 20th. Comprehensive news: Belarusian President Lukashenko said on the 19th that Belarus and Russia have generally overcome the negative impact of Western sanctions, and the West has "reaped the consequences."

United Nations Secretary-General Guterres said on the 19th that in view of the situation in Ukraine, he is not optimistic about the possibility of achieving peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in the near future.

　　Lukashenko Says Western Sanctions 'Benefits of Their Own'

　　According to a report from the Russia Today website, Belarusian President Lukashenko said in the capital Minsk on the 19th that Belarus and Russia have generally overcome the negative impact of Western sanctions, which instead hurt ordinary people in the European Union.

　　Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Belarus on the same day.

At a joint news conference with Putin, Lukashenko said that Belarus and Russia have generally managed to overcome the negative effects of sanctions pressure thanks to joint measures taken by Belarus and Russia, while praising the excellent work of experts from both countries .

　　According to reports, in February this year, the United States and the European Union imposed a comprehensive embargo on Russia and Belarus on the grounds of the escalating situation in Ukraine.

Lukashenko said the sanctions had had a self-inflicted "boomerang effect" that hit ordinary people and businesses on the continent.

　　According to a Reuters report, Ukraine had previously been wary of Putin's visit to Belarus, and officials in Kyiv were worried that Belarus might join the Russian camp.

However, the talks between Putin and Lukashenko did not mention the situation in Ukraine.

Lukashenko has also repeatedly stated that he has no intention of involving Belarus.

　　Guterres says Russia-Ukraine peace talks hopeless in the near future

　　According to the website of Al Jazeera, in response to the situation in Ukraine, UN Secretary-General Guterres said at a press conference on the 19th that he is not optimistic about the possibility of achieving peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in the near future.

"I do believe that the military confrontation will continue, and I think we're still going to have to wait a little bit for peace talks to be possible. I don't see any hope at the moment."

　　Guterres promised that the United Nations will not relax in the process of seeking peace in Ukraine, and expressed the hope that Ukraine will achieve peace in 2023.

　　Guterres emphasized that the United Nations "may be the only platform that can talk to Russia and Ukraine" and that the solution to the situation in Ukraine should be in line with international law and the "United Nations Charter" that respects the territorial integrity of all countries.

He also said the United Nations would continue to support Ukrainian and Russian agricultural exports to avert a global food crisis.

　　Russia calls EU gas price cap 'unacceptable'

　　According to Reuters, the European Union reached an agreement on the natural gas price limit mechanism on the 19th, agreeing on a dynamic natural gas price ceiling of 180 euros per megawatt hour.

　　The cap is the latest attempt by the EU to lower gas prices, the report said.

Rising gas prices have driven up energy bills and fueled record inflation this year after Russia cut off most supplies to Europe.

　　According to a report by the TASS news agency on the 19th, Russian President’s Press Secretary Peskov responded that the West’s attempt to set a ceiling on Russia’s natural gas prices is a violation and destruction of the market mechanism. “Any reference to a ‘ceiling’ is unacceptable.”

　　Peskov also said that Russia will need time to weigh the pros and cons and choose a response to the new gas sanctions.

　　Zelensky calls on West to increase arms supply

　　Ukrainian President Zelensky called on Britain and other countries to increase the supply of defensive weapons to Ukraine in an online speech, Ukrainian news agency reported on the 19th.

　　"Winter is the critical moment." Zelensky said that the decision of various countries to increase the supply of weapons will help Ukraine restore its territorial integrity, and it will also be guaranteed that Russia will never cross Ukraine's borders again. Will not cross the borders of Europe.

　　Zelenskiy called on Britain to increase the supply of air defense systems to Ukraine and help speed up related decisions in other countries.

In addition, he also called on countries such as Norway, the Netherlands, Sweden, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Finland to increase the supply of air defense systems, tanks, missiles and other weapons to Ukraine.

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