WITH . – 03/24/2022 21:32 (act. 03/24/2022 21:32)
US President: “NATO closed like never before after a month of war.” © APA / AFP / LUDOVIC MARIN
US President Joe Biden spoke in Brussels on Thursday in favor of excluding Russia from the G-20 because of the war of aggression in Ukraine.
It was also discussed at the Western countries summit in Brussels on Thursday, Biden said in the Belgian capital. After Monday’s war in Ukraine, NATO sees Biden as united as never before.
Biden to exclude Russia from the G20
If Russia is not excluded, at least Ukraine should be invited to join the G20, Biden said. When asked if he was in favor of excluding Russia from the G20, Biden said: “My answer is yes.” However, the decision depends on the current G20 president of Indonesia and other members – including Russia’s ally China. The next G20 summit is scheduled for fall in Indonesia.
Russia expelled from the G8 after the capture of Crimea
Russia was expelled from the then G8 group after capturing the Ukrainian Black Sea Peninsula in Crimea in 2014. Since then, the largest economies have met in the G7 format. One of these summits was also held on Thursday in Brussels.
Biden warned China of the economic consequences should it back Russia in a war with Ukraine. “China knows its economic future is much more tied to the West than to Russia,” Biden said, referring to a conversation with head of state and party leader Xi Jinping last week.
Biden stressed that he did not threaten the Chinese head of state. “But I made it clear to him that he must understand the consequences of Russia’s aid.” He also noted “the number of US and foreign companies that have left Russia as a result of their barbaric behavior,” Biden said.
US President in Brussels on Wednesday
Biden went to Europe on Wednesday. In addition to the G7 summit in Brussels, the agenda also included meetings at the highest level of NATO and the EU on the war in Ukraine. After meetings with heads of state and government, Biden stressed that a month after the start of Russia’s aggressive war, NATO was more closed than ever. He said Russian President Vladimir Putin was counting on the division of NATO. But NATO “has never been as united as it is today”. With the invasion of Ukraine, Putin achieved exactly the opposite of what he wanted to achieve. ” According to Biden, Putin wants NATO to break up. “He would rather face 30 independent states than 30 united states.”
At the same time, Biden appealed to Western allies to show strength in the conflict with Putin. Measures against Russia must be maintained. – Not only next month, next month, but for the rest of the year. It will stop him. It’s about “intensifying the pain.” Putin must not think that the allies will be divided in a month or two. The US government on Thursday announced new measures against Russia and imposed sanctions on around a hundred Russian MPs.
Fear of a war between NATO and Russia
NATO allies are also concerned about what steps Russia might take in its war with Ukraine. The alliance has for some time been concerned that Russia might be tempted to use weapons of mass destruction, given the slow progress of the war with Ukraine. “That would trigger an appropriate response,” said Biden when asked how NATO would react on the issue. But he did not provide any details.
Biden will go to Poland on Friday. However, the US government previously announced that Biden plans to visit US troops stationed in Poland. Among other things, a meeting with the President of the Republic of Poland, Andrzej Duda, is scheduled for Saturday in Warsaw.