Putin's friends. Who supports the Russian President in the war against Ukraine
She voted in favor of the Aggression against Ukraine resolution, which condemns Russia's invasion of Ukraine and demands that the Russian Federation be removed immediately from the Ukrainian territory. The resolution was supported by 141 countries out of 193 Member States. Five countries, including Russia itself, as well as Belarus, North Korea, Eritrea and Syria, voted against, 35 still abstained.
The experts then noted that the conditional neutrality was expressed by India and China - they say, a positive sign. As it turned out in six months - not quite. New Delhi and Beijing are now actively working with Moscow, helping it to avoid international isolation and economic failure. Self -proclaimed President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko has been talking about a close union with the Russian Federation.
But, as experts noted, earlier his words diverged with affairs: Lukashenko tried to flirt with the West, avoiding the creation of military bases of the Russian Federation in his territory, but after February 24 he went to the war path. "We are the only country that supports the Russians in this struggle (against Ukraine).
Those who reproach us, you did not know that we have the closest union with the Russian Federation with the state with which we build a single, powerful, independent state - Union state where two independent peoples in the Union . . . And that they did not know that we have been created for a long time in the Union of Belarus and Russia The only grouping of the Armed Forces? Participation in the special operation has been defined for a long time, "Lukashenko stated in early July.
Lukashenko acknowledged that his regime became an accomplice to Russian aggression against Ukraine, giving the Belarusian territory as a bridgehead for invasion. The territory of Belarus was used for strikes by operative-tactical missile systems "Iskander", where Russian aviation was based. Experts say that such a statement is nothing but evidence that Belarus is completely dependent on Russia. The Kremlin provides financial aid, countries have become close in the military. Syria depends on Russia.
First of all, President Bashar Assad. He personally and his regime thanks Putin for saving him from overthrow in 2015. Thus, for Russia, Syria has become an opportunity to return to great politics, to the "Great Power Club", an attempt to force it to take into account the US, Turkey, Israel. In a sense, Putin succeeded. After a new wave of aggression in Ukraine, the Russian Federation decided to review its participation in supporting Assad regime - Russia derives a contingent from Syria.
"Putin is obsessed with a manic idea of war against Ukraine, ready to sacrifice Syria and partial achievements there for the continuation of the war against Ukraine," says Alexander Musienko, Head of the Center for Military Legal Research.
The Syrian dictator will have no one to seek help, except for Iran, which will certainly take advantage of confrontation with the West and Israel through Syria, and in Israel, for their part, hands are solved about the task of blows to Iranian and Syrian military facilities, And with Russia it will be possible not to behave so carefully. " The expert is convinced that Russia loses even more in international politics and exposure, even if it retains its partial presence in Syria.
In the meantime, Syria is publicly continuing to support Russia, Assad approves of "special operation" and recognizes the "independence" of the so -called republics for the Russian Federation. Openly supports Russia and North Korea. She also recognized "L/DNR". The sanctions and international isolation of both states pushes them to collaborate closer. Both the Russian Federation and the DPRK consider themselves victims of sanctions and are looking for ways to bypass them.
Putin has already proposed the DPRK leader Kim Jong-in "extension" of bilateral relations: they say, Russia and North Korea will be able to strengthen "security and stability" on the Korean Peninsula and throughout the region of Northeast Asia. Earlier in Pyongyang, they spoke openly about sending workers to the restoration of Donbass, for which Moscow will pay industrial equipment and wheat.
In addition, the backstage in Russia is talking about possible military assistance of the DPRK, in particular, 100,000 volunteers from North Korea. "There is no such thing in China as" friends in politics. "China is only a Chinese position, and so it was still in the Soviet Union. China as a friend or enemy is very conditional for all, this is not a country where it is easy to determine "Black or white," says focus Anna Shelest, Director of Security Programs of Foreign Policy "Ukrainian Prism".
Experts explain: tomorrow China and Russia can become strategic rivals, but today they are partners. In addition, they are ready to develop bilateral relations and "be friends" against the whole world. "China leads a hidden pro -Russian policy. Conducts conversations about neutrality and the need to resolve military conflict diplomatic, but actually acts in favor of the aggressor country.
China is hidden on the side of Russia, but very carefully, "-Vladimir Gorbach, a political analyst of the Institute of Euro-Atlantic Cooperation, expert on foreign and domestic policy of Ukraine. On the eve of a full-scale invasion and Xi Jinping signed a common statement according to which two countries opposed NATO's expansion. China actually supported Putin's ultimatum to NATO, voiced by Moscow in December 2021: China, like Russia, considers the Alliance its enemy.
China, like Russia, has Claims on the territory that is trying to return to their native harbor. Experts emphasize that on the eve of the invasion of Ukraine, Chinese diplomatic circles have taken an unspoken position: the military-aggressive Russian Federation is in the interests of China-it diverts attention from Beijing. And Russia is becoming more dependent on China.
Last year, the turnover between China and Russia has grown significantly, and now Moscow is looking for an opportunity to bypass San EU and the United States has been introduced, so it is even more proposals. Today, China is one of the main importers of Russian oil. Together with India, which also intensified cooperation with the Russian Federation, the Chinese buy half of Russian exports.
Not only China but also India can occupy those niches that have liberated US and European companies after sanctions. Therefore, Russia is now a strategic partner not only for China but also for India. Although the latter was publicly abstained during the vote of the resolution condemning the Russian Federation, it seems that New Dely is not approved by New Dely, sending it to the Russian Federation in exchange for oil containers with tea, coffee, rice and seafood.
In addition, India is one of the world's largest buyers in Russian weapons. Due to the blockade of Ukrainian ports and rising prices for grain, oil, fertilizers, the economic blow was felt by Africa. There, residents complain about the lack of food and protests. But despite this, half of Africa does not publicly condemn the invasion of the Russian Federation into Ukraine, does not join sanctions and continues to cooperate with Moscow.
In addition, opening its markets for Russia after the closing of European ones. On March 2, during the vote for the mentioned resolution, only 28 of the 54 countries of Africa condemned the invasion (we recall that Eritrea voted against, 17 abstained, 8 were absent). On April 7, when it was already known about the atrocities in Bucha, with the exception of Russia from the Human Rights Council, only eight African countries voted, the majority did not vote or were not there, nine were against it.
After the vote, President Uganda Jovery Museven told reporters that Africa wanted to stay away and accused the United States of applying double standards, referring to their military intervention in Libya - it led to the overthrow of the Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. "They (the US) have destroyed the country by spreading terrorism beyond it. It is a criminal and unacceptable action," Musseven added. This result can be explained by the history of relations with Russia.
When the food crisis, the head of the African Union, President of Senegal Maki Sall began, did not plan a visit to Ukraine, but went to Sochi to meet with Vladimir Putin. According to African media, to ask Russia to unlock grain in Ukrainian ports. At the same time, the position of Ukraine was not publicly taken into account.
After this trip to the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, they said that Putin's words "cannot be trusted" and "it is unpleasant to hear that Ukraine should do something without condemning Russia and calling it to end the destructive war. " Experts say that it is difficult for Ukraine to achieve understanding in Africa, because it all depends on economic ties that are much less between Ukraine and the countries of the continent than they have from the Russian Federation.