The United States has slammed the visit of Pakistan’s prime minister Imran Khan to Moscow even as Russia began its invasion of Ukraine.
It is the responsibility of every “responsible” country to voice objection to Russia’s latest actions in Ukraine, said the United States.
US State Department spokesperson Ned Price on Wednesday said that Washington has informed Pakistan about its position on the crisis prevailing in Ukraine.
After Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree to officially recognise the independence of two separatist regions in eastern Ukraine, Donetsk and Luhansk, the West not only went ahead to impose sanctions on Moscow but also reiterated support for Ukraine. But, at the same time, Khan was seen travelling to Moscow to meet with Russian officials. However, Khan appeared to be snubbed by Moscow as the Pakistan Prime Minister was greeted by a junior minister upon his arrival in the foreign city.
Reacting to Pakistan PM’s scheduled visit, Price said, “We’ve communicated to Pakistan our position regarding Russia’s further renewed invasion of Ukraine and we have briefed them on our efforts to pursue diplomacy over war.”
Putin signed the decree over separatist regions, Khan travelled to Moscow on Wednesday to meet Putin and exchange views on issues such as economic cooperation. Putin and Khan will be discussing issues just hours after the US and other Western nations imposed sanctions on Russia for its military deployment into parts of eastern Ukraine.
Further, in terms of China’s support for Russia, Price said, “We believe… every responsible country in the world has, in our estimation, an obligation to use any influence it has with the Russian Federation to urge, to incentivize, to advocate for Vladimir Putin to back down, for the Russian Federation to de-escalate.”
