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US to call for end to Russia trade status

Taipei Times

US President Joe Biden speaks at the Democratic National Committee winter meeting in Washington on Thursday.
Photo: Bloomberg

US President Joe Biden was yesterday set to call for an end of normal trade relations with Russia, clearing the way for increased tariffs on Russian imports, people familiar with the matter said.

His announcement to revoke the trade privileges was to come alongside similar measures by G7 nations and EU leaders, the people said.

Ukraine offers defensive lessons

Ray Song 宋磊

As the war in Ukraine entered its 15th day yesterday, an alliance of Western nations led by the US and a number of Asian countries was punishing Moscow.

In addition to levying sanctions against Russia, NATO has provided Ukraine with assistance, mainly in the form of military equipment, such as US-made FGM-148 Javelin shoulder-fired anti-tank missiles and FIM-92 Stinger shoulder-fired surface-to-air missiles.

The weapons have enabled Ukrainian armed forces to fight back against the Russian military. Taiwan’s military has also acquired such missiles.

National glory and global tragedy

James J. Y. Hsu 許正餘

Russian President Vladimir Putin sent his troops into eastern Ukraine in the name of protecting two Russian separatist regions there. Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine breaks international law and breaches Ukraine’s sovereignty.

Russian soldiers were reportedly told that they would be welcomed by the Ukrainians as liberators.

However, even in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city where ethnic Russians comprise 17 percent of residents, people fight Russian troops bravely and fiercely. They choose democracy and freedom over dictatorship and racially motivated national glory.

Asian response to Ukraine crisis

Sumit Kumar

As Russia continues to attack Ukraine, the international community, barring a few countries, has strongly criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin’s unprovoked war against a neighbor.

The US, EU members, Japan and others have imposed severe sanctions on Russia. The UN General Assembly met on Monday last week to discuss the Ukraine crisis. Its draft resolution has termed the Russian act as “deplorable.”

Amid these developments, the actions of Asian powers — China, Japan, India and others — are also being closely observed.

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