NATO summit joint statement throws ＂blockbuster＂ at Russia.

　　[Global Times Comprehensive Report] Helicopters hover in the air, police cars whistle to clear the way, and the intersections leading to the EU headquarters and NATO headquarters are covered with roadblocks and heavily guarded. On the morning of the 24th, when the reporter of Global Times in Brussels went to work by subway, he heard many passengers complain: when the President of the United States came, it would be unsafe here. US President Biden, who arrived in Brussels on the evening of 23rd local time, attended three major summits here on 24th, namely, the NATO Special Summit, the Group of Seven (G7) Summit and the EU Summit. The joint statement issued after the NATO summit on 24th threw a "bombshell" at Russia, including continuing to provide military assistance to Ukraine and establishing four new battle groups in Slovakia, Romania, Bulgaria and Hungary. The statement also put pressure on China by name, demanding that "all countries, including China," "not support Russia’s war efforts in any way, and avoid taking any action that will help Russia evade sanctions.". "The Ukrainian crisis has brought the naive foreign policy of the United States into the spotlight." Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post commented on the 24th that Washington decided to deal with two powerful rivals at the same time. "This is an ominous sign full of danger."

　　"Give us one percent!"

　　"NATO, G7 and the European Union held an unprecedented summit on the same day." At 10 am local time on the 24th, the NATO special summit was held first. According to CNN, Ukrainian President Zelensky delivered a speech at the summit via video link. A senior US official who attended the closed-door summit said that Zelensky did not call for the establishment of a "no-fly zone" as usual or asked NATO to accept Ukraine, but asked the West to provide new security assistance. In his speech, Biden expounded the coordinated western sanctions against Russia and reiterated his strong support for Ukraine. Later, Zelensky called on NATO to "give us one percent of all your fighters" on Facebook. Give us one percent of all your tanks. Give us one percent! "

　　After the meeting, NATO issued a joint statement by NATO heads of state and government in official website, "condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in the strongest terms", calling on Putin to immediately stop military operations and withdraw troops from Ukraine, and calling on Belarus to "end its conspiracy". The statement said that Russia’s use of chemical and biological weapons was "unacceptable" and warned that it would "lead to serious consequences". The statement also said that NATO allies will continue to provide assistance to Ukraine in the fields of cyber security and prevention of chemical and biological weapons and nuclear threats.

　　On March 24th, US President Biden and French President Macron took a group photo at the special NATO summit in Brussels.

　　Earlier, Moscow had refuted the suggestion that Russia might "use chemical and biological weapons" in its military operations against Ukraine. On the 22nd, Russian Presidential Press Secretary peskov stressed at a press conference that Russia would use nuclear weapons only when "the survival of the country is threatened".

　　The NATO statement also stated that 40,000 soldiers and a large number of air and sea assets have been deployed in the east wing of NATO, and announced the establishment of four new battle groups in Slovakia, Romania, Bulgaria and Hungary. Germany’s "Focus" magazine said on the 24th that NATO will send another 5,000 soldiers to these four countries. Washington post said that these NATO countries are surrounded by Ukraine and the Black Sea, which is very close to the current military conflict.

　　The statement also called on all countries, including China, "not to support Russia’s war efforts in any way, and to avoid taking any actions that will help Russia evade sanctions", saying that it was "worried about the recent public comments made by China officials". In addition, NATO countries also promised in their statements to substantially increase defense spending.

　　After lunch on the 24th, the G7 held an emergency meeting, focusing on coordinating its position on increasing economic sanctions against Russia. Before the meeting, CNN said that Britain would announce a "new major military support package" for Ukraine at the NATO special summit and the G7 summit. Downing Street said on the 23rd that the aid plan will include 6,000 missiles, including anti-tank and high-explosive weapons, and 25 million pounds of financial support. This will double the "defensive lethal weapons" aid provided by Britain to Ukraine so far. Britain has provided more than 4,000 anti-tank weapons to Ukraine before, and the British government will also provide bulletproof vests, helmets and combat boots to Ukraine.

　　According to the published schedule, Biden will arrive at the European Council Building at 16: 30 local time on the 24th to attend the EU Summit. He is the first American president to attend the EU summit in person. Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau, British Prime Minister Johnson and Japanese Prime Minister kishida fumio also flew to Brussels to attend the G7 summit, but they were not invited to attend the EU summit. It is reported that Biden will focus on discussing Europe’s energy strategy with EU leaders, with a view to reaching an agreement to reduce the EU’s "excessive dependence on Russian natural gas" and turn to the United States to buy more liquefied natural gas.

　　At 20: 00 local time on 24th (3: 00 am Beijing time on 25th), Biden plans to hold a press conference at NATO headquarters.

　　Sanctions against Russia will "fall disproportionately on Europe"

　　The "EU News" website commented on the 24th: "Biden’s trip may expose serious differences between the United States and Europe in further imposing energy sanctions on Russia." According to the Financial Times reported on the 24th, Belgian Prime Minister Decroo said on the 23rd that imposing sanctions on Russian energy exports would make the EU "fight a self-war — — This is not the goal. " German Chancellor Angela Scholz also said on 23rd that the immediate reduction of energy imports from Russia would mean that "our country and Europe as a whole are in recession". Reuters said on the 24th that the dollar rose and the euro fell as Biden went to Europe with a plan to further sanction Russia. "Capital seems to be saying that I don’t want to go to Europe", a market analyst told Reuters that the new round of sanctions will hit the West "disproportionately on Europe".

　　Hendrick Voss, an EU defense expert at Ghent University in Belgium, expressed his concern about sanctions to the Global Times reporter on the 24th. "Which sanctions will continue to exist and which will be temporary? What relations with Russia will be terminated? After all, the war will not last forever, and NATO will have to consider what to do after the war. "

　　"Biden arrived in Brussels, but the member States were torn apart about how to deter Russia." Washington post reported on 24th that there were differences between NATO and Washington on how to prevent the Kremlin from escalating its military actions. NATO leaders are discussing whether to let Russia guess what will trigger NATO’s greater military response, or to accurately frame under what circumstances NATO will be involved in the conflict. On the 23rd, Stoltenberg still insisted that NATO should not send troops: "We are determined to make every effort to support Ukraine, but we have the responsibility to ensure that this war will not escalate beyond Ukraine and will not become a conflict between NATO and Russia."

　　Brussels is the first stop of Biden’s trip to Europe. Biden will go to Warsaw on the morning of 25th to emphasize his support for his partners in Eastern Europe. He will meet with Polish President Duda and give a speech to American soldiers stationed in Poland.

　　"Side by side with Europe", German TV 1 said on the 24th that Biden’s attendance at the three summits within 12 hours sent a signal that the United States stood on the side of Europe and tried to maintain the current great unity. However, observers pointed out that this meeting will not make the challenges left by the Russian-Ukrainian conflict disappear. The United States will hold mid-term elections at the end of the year, and Biden’s Democratic Party may lose its majority in Congress. In Europe, countries pay more attention to Ukrainian refugees, lack of energy, soaring prices and other issues. "The West cannot solve various problems brought about by the Russian-Ukrainian crisis alone."

　　There is a "feel good atmosphere" in Washington.

　　According to the Russian News Agency reported on the 24th, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleba said in an interview with Spanish media that it is increasingly difficult for EU countries to reach an agreement on new sanctions against Russia due to the situation in Ukraine. He also said that Ukrainians are disappointed with NATO.

　　The Wall Street Journal said on the 24th that Biden’s visit came at a time when the Russian Foreign Ministry warned that the relationship between Moscow and Washington was "on the verge of rupture". According to US officials, Biden will announce new sanctions on more than 300 members of the Russian State Duma and more than 40 Russian military enterprises as soon as possible on the 24th. These sanctions will be announced in coordination with EU and G7 members. On 23rd, US Secretary of State Blinken issued a statement saying that the US government officially declared that Russian troops had "committed war crimes" in Ukraine.

　　German "Focus" magazine said on 24th that the G7 meeting will especially warn countries that may try to help Russia evade western sanctions, "You may face sanctions, which is especially applicable to China". Stoltenberg also warned China "not to support the Russian war in Ukraine" on 23rd. He said, "China has provided political support to Russia, including spreading blatant lies and false information."

　　Russia’s Kommersant newspaper said on the 24th that Biden’s trip to Europe will be the most challenging foreign policy task during his stay in the White House, and he will try to maintain his ability to be a leader in the western world. During the three summits, Biden faced an arduous task: convincing his allies that the US strategy towards Ukraine and Russia is "correct", but in fact, American allies have increasingly begun to doubt the route they chose in the Ukrainian conflict. Baczuk, an expert on American issues at the Russian Academy of Sciences, said that while facing increasing risks, the West has yet to find "a way to make Russia change its actions".

　　US Democratic Senator Murphy told the Financial Times on the 24th: "This is not the time for Biden to act hastily." He also said that managing a military conflict is a tricky thing. Hong Kong’s "South China Morning Post" said on the 24th that there was a good feeling in Washington, and they believed that they "could benefit from Putin’s wrong actions". Of course, capital flight to the United States is a common windfall. But what will happen if both Russia and China expose "American bluffing"? In the United States, income inequality, racial tension and political polarization are increasing. Washington has been trying to "postpone the domestic collapse" by showing an aggressive posture in the international arena. Now, the new governments of France and Germany are promoting the "strategic autonomy" of the European continent. Beijing is not prepared to give up Moscow, but Washington has decided to deal with two powerful rivals of China and Russia at the same time. This is an "ominous sign full of danger".

　　[Ren Yan, special correspondent of Global Times in Belgium, Aoki Ren Zhong, special correspondent of Global Times in Germany, Liu Yupeng]