China, Russia Discuss Ukraine Crisis, Beijing Reaffirms Strong Ties

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi attends the BRICS 2024 summit in Kazan, Russia October 23, 2024. (Sputnik/Alexander Kazakov/Pool via Reuters)
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi attends the BRICS 2024 summit in Kazan, Russia October 23, 2024. (Sputnik/Alexander Kazakov/Pool via Reuters)
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China, Russia Discuss Ukraine Crisis, Beijing Reaffirms Strong Ties

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi attends the BRICS 2024 summit in Kazan, Russia October 23, 2024. (Sputnik/Alexander Kazakov/Pool via Reuters)
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi attends the BRICS 2024 summit in Kazan, Russia October 23, 2024. (Sputnik/Alexander Kazakov/Pool via Reuters)

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko discussed the Ukraine crisis in talks on Wednesday and Wang reaffirmed Beijing's strong ties with Moscow, the Chinese foreign ministry said.

Both exchanged views on the crisis but the ministry statement did not disclose details of the discussion.

Wang reiterated China and Russia's strong relations, that were not affected by "changes in the international situation".

"Both sides should make joint efforts to coordinate cooperation in various fields and exchanges at all levels," he said, without elaboration.

Russia's RIA agency first reported that Rudenko was in Beijing for the meeting.

The visit takes place as Russia's war in Ukraine appeared to take a dangerous new turn, with NATO and South Korea expressing alarm that North Korean troops could soon be joining Moscow's side.

Rudenko has been involved in developing Russian ties with North Korea after Moscow launched its full-scale invasion on Ukraine in February 2022. He was also a member of the Russian delegations at peace negotiations with Ukraine early in the war.

Two months before President Vladimir Putin sent his troops to Ukraine, Rudenko said that countries of the post-Soviet space will always be among Russia's geopolitical priorities.

"Wherever these countries go, no matter how they develop, they will always be a priority, among our geopolitical priorities, regardless of the geopolitical context," RIA cited Rudenko as saying in December 2021.

"This is part of our former common Soviet past."



Iran's Supreme Leader: Militant Groups Against Israel Remain Strong

02 November 2024, Iran, Tehran: Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei waves to the crowd during a meeting with school and university students in Tehran. Office/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
02 November 2024, Iran, Tehran: Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei waves to the crowd during a meeting with school and university students in Tehran. Office/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
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Iran's Supreme Leader: Militant Groups Against Israel Remain Strong

02 November 2024, Iran, Tehran: Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei waves to the crowd during a meeting with school and university students in Tehran. Office/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
02 November 2024, Iran, Tehran: Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei waves to the crowd during a meeting with school and university students in Tehran. Office/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said Thursday the alliance of militant groups opposed to Israel remains strong despite the killing of many of their senior leaders.

“God willing, the world will see a day when the Zionist regime will be defeated by them,” Iranian state TV reported Khamenei as saying.

Khamenei said Hamas and other “leaders of the resistance” are “still fighting” even though some of their leaders have been killed by intensified Israeli airstrikes.

Israeli strikes and military operations in recent months have killed the top leaders of both Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, as well as many of their senior commanders.

Both groups are part of the so-called Axis of Resistance, which includes other Iran-backed groups in Syria, Iraq and Yemen.

Iran and its allies have repeatedly traded fire with Israel and the United States over the past year following Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attack, raising fears of a regional war.