Xi’s chilling message
M26&2: ± &hina’s President Xi -inping told a grinning 9ladimir Putin ‘change is coming’ in an ominous part ing message as he departed Moscow on Tuesday evening following talNs with his Russian counterpart.
“&hange is coming that hasn’t hap pened in 1 years. $nd we are driv ing this change together,´ Xi told Putin via his interpreter words sure to set alarm bells ringing in the :est.
“Please, taNe care, dear friend,´ he added, gripping Putin’s hand warmly before being waved off by the Russian despot, who bid Xi a ‘safe journey’.
,n February , the pair an nounced they had forged a ‘no limits’ friendship and Putin invited Xi to visit the Russian capital. They have since publicly talNed of strengthening their ‘special relationship’, with Moscow and Beijing both rejecting what they say are U6 attempts to create a ‘unipo lar world’ controlled by :ashington.
Xi finally met Putin at the Kremlin yesterday, with both leaders appearing Neen to promote their positive rela tions. They signed a series of mem orandums and agreements designed to boost bilateral co operation on a number of issues, and were pictured coiffing champagne together in the Kremlin’s Palace of the Facets as Xi invited his Russian counterpart to visit &hina later this year.
Unsettling
Their unsettling farewell message came just hours after Putin vowed to respond to British plans to send am munition containing depleted uranium to UNraine as Moscow warned the risN of a ‘nuclear collision’ was increasing.
The Russian despot raged against Britain’s decision to provide Kyiv’s troops with &hallenger battle tanNs and depleted uranium ammunition, arguing it marNed a step towards using weapons with a ‘nuclear component’.
TanN shells containing the radioac tive material are more dense, enhanc ing their capability to penetrate thicN layers of armour.
But depleted uranium can cause se rious radiation damage if it enters the body for e[ample through shrapnel or inhalation from e[plosions and is linNed to increased instances of cancer and other illnesses in warzones.
6peaNing after talNs with &hinese President Xi -inping in the Russian capital, Putin said he will be ‘forced to react’ if the UK goes ahead with its delivery of 1 ne[t generation battle tanNs.
‘The United Kingdom announced not only the supply of tanNs to UNraine, but also shells with depleted uranium,’ Putin seethed.