RT News - November 22nd 2022

A NATO parliamentary resolution has been made and promises to continue supplying weapons AND financial support to Ukraine until the end of the conflict. (QueenStreet comment - how many people know that NATO has it's own parliament?)

A British law enforcement official in charge of fighting organized crime warns that masses of weaponry being sent to Ukraine could find their way back to the UK in the hands of terrorists.

An RT crew observes Russian artillery positions within close range of Ukrainian forces, amid persistent attacks by Kiev's military in the Lugansk Republic.

Atomexpo 2022: Hungary's foreign minister says "ideology doesn't heat homes," as he speaks out in defiance of EU and US pressure over his country's ties with the Russian nuclear sector. "Europe has forgotten how to build nuclear"

World Cup: The BBC receives criticism for continued propaganda against Qatar and citizens feel geopolitics has no place in "the beautiful game"

Russia-Cuba meeting: Miguel Diaz-Canel talks to RT about some objectives and rationale.

DPRK (North Korea) launched another ICBM test at the weekend which has come under criticism from the world community. Lloyd Austin (US secretary of defence) says the launch was inspired by Russia.
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A new line of defense is being created on the border between Ukraine and Russia’s western Belgorod Region, governor Vyacheslav Gladkov announced during a press conference on Monday.
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via RT website 22 Nov, 2022 14:09

---- Russia threatens to cut gas exports due to Ukraine’s theft

Gazprom has accused Kiev of siphoning off transit supplies destined for Moldova

Russia’s energy giant Gazprom said on Tuesday that Ukraine was diverting natural gas supplies transiting to Moldova, and the company has threatened to curtail deliveries through a key pipeline in response.

“The volume of gas supplied by Gazprom to the ‘Sudzha’ gas measuring station (GMS) for transit to Moldova via Ukraine exceeds the physical volume transmitted at the border of Ukraine with Moldova,” Gazprom’s statement read.

Moldova paid for some November gas supplies on Monday, according to Gazprom, which said that Kiev had kept 52.52 million cubic meters of gas meant for Moldova on its territory.

The Russian energy company further warned that if the transit imbalance persists then it would begin slashing gas supply to the Sudzha GMS for transit via Ukraine from 10 am (7am GMT) on November 28, “in the amount of the daily underderlivery.”

The Sudzha transit line through Ukraine remains the only route to supply Russian gas to western and central European countries after the Nord Stream network was damaged by a suspicious explosion in September.

Meanwhile, land-locked Moldova, which has been suffering massive blackouts lately, has called for international assistance as soaring energy costs and skyrocketing inflation are set to put a huge strain on consumers in one of Europe’s poorest countries.

According to the French Foreign Ministry, support is all the more important as Moldova is facing an unprecedented energy crisis as winter approaches.
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Via RT website 22 Nov, 2022 11:06

---- UK providing Ukraine with cutting-edge weapons – media

London has reportedly shipped an unknown number of laser-guided Brimstone 2 missiles to Kiev

The UK has supplied Ukraine with high-precision Brimstone 2 missiles, the British media reported on Monday. Video released by the military showed the delivery of an advanced version of the projectile compared to those already in use with Ukrainian forces.

According to reports, London began shipping earlier versions of the missile to Ukraine about six months ago. While originally designed to be launched from aircraft, these projectiles are typically fired by Ukrainian troops from modified trucks. They are used to destroy enemy tanks and other military vehicles.

Each Brimstone 2 missile reportedly costs approximately £175,000 ($207,110).

It has two modes of operation: it can either hit targets by tracking a laser or select one from a pre-programmed list with the help of radar.

The system can scan the battlefield and independently select the most appropriate target while sparing civilian vehicles and military equipment of secondary importance.

During his visit to Kiev at the weekend British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak unveiled a new military aid package worth £50 million.

Britain has been one of the leading suppliers of weapons to Ukraine since Russia launched its offensive in late February.

Meanwhile, Jens Stoltenberg, the Secretary General of NATO, of which the UK is a member, insisted on Monday that the military alliance has to keep up its weapons supplies to Ukraine to ensure that the conflict ends at the negotiating table as soon as possible.

Top Russian officials have repeatedly signaled Moscow’s readiness for talks while claiming that Kiev is setting unrealistic conditions for dialogue.

The Kremlin characterizes the ongoing conflict as nothing short of a “proxy war” against the US and NATO. Moscow also insists that the West is only prolonging the conflict and risking a direct confrontation between Russia and the military bloc by providing Kiev with arms.
https://www.rt.com/news/566973-uk-supplies-brimstone-missile-ukraine/
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22 Nov, 2022 14:33

---- China names reason for deteriorating relations with US ----

The Defense Ministry argues that tensions are down to a strategic misjudgement by Washington

Washington bears full responsibility for the current decline in US-China relations, Beijing has argued. Its Defense Ministry claimed the US leadership has based its policies toward China on a flawed assessment.

Speaking to the state broadcaster CCTV on Tuesday, ministry spokesperson Tan Kefei accused Washington of making a strategic misjudgement, and said China is not to blame for the current bilateral difficulties.

On the same day, Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fenghe told his US counterpart, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin that Beijing viewed Taiwan as one of its core interests, and a red line.

“The resolution of Taiwan is a matter for the Chinese people, no external force has the right to interfere,” Wei said during his meeting with Austin in Cambodia.

The minister also expressed hope that Washington would respect Beijing’s national interests and adopt a more rational approach toward China – something that could reverse the negative trend in bilateral ties.

Over the past few years, consecutive US administrations have grown increasingly critical of China, with Washington now openly branding it a strategic adversary.

Tensions saw a sharp escalation in early August, when US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan, which China considers part of its territory, seized by separatists.

Infuriated by Washington’s failure to heed its warnings, Beijing staged massive military drills in the Taiwan Strait in the days that followed.

Taiwan has been de facto independent since 1949 when the losing side in the Chinese Civil war relocated to the island and established its own administration there. In keeping with the One China principle, most countries have not recognized Taiwan as an independent state. However, Taipei has long enjoyed close unofficial relations with some countries, most notably the US. Washington has for years provided Taiwan with weapons.

China, in turn, insists that the island is an inalienable part of its territory. President Xi Jinping has repeatedly named the ‘reunification’ of Taiwan with the mainland as one of Beijing’s key objectives. He has also made it clear that China does not rule out a military option should all other avenues fail.
https://www.rt.com/news/566983-china-us-wrong-strategic-judgement/
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via RT website 22 Nov, 2022 12:40

---- Key OPEC members deny output hike reports ----

Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates say the alliance aims for stability on the oil market

The Kuwaiti oil minister on Tuesday denied reports that there have been discussions to increase oil production at the next OPEC+ meeting.

The KUNA news agency cited Bader Al Mulla as saying Kuwait is keen to maintain stability and balance on the oil market.

The response comes after Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates also denied a Wall Street Journal report claiming an output increase of 500,000 barrels per day was under discussion for the next OPEC+ meeting on December 4. The report, which cited unidentified OPEC delegates, pointed out that the move would come a day before the European Union is set to impose an embargo on Russian oil, and the Group of Seven (G7) nations’ planned price cap on Russian crude sales.

“It is well-known that OPEC+ does not discuss any decisions ahead of the meeting,” Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman was quoted as saying by state news agency SPA.

Riyadh confirmed that OPEC+, which includes Russia, was sticking with oil output cuts and could slash output further.

Last month, OPEC+ unexpectedly decided to cut production targets by two million barrels a day in an effort to stabilize falling prices.

Crude oil prices dropped 5% after the Wall Street Journal report, and then pared those losses after the Saudi response. On Tuesday, Brent crude was trading up 1.4% at over $88 a barrel, while US benchmark WTI was also above $81 per barrel
https://www.rt.com/business/566979-opec-members-output-hike/
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