[Comprehensive] Russia Bombed Up to NATO Borders, Requests Support from China... US Issues Strong Warning

Military base in Yavoriv, western Ukraine, destroyed by Russian airstrike
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Special Correspondent Joselgina, Reporter Jo Hyun-ui] Russia's missile attacks targeting Ukraine have now come dangerously close to the borders of NATO, including Poland. The United States immediately issued a strong warning, stating it will "defend every inch of NATO territory." Meanwhile, attention is focused on Russia's request for military and economic support from China and on what stance China will take.

On the 13th (local time), Ukrainian authorities announced that the International Peace and Security Center (IPSC) located in Yavoriv, Lviv Oblast, western Ukraine, was hit by an airstrike, resulting in at least 35 deaths and 134 injuries. This area is only 25 km from the Polish border. Until early last month, it was a training site for U.S. and NATO military instructors.

With Russian forces targeting facilities near the Polish border, a NATO member country, military tensions have escalated further. Jake Sullivan, U.S. National Security Advisor, appeared on CNN that day and warned, "If Russia mistakenly crosses into NATO territory with an attack, the allied forces will respond fully." U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken also condemned Russia's missile strike on the Yavoriv IPSC near the Polish border, urging, "Stop these brutal actions."

Notably, the border area with Poland is a major route through which weapons supported by the West, including the U.S., are supplied to Ukraine. Russia, which previously declared it would "eliminate foreign mercenaries and large-scale foreign weapons," has indicated its intention to continue attacks near NATO border areas.

U.S. government officials have also confirmed that Russia requested war support from China immediately after the invasion. China has shown a stance closer to Russia in this situation, abstaining from votes on resolutions demanding Russian withdrawal at the United Nations Security Council and the UN General Assembly.

On the 14th, in Rome, Italy, a high-level meeting is scheduled between Advisor Sullivan and Yang Jiechi, a member of the Chinese Communist Party's Political Bureau responsible for foreign affairs, where the U.S. plans to warn China against supporting Russia in the Ukraine war. Sullivan stated, "We conveyed to China that no country will be allowed to compensate for Russia's losses caused by sanctions," emphasizing, "No country will be permitted to provide a lifeline to Russia."

Fierce battles continue in Ukraine's capital Kyiv and other areas. On this day, Brent Renaud, a former New York Times (NYT) video journalist, was killed in Irpin, on the outskirts of Kyiv, due to a Russian attack. There are also claims that Russian forces are using white phosphorus munitions, classified as inhumane chemical weapons, in some areas.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated, "Unless a no-fly zone is established over Ukrainian airspace, it is only a matter of time before Russia's military attacks expand to NATO member countries."

Meanwhile, Ukraine and Russia are set to hold talks via video conference on the morning of the 14th. Previous three rounds of face-to-face negotiations have yielded no significant results.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.