The Vice President of the Centre for China and Globalization has offered a grave warning to the West over its response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Victor Gao, speaking to GB News said "mankind has never been as close to the brink of a nuclear disaster as we are now".
Russia’s bombardment of Ukraine has edged closer to central Kyiv as a series of strikes hit a residential area.
The barrage continued as the leaders of three European Union countries planned a bold visit to Ukraine’s capital, with the number of people driven out of the country by war passing three million.
The White House has confirmed Joe Biden will travel to Brussels next week for face-to-face talks with European leaders over the invasion, as Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg convenes a summit on the matter, to be led by the US president.
The UN has described the flood of people crossing into Poland and other neighbouring countries as Europe’s biggest refugee crisis since the Second World War.
Russian President Vladimir Putin visits the construction site of the National Space Agency on the premises of the Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Centre, in Moscow, Russia February 27, 2022.
Sputnik Photo Agency
Russian and Ukrainian negotiators held a second day of talks as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine reached its 20th day.
Russia’s invasion has shocked the world, upended Europe’s post-Cold War security order and driven millions from their homes. Russia’s military is bigger and better equipped than Ukraine’s, but its troops have faced stiffer-than-expected resistance, bolstered by arms supplied by the West.
Fighting has intensified on Kyiv’s outskirts in recent days, and sporadic air raid sirens ring out around the capital.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy is seeking to extend martial law until April 24 and to require men aged 18 to 60 to stay in the country to fight. Ukraine’s parliament is expected to vote on the measure this week.
Refugees fleeing the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine wait for hours to board a train to Poland, outside the train station in Lviv, Ukraine, March 8, 2022. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
KAI PFAFFENBACH
The Ukrainian leader appealed for more weapons to counter Russia’s military. He said Ukraine’s forces are rapidly using up weapons and other hardware supplied by Western nations, and he asked northern European leaders to “help yourself by helping us”.
Talks between Russian and Ukrainian negotiators resumed on Tuesday.
The two sides had expressed some optimism about the negotiations, which Ukrainian presidential aide Mykhailo Podolyak said were discussing “ceasefire” and “withdrawal of troops from the territory of the country”.
Now, Mr. Gao has warned that further escalations could have grave consequences.
He told Colin Brazier: "I would say this war in Ukraine is a tragedy, especially for the people in Ukraine.
Vice President of the Centre for China and Globalization, Victor Gao.
GB News
"All the parties involved either directly or indirectly need to do their upmost to deescalate the tension in Ukraine, to bring the war to an end as quickly as possible.
"To save as many people in Ukraine as possible.
"Russia has put its nuclear forces on special alert and the United States, without saying it, has always put their nuclear weapons on high alert.
"I would say that mankind has never been as close to the brink of a nuclear disaster as we are now even though lots of countries pretend that this is not the case.
"Wake up, this is the reality, if we take any step in the wrong direction we may push the situation beyond the point of return.
"When a nuclear disaster happens, it’s not child’s play, it will wipe out humankind and most species from the face of the Earth."