[Asia Economy New York=Special Correspondent Seulgina Jo] U.S. President Joe Biden stated on the 24th (local time) that Russia, which invaded Ukraine, should be expelled from the Group of Twenty (G20). He also reiterated a warning that there would be a response if Russia uses chemical weapons.
According to CNN and others, at a press conference held at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, when asked whether Russia should be expelled from the G20, President Biden replied, "My answer is yes. It depends on the G20."
Visiting Europe for the first time since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, President Biden attended consecutive meetings of NATO, the Group of Seven (G7), and the European Union (EU) summit on the day to discuss responses to Russia.
President Biden confirmed that the issue of Russia's expulsion was discussed at the NATO summit. He also mentioned, "If other countries such as Indonesia, the chair country this year, do not agree, I proposed allowing Ukraine to attend and observe the G20 summit."
The G20 summit is scheduled for this fall. CNN reported, citing the Russian ambassador to Jakarta, that President Vladimir Putin wants to attend this summit.
As the Ukraine crisis prolongs and the possibility of Russia using chemical weapons arises, Biden did not forget to issue a warning. He said, "It will trigger a response," but only added, "The response will vary depending on the type of use," without providing specific details.
Regarding the possibility of China providing military and economic support to Russia, he said, "I had a very direct conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping," expressing hope that China would not get involved in supporting Russia. He stated that he "did not threaten" President Xi and added, "He (President Xi) knows the consequences if he supports Russia."
President Biden emphasized that although President Putin wrongly predicted that NATO would be divided over the Ukraine issue, "NATO has never been more united than today," and "It has brought about exactly the opposite result of Putin's intentions."
Additionally, he announced an additional $1 billion in humanitarian aid for Ukraine and $320 million for the restoration of democracy and protection of human rights. He mentioned that during his European tour, he would make it possible to meet Ukrainian refugees and welcomed those coming to the U.S. to reunite with their families.
President Biden also said that at the G7 summit, they discussed the food crisis triggered by the invasion of Ukraine, expressing concern that "the cost of sanctions is not only imposed on Russia but also on many countries, including Europe and the United States." He confirmed that discussions on countermeasures related to this are underway.
Meanwhile, on the occasion of the G7 summit, President Biden met with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to condemn North Korea's intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test launch and reaffirmed the U.S. security commitments to South Korea and Japan.
Earlier, on the 24th at around 2:34 p.m. Korean time, North Korea test-fired one ICBM into the East Sea from the area around Sunan Airport in Pyongyang. This was North Korea's first ICBM provocation in four years and four months. The White House and the U.S. State Department immediately issued statements condemning North Korea's missile launch and urging a return to dialogue.
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