US has informed Pakistan about ‘Ukraine position’

State Dept says every country should voice concern over crisis

WASHINGTON:

The United States has communicated to Pakistan its position regarding Russia’s further invasion of Ukraine, State Department spokesperson Ned Price said on Wednesday, as Prime Minister Imran Khan embarked on a two-day trip to Moscow for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“We believe it's a responsibility of every responsible country around the world to voice concern, to voice objection, to what Putin appears to have in mind for Ukraine,” Price said.

Price told reporters the United States would be willing to engage in diplomacy with Moscow if it shows de-escalation on Ukraine.

Read: Ukraine crisis batters KSE-100 index in intra-day trading

Western countries have been warning for weeks about the possibility of the bloodiest war in Europe for decades.

Prime Minister Imran Khan will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday (today). During the summit meeting, the two leaders will review the entire spectrum of bilateral relations including energy cooperation, according to the Foreign Office.

They will also have a wide-ranging exchange of views on major regional and international issues, including Islamophobia and the situation in Afghanistan.

Russia's military operation in Ukraine

Russian forces fired missiles at several Ukrainian cities and landed troops on its south coast on Thursday, officials and media said, after President Vladimir Putin authorised what he called a special military operation in the east.

Shortly after Putin spoke in a televised address on Russian state TV, explosions could be heard in the pre-dawn quiet of the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv. Gunfire rattled near the capital's main airport, the Interfax news agency said.

With additional input from News Desk