Russia moves closer to ditching landmark nuclear treaty

October 19, 2023 — SpaceWar.com reports: “Russian lawmakers on Wednesday voted once more to revoke Moscow’s ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, moving the country another step closer to abandoning the landmark agreement.

The 1996 treaty outlaws all nuclear explosions including live tests of nuclear weapons, but it has never come into force because some key countries — including the United States and China — have not ratified the treaty.

In a fast-track hearing in the State Duma Wednesday, lawmakers voted unanimously to revoke Russia’s ratification of the treaty in a combined second and third reading of the bill.

The initiative will next be voted on by Russia’s upper house, the Federation Council, before being sent to President Vladimir Putin to sign into law.

Putin said earlier this month he was ‘not ready to say’ whether Russia needed to carry out live nuclear tests…”  (A huge nuclear war is prophesied multiplied times in God’s Word.  Revelation 9:14 – 18 depicts Armageddon: Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates.  And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men.  And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them.  And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone. By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths.  And Revelation 16:16 tells of the longest and final battle of the ages.  See the next two reports.)

Russia says US must end ‘hostility’ for nuclear talks

October 25, 2023 — SpaceWar.com reports: “Russia said Wednesday it would study US proposals to resume dialogue on nuclear arms control, but that it would not accept them unless Washington dropped its ‘hostile’ stance towards Moscow.

The US and Russia used to regularly inspect each other’s nuclear facilities and limit warheads under the New START treaty, but Moscow suspended the treaty in February amid tensions over Ukraine.

Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told Russian news agencies that Moscow had received an informal memo from the US calling for renewed dialogue, but that talks were out of the question for now.

‘The (US) suggests putting dialogue on strategic stability and arms control on a systematic footing, doing so in isolation from everything that is going on,’ Ryabkov said.

‘We are not ready for this,’ he added.

‘It is simply impossible to return to dialogue on strategic stability, including New START… without changes in the United States’ deeply, fundamentally hostile course towards Russia,’ he said…”

Russian defence minister calls to speed up bomber production

October 6, 2023 — SpaceWar.com reports: “Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu on Friday called for more Su-34 fighter jets to be produced, as Moscow pursues its offensive in Ukraine.

The Kremlin has announced a massive spending hike to accomodate its military needs in Ukraine as its large-scale offensive approaches its second year.

‘These planes are real workhorses. They can make four to five flights a day,’ Shoigu said during a visit to an aeronautical manufacturing base in Novosibirsk in Siberia.

‘That’s why we need to step up, accelerate’ their manufacture, Shoigu said…”

Russia ‘highly values’ North Korean support against Ukraine

October 19, 2023 — SpaceWar.com reports: “Russia ‘highly values’ North Korea’s support for its Ukraine campaign, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in Pyongyang on Wednesday, with Western concerns mounting over the historic allies’ deepening military ties.

Lavrov’s comments came as he began a two-day visit to Pyongyang that is expected to lay the groundwork for a trip by President Vladimir Putin.

‘We highly value your principled, unambiguous support for Russia’s actions in connection with the special military operation in Ukraine,’ Lavrov was quoted as saying by Russia’s RIA news agency.

The foreign minister’s trip comes after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un travelled to Russia to meet Putin last month, his first trip abroad since the pandemic began.

Lavrov arrived in Pyongyang from Beijing, where Putin hailed Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday as an ‘old friend’ during a rare trip abroad.

Putin, guest of honour at a summit celebrating Xi’s vast Belt and Road investments project, told reporters the two had met alone ‘eye-to-eye’ and that mounting global conflicts ‘strengthen’ their countries’ relations…”  (Russia in Bible prophecy is the main instigator of death and suffering during Armageddon – Revelation 16:16.  Ezekiel chapters 38 & 39, which Dr. Van Impe has proclaimed for sixty years, aided by Oriental and Islamic nations, bring total chaos and atomic devastation upon the world.  Worse yes, it’s just ahead of us.  Every nation he included in World War III is forming exactly as taught this global blood bath six decades ago.  The only good news is that the Rapture precedes Armageddon – “Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth” – Revelation 3:10.  Then our deliverance as believers – Revelation 4:1 and our joy because of missing Armageddon.)

With Mideast crisis, Russia and China hope to turn tables on US

October 25, 2023 — SpaceWar.com reports: “Since Russia invaded Ukraine, the United States has sought to isolate Moscow and pressure China to keep its distance. With war in the Middle East, Russia and China are seeking to turn the tables.

The United States has cast Russia as the disruptor of the international order at the Security Council, with President Joe Biden promising the world body that Washington would use its veto only sparingly.

But the United States went ahead and vetoed a draft resolution last week it deemed insufficiently supportive of its ally.

In comments likely aimed at consumption in the Islamic world, Russia has accused the United States of escalating the conflict through military reinforcements, while China has lashed out at the US veto and Israel’s actions.

The Chinese and Russian reprimands ring hollow for US officials, who doubt the rival powers will engage in painstaking diplomacy along the lines of Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s recent trip to the region.

But the United States has historically stood out as a lonely voice in its close embrace of Israel, even if for now European allies are largely joining Biden in backing Israel.

Biden on taking office had aimed to shift from the complexities of the Middle East, seeing China as the greatest long-term challenge to the United States.

‘This is not a region where the US has wanted to have a heavy footprint and be actively engaged. At the same time, this president in particular is deeply committed to Israel,’ said Leslie Vinjamuri, director of the US and Americas program at Chatham House.

China ‘is quite willing to see the US pulled sideways in its strategic focus into a region that it hasn’t wanted to be absorbed by, but now is willingly,’ she said…”  (China will become a basic partner with Russia for the rapidly approaching battle of Armageddon – Revelation 16:16. Russia will lead invasion number one – Ezekiel 38 & 39. China will lead invasion number two – Revelation 16:12; Revelation 9:14 – 16. Then all nations will come against Jerusalem for the final invasion at which point Jesus will return to stop the bloodshed and set up his eternal kingdom upon earth – [He gathers] all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken… Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south – Zechariah 14:2 – 4. Then Psalm 2:6 occurs as God the Father says: …I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion [Jerusalem].  See the next four reports)

Putin in China to meet ‘dear friend’ Xi

October 17, 2023 — SpaceWar.com reports: “Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in China on Tuesday to meet his ‘dear friend’ Xi Jinping and bolster their relationship at a summit overshadowed by the Israel-Hamas war.

China this week welcomes representatives of 130 countries for a forum of President Xi’s vast trade and infrastructure Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

At the top of the guest list is Putin, who is on his first trip to a major global power since Moscow’s Ukraine invasion threw his regime into international isolation.

He is due to hold talks with Xi on the sidelines of the forum on Wednesday, the Kremlin said, with the war raging between Israel and Palestinian militant organisation Hamas looming large over the summit.

‘During the talks, special attention will be paid to international and regional issues,’ the Kremlin said in a statement, without elaborating…”

China, US Differ on Response to Widening Middle East Violence

October 24, 2023 — Voice of America News reports: “China will continue to support ‘all efforts conducive to promoting dialogue’ for the two-state solution amid the escalating conflict in the Middle East, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

In the regular foreign ministry press briefing on Oct. 23, spokesperson Mao Ning, said, ‘As we speak, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is escalating, the situation in Gaza is very grave and armed conflict is spreading with a growing spillover effect.’

‘All parties should abide by the international law and international humanitarian law, protect civilians and do everything possible to avert an even worse humanitarian disaster,’ she said.

She added that humanitarian needs must be met.

‘China will continue to support all efforts conducive to promoting dialogue and restoring peace and do its part … for a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Palestinian question.’

Her remarks highlighted the difference between Washington and Beijing on the Israel-Hamas war, which analysts worry will further fuel tensions between the two superpowers.

President Joe Biden told Americans on Oct. 19 in a televised live speech that the U.S. must increase its support for Ukraine and Israel…”

Xi: China Willing to Cooperate With US, Manage Differences

October 26, 2023 — Voice of America News reports: “Chinese President Xi Jinping said Wednesday that China is willing to cooperate with the United States as both sides manage their differences and work together to respond to global challenges, according to Chinese state media.

Whether or not the United States and China could establish the ‘right’ way of getting along would be crucial to the world, Xi said in a letter delivered at an annual dinner of the New York-headquartered National Committee on United States-China Relations.

Xi’s call for more stable bilateral ties, which he says should be built on the principles of ‘mutual respect, peaceful co-existence and win-win cooperation’, comes before a key visit by Foreign Minister Wang Yi to Washington later this week.

The trip from Thursday through Saturday by the top Chinese diplomat will be the highest-level in-person engagement ahead of an expected meeting between U.S. President Joe Biden and Xi in San Francisco at the November Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit…”

Xi tells top senator US-China relations impact ‘destiny of mankind’

October 10, 2023 — SpaceWar.com reports: “Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Monday that China-US ties would impact the ‘destiny of mankind’, as he met with a group of American senators in Beijing.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is the latest high-level US official to go to China as Washington seeks to ease tensions with Beijing, leading a six-person delegation.

‘How China and the United States get along with each other in the face of a world of change and turmoil will determine the future and destiny of mankind,’ Xi said as he met with Schumer at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People.

‘I have said many times, including to several presidents, that we have 1,000 reasons to improve China-US relations, but not one reason to ruin them,’ Xi said, adding China-US ties are ‘the most important bilateral relationship in the world’.

Schumer, in turn, told Xi that ‘our countries, together, will shape this century’.

‘That is why we must manage our relationship responsibly and respectfully,’ he said…”