Al Jazeera :
While Western countries swiftly united in a chorus of criticism against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Moscow’s allies reacted with milder tones as they find themselves walking a tightrope between security concerns and economic interests.
Ukrainians woke up on Friday to the sound of explosions as Russian troops are pressing deep into the country for the second day of a land, sea and air offensive that has so far killed more than 130 people and displaced at least 100,000 others.
Here is a look at how Russia’s traditional allies reacted to the Russian military action.
China has not officially taken a side as it enjoys good relations with Ukraine, cares about its business with Europe, and has found in Putin an ally.
The ongoing invasion is taking place just a few weeks after Putin and his Chinese counterpart were parading in Beijing in a great display of unity ahead of the opening of the Winter Olympics.
On that occasion, China reiterated that Russia’s security concerns were legitimate, accusing the United States of exacerbating tensions.
The two countries enjoy great business relations, on top of what observers have called “a personal chemistry”.
China said it will not provide Moscow with military support but it has been bolstering trade such as increasing imports of wheat from Russia on Thursday, a move that critics called an economic lifeline for Putin.
However, China’s foreign minister stressed on Friday that each country’s sovereignty should be respected, calling on parties to return to the negotiating table.
“They [Russia and China] need each other, but for China this [the invasion] is not in line with their idea of a stable world trying to create more trades, but rather that this is going to create more uncertainty,” Einar Tangen, a Beijing-based political analyst, told Al Jazeera.
Israel made a tepid condemnation of Putin’s move. In a short statement, Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid condemned Russia’s move as “a serious violation of the international order”, but also stressed Israel’s “deep, long-lasting and good relations with Russia and with Ukraine”.
