New Delhi: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan landed in Moscow late on Wednesday on a two-day visit amid the ongoing crisis at the Ukraine-Russia border.
Khan’s visit comes as tension continues to escalate after Russia’s recognition of eastern Ukrainian enclaves of Donetsk and Luhansk. As a response to Moscow’s actions, several Western nations hit Russia with fresh sanctions for its military deployment into parts of eastern Ukraine.
Imran Khan’s ill-timed visit, the first such trip by a Pakistani PM in 23 years, aims to push for the construction of a long-delayed, multi-billion-dollar gas pipeline to be built in collaboration with Russian companies.
“What a time I have come, so much excitement,” Imran Khan said interacting with the members of the delegation that welcomed him.
“I am so excited to come to Moscow”, he further added.
Khan was received by Russian deputy foreign minister Igor Morgulov at the airport, where the Russian military presented a guard of honor to him.
Watch the video here:
“What a time I have come, so much excitement”, PM Imran Khan says after landing in Moscow, Russia #UkraineRussiaCrisis #Kiev #Putin #RussiaUkraine #Pakistan pic.twitter.com/RzKHEoTlij
— Murtaza Ali Shah (@MurtazaViews) February 24, 2022
Meanwhile, the United States has reacted to Imran Khan’s visit to Moscow by saying that it is the responsibility of every country to warn Russia against its aggressive methods against Ukraine.
US State Department spokesperson Ned Price said on Wednesday, “We’ve communicated to Pakistan our position regarding Russia’s further renewed invasion of Ukraine and we have briefed them on our efforts to pursue diplomacy over war”.
