As Russia launched a nationwide attack on Ukraine early Thursday, eliciting near-universal reactions of horror and condemnation from the international community, President Vladimir Putin proceeded with a "long-planned" visit with Prime Minister Imran Khan of Pakistan in Moscow, The New York Times reports.
"What a time I have come ... so much excitement," Khan can be heard saying in a clip as he greeted Russian officials upon his arrival in Moscow. According to Khan's office, the two leaders planned to discuss "the entire gamut of Pakistan-Russia bilateral cooperation, and exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest" in apparent defiance of the poor timing and optics.
According to the Times, Khan in particular "intended to push for a multibillion-dollar gas pipeline to be built by Pakistani and Russian companies." Earlier this week, Germany announced the Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline between Germany and Russia would be halted over Moscow's aggression. Naturally, that "could potentially increase the importance of other outlets for Russian gas," the Times adds.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The U.S. State Department publicly expressed hope that Khan would address Russia's attack on Ukraine during his meeting with Putin, stating that every "responsible" country would object to the senseless violence.
Continue reading for free
We hope you're enjoying The Week's refreshingly open-minded journalism.
Subscribed to The Week? Register your account with the same email as your subscription.
-
Tuberville's military promotions block is upending lives, combat readiness, 3 military branch chiefs saySpeed Read
-
A brief timeline of Russia's war in Ukraine
In Depth How the Kremlin's plan for a quick conquest turned into a quagmire
-
Ukraine's counteroffensive is making incremental gains. Does it matter in the broader war?
Speed Read
-
How the collapse of the ruble could impact the war in Ukraine
Talking Point Will it hurt Putin's war or is it merely symbolic?
-
US commissions first-ever Navy ship in a foreign port
Speed Read
-
British spy chief, Wagner video suggest Prigozhin is alive and freely 'floating around'
Speed Read
-
The US will soon finish destroying its last chemical weapons
Speed Read
-
Putin and Prigozhin offer rival explanations for Wagner's brief rebellion
Speed Read
