Biden: NATO more united than ever over Ukraine

Brussels, Mar 24 (AP) US President Joe Biden says that Russian President Vlimir Putin was wrong to assume NATO would be divided over Ukraine.

Biden says at a news conference that Russia's invasion of Ukraine has built greater unity within NATO, European Union and Group of Seven economies.

Biden says of Putin, “He didn't think we could sustain this cohesion,” ding that NATO has “never been more united than it is today.” NATO countries and or allies have imposed harsh sanctions against Russia, crippling that country's economy. Still, EU has refrained from taking same steps as US by banning oil and natural gas from Russia.

___ Paris: French President Emmanuel warned about “reputation risks” for French companies which are operating in Russia but said y are free to make ir own choices.

“My position is to let companies free to decide for mselves. That's up to companies' leership to assess” situation, he said Thursday in a news conference in Brussels.

Macron's remarks come after French automaker Renault announced plans to pause production at its Moscow plant in an apparent move to fend off mounting criticism.

Macron said he requested all French companies operating in Russia to comply with EU sanctions.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on French multinationals to stop indirectly supporting war against Ukraine by leaving Russia, in a speech to French parliament on Wednesday.

Naming Renault, supermarket chain Auchan and home improvement giant Leroy Merlin, Zelenskyy said y “must stop being sponsors of Russia's war machine.” ___ Brussels: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz says world is united in its response to Russian attack on Ukraine last month and said that sanctions against Russia were proving to be powerful.

Scholz told reporters in Brussels Thursday after NATO summit that “we are united in our commitment to see se sanctions through as long as necessary and to keep reviewing m for effectiveness”.

Asked about threat of a possible nuclear, biological, chemical weapons attack by Russia, Scholz said such an attack “would be a breach of all rules and agreements and conventions that exist”.

Scholz also said that Germany has committed to giving 370 million euros ($407 million) to Ukraine in humanitarian aid and pledged anor 430 million euros for global food supply to help prevent famines.

He called on international community to help Europe shoulder burden of millions of refugees arriving from Ukraine.

___ Brussels: Italian Premier Mario Draghi says “extraordinary unity among allies” characterised both NATO and G-7 meetings in Brussels.

Draghi told reporters during a break in garings on Thursday that unity pertained to both applying sanctions against Russia as well as to ”deciding to toughen m if necessary.” He described as “unanimous” analyses by summit participants that sanctions are being “extraordinarily effective. Russian economy is strongly weakened.” As for drama of millions of refugees from Ukraine, Draghi said feeling among participants was that humanitarian drama must be managed, in dition to on a European level, also on world level, with full involvement of United Nations.

Regarding China, ''re was no condemnation, on contrary, re was hope that China contributes to peace process,” Italian leer said. (AP) SCY SCY