March 9, 2022: Moves by U.S.-led NATO have pushed tension between Russia and Ukraine to a “breaking point”, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said on Wednesday, according to Reuters.

NATO is about to deliver jets to Ukraine, Times of London reports (see below).

At a daily news briefing, he urged the United States to take China’s concerns seriously and avoid undermining its rights or interests in handling the Ukraine issue and ties with Russia, the news service reported.

Brent crude prices were down 5% $121 a barrel at about 3pm in London. Dutch natgas falling 27%. EU carbon up 2% to 70 euros.

9-Mar-22: Russia #natgas flows to Europe continue broadly in line with recent days. On Tue, NordStream1 full flow, Ukraine full flow. Noms for Wed same. TurkStream deliveries to EU have eased off slightly in recent days. #TTF #Gazprom

— Tom Marzec-Manser (@tmarzecmanser) March 9, 2022

🔺 Update: The United States has rejected Poland’s surprise announcement that it would hand over its fleet of MiG-29 fighter jets to President Zelensky’s government https://t.co/C7fElc1WJW

— The Times (@thetimes) March 9, 2022

CarrZee’s take on the geopolitics of war from earlier this week:

Taiwan Offers to Help Flood-Struck Australia as China Tackles Net-Zero, USA Pokes, Pokes, Pokes: Comment (5)