On the afternoon of May 16, 2024, Putin (front left) attended a concert in Beijing commemorating the 75th anniversary of China-Russia (Soviet) diplomatic relations. His gaze was unfocused on the performance, appearing deep in thought. Putin's body also leaned slightly away from Xi Jinping (front right, second from the right).
[People News] As President Trump and the European Union work tirelessly to mediate a ceasefire agreement between Russia and Ukraine, Russia launched a large-scale airstrike on Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, on August 28. According to Reuters, Russian sources have disclosed that Beijing has been providing military assistance to Russia, asserting, "If the Communist Party of China were willing, the war would have ended long ago!"
Since the Russian military invaded Ukraine in February 2022, it has faced sanctions from Western partners and has been cut off from economic and trade relations. In this context, Beijing has swiftly stepped in to fill the void—significantly increasing its purchases of Russian oil while exporting cars, electronics, and other goods, leading to a record high in bilateral trade between China and Russia, projected to reach $245 billion in 2024.
However, current trade between the two nations is showing signs of stagnation.
Recent data from Chinese customs indicates that from January to July this year, the bilateral trade volume fell by 8.1% year-on-year. This includes a decrease in Russian oil exports to China and a significant drop in car imports from China.
Informed sources have stated, "Before Putin's visit, officials from both sides are actively looking for ways to boost trade, as the current figures are indeed concerning." During the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit held in Tianjin, China, on August 30-31, Putin met with Xi Jinping. One source noted that agriculture and energy could serve as new areas for breakthroughs.
Several sources close to the Russian government have acknowledged that Moscow's reliance on Beijing encompasses not only economic factors but also military considerations.
A Russian source candidly remarked, 'Without China (the Communist Party), we wouldn't even be able to produce a single missile, let alone drones. Our entire economy has already collapsed.' He added, 'If China (the Communist Party) were willing, the war would have ended long ago.'
In reality, Beijing is not interested in seeing the Russia-Ukraine war come to a close. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi had previously made a statement that sparked international outrage.
On July 2, during the '13th EU-China High-Level Strategic Dialogue' in Brussels, Wang Yi admitted in a meeting with the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, that 'China (the Communist Party) does not want to see Russia fail in Ukraine.' When asked why, he explained, 'Because we do not want the United States to redirect all its attention towards China (the Communist Party).'
When questioned about whether the Communist Party is providing financial or military support to Russia, Wang Yi categorically denied it and reiterated a phrase he deemed very honest: 'If Beijing were to do that, the conflict would have been resolved long ago.'
Despite Beijing's consistent denials of providing military aid to Russia, the repeated discovery of Chinese components in Russian weaponry has led Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to voice criticism and condemnation on several occasions.
According to AFP, Zelensky disclosed on April 22 that Chinese nationals were employed at a drone production facility in Russia, suggesting that Russia may have 'stolen' Chinese drone technology.
Oleh Ivashchenko, the Director of the Ukrainian Foreign Intelligence Service, stated in an interview with the Ukrainian National News Agency (Ukrinform) on May 26 that Ukrainian intelligence has identified at least five instances of cooperation between Russia and China in the aviation sector from 2024 to 2025. This includes the supply of equipment, spare parts, and documentation. Furthermore, there are six cases involving the 'large-scale transportation' of specialised chemicals, although the Ukrainian government did not provide additional details. 'By early 2025, 80% of the critical electronic components for Russian drones will be sourced from China,' Ivashchenko noted.
On August 21, President Zelensky rejected Russia's proposal to have Beijing act as a security guarantor for Ukraine. He remarked that China (the Communist Party) has been aiding Ukraine since the onset of the war and has permitted Russia to acquire drone parts, stating, 'Ukraine does not require such a country to provide security guarantees.'
Prior to the full-scale outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022, Russia and Beijing announced the formation of a partnership characterised by 'no restricted areas and no limits.'
(People News) △
News magazine bootstrap themes!
I like this themes, fast loading and look profesional
Thank you Carlos!
You're welcome!
Please support me with give positive rating!
Yes Sure!