The US has accused China of being Russia’s “top supplier” as Ukraine risks losing even more territory before vital aid arrives.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken made the stunning accusation after meeting with President Xi Jinping Friday.
“Russia would struggle to sustain its assault on Ukraine without China’s support,” he told reporters.
“China is the top supplier of machine tools, microelectronics, nitrocellulose, which is critical to making munitions and rocket propellants, and other dual-use items that Moscow is using to ramp up its defence industrial base.”
Blinken met with Xi as well as foreign minister Wang Yi during his trip to Beijing. His meeting with Jinping was only confirmed an hour before it took place, The Telegraph reports.
The conversation included discussions on Taiwan, trade and Ukraine, which is allegedly being supported by China.
“I was extremely clear about our concerns,” Blinken said.
Blinken expressed concern about China’s relationship with Russia as Ukraine awaits more American aid.
The first batch of the $61 billion aid from Washington is set to arrive “in a matter of days”, but the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) cautioned that this may not be quick enough.
The think tank said: “Russian forces are likely attempting to seize as much territory as possible before the arrival of US security assistance significantly improves Ukrainian defensive capabilities in the coming weeks.”
It added that Russian forces could intensify its offensive in the Donetsk region “because the area provides greater opportunities for making more rapid tactical gains despite the relative operational insignificance of those gains.”
