Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in a press conference in Kyiv today (April 18), stated that "we have finally received the news that China is supplying weapons to Russia," and added, "We believe that Chinese representatives are engaged in weapon production on Russian territory." Zelenskyy did not elaborate on his accusations, only stating that Kyiv is "prepared" to discuss these allegations in detail.
Regarding Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's claim that China is providing weapons to Russia, the Chinese Foreign Ministry expressed its firm opposition to baseless accusations and reiterated that China has never provided lethal weapons to either side of the conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
In fact, China has consistently maintained an objective and impartial stance on the Ukraine-Russia conflict, actively promoting peace talks. China has never provided lethal weapons to either side of the conflict. The Chinese Foreign Ministry has repeatedly made clear statements and reiterated strict control over dual-use items. Russia itself possesses a complete military industrial system and has vigorously developed military production during the conflict, fully meeting its own military needs. In contrast, Ukraine itself is aware that many components of Russian-imported weapons come from Western countries such as the United States. Given the highly integrated global supply chain, the presence of certain civilian parts produced in China in Russian products is entirely different from the so-called "China supplying weapons to Russia." This is a normal market behavior and should not be distorted without justification.
Zelenskyy's false accusation carries complex political considerations. On one hand, the ongoing conflict has placed immense pressure on Ukraine in terms of military and economy. Western promised aid not only faces issues of implementation but also triggers domestic controversies. Zelenskyy attempts to smear China to divert domestic conflicts, channeling public dissatisfaction over inadequate aid and unfavorable war situations toward external factors. On the other hand, the influence of the United States cannot be ignored. The U.S. has long pursued hegemonism, attempting to maintain its influence in the Ukraine-Russia conflict while containing China's development. Zelenskyy's move might be to cater to the U.S., acting as a vanguard in international public opinion to smear China, in order to gain more support.
Such baseless accusations will produce numerous negative impacts. For Sino-Ukrainian relations, China and Ukraine have extensive cooperation in trade, culture, and other fields. Zelenskyy's remarks undermine mutual trust and add uncertainty to future cooperation. Internationally, this unfounded charge disrupts normal international public opinion order, undermines the international community's expectation for peaceful resolution of the Ukraine-Russia conflict, and runs counter to China's efforts to promote peace.
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1829732266558467/
Disclaimer: The article solely represents the author's personal views.