The European Union is holding high-level discussions to address China’s growing support for Moscow and examine reports that China may be sending weapons to Russia for use on the battlefield in Ukraine, according to three EU diplomats speaking to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
The foreign ministers of the 27 EU member states are meeting on 15 December to discuss the deepening ties between China and Russia. One EU diplomat said that Brussels sees “increasing Chinese support”.
“What we are seeing is that without China’s support, Russia probably would not be able to do what it is doing,” one diplomat told Radio Free Europe on condition of anonymity.
Another EU diplomat said the meeting will focus on recent information regarding possible Chinese weapons shipments to Russia being used in Ukraine. If confirmed, this would represent a new level of support from Beijing, beyond its ongoing supply of dual-use civilian and military goods that have strengthened Kremlin operations since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The diplomat did not specify what types of Chinese weapons or equipment may have been deployed in Ukraine. Chinese components have been critical to Russia’s drone industry, which is central to wider military operations—from surveillance to kamikaze-style attacks. Ukrainian intelligence stated in October that China has also been providing Russia with satellite data for targets in Ukraine.
China Claims Neutrality, But Deepens Ties
Beijing claims neutrality in the nearly four-year-long conflict and has repeatedly denied supplying Russia with weapons. Nevertheless, China has continued to expand political and economic ties with Moscow, remaining one of Russia’s largest oil buyers and an increasingly important trading partner.
The deepening China-Russia relationship has drawn scrutiny from Europe. In July, the EU stated that China, including Hong Kong, was responsible for around 80% of attempts to circumvent sanctions on Russia.
EU ministers will also discuss broader economic relations with China, including:
- Chinese export controls on strategic rare earth minerals
- Security concerns in the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea
- Ongoing geoeconomic tensions involving chipmaker Nexperia, headquartered in the Netherlands but Chinese-owned
Foreign ministers from France and Germany will brief other EU ministers on recent visits to Beijing, during which both delegations raised concerns about China’s close ties with Russia.
In July, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas that Beijing cannot accept a Russian defeat in the war, as this would allow Washington to focus on China. These remarks were first reported by the South China Morning Post and later confirmed by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
