Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on Wednesday, following a report from the head of Kyiv’s foreign intelligence service, that Russia and China are taking steps to intensify their cooperation.
Zelensky noted that these measures include changes by Russia that involve relinquishing certain aspects of its sovereignty to Beijing.
“We … observe that China is taking steps to intensify cooperation with Russia, including in the military-industrial sector,” he wrote on platform X. “Partner intelligence services have similar information.”
Later, in his evening video address, Zelensky highlighted that the report, focusing on the state of the Russian economy, revealed Russia’s growing dependence on China.
“In Russian history, no one has ever ceded sovereignty to China—or any other stronger nation—to this extent,” he said.
“It is astonishing how much Putin is paying simply to avoid ending this war. But the world still has enough power to end this war and compel Russia to do so.”
Russia and China signed an “unlimited” strategic partnership shortly before Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
This agreement has since been strengthened through subsequent joint statements, including one in May 2025, which announced closer cooperation in areas ranging from space to defense and international relations, including matters related to Ukraine and Taiwan.
