Ukraine 'guides' China on how to become a 'global player'

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China supplying weapons to the Russian Federation would be a huge and critical mistake, said the head of the presidential office of Ukraine, Andrii Yermak, on Monday amid reports about China intending to supply arms to Russia in light of the ongoing war.

"China's supply of weapons to the Russian Federation will be a critical and big mistake," Yermak said.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's adviser, Mykhailo Podolya, directly attacked China, saying that it should not "offer an unrealistic plan" if it "claim[s] to be a global player".

Addressing Beijing in a patronizing manner, Podolyak said: "You don't bet on an aggressor who broke intl law and will lose the war. It's not far-sighted."

If you claim to be a global player, you don't offer an unrealistic plan. You don't bet on an aggressor who broke intl law and will lose the war. It's not far-sighted. As someone who plans for decades doesn't play "🇷🇺 3-day games."
China, the "window of opportunity" is not endless

— Михайло Подоляк (@Podolyak_M) February 25, 2023

The adviser further said that if China were to help Russia with weapons, Kiev would be forced to "react aggressively."

"If some country starts transferring equipment to Russia, then it is necessary to react aggressively to it somehow," Podolyak said during an interview with a Ukrainian YouTube channel.

Zelensky's adviser threatened China with aggression.

Adviser to the office of the President of Ukraine, Mikhail Podolyak, said that if China helps Russia with weapons, Kiev will be forced to react aggressively.

"If some country starts transferring equipment to Russia, then it… https://t.co/gqd0jFn2HS pic.twitter.com/wsFGJVLtFJ

— GraphicW (@GraphicW5) February 27, 2023

In light of Kiev's bold statements, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said her country would not tolerate threats from the United States.

She stressed that Washington had no right to attack Chinese-Russian ties, as it constantly supplies Kiev with lethal weapons to be used against Russia.

"These are typical Washington unilateral sanctions that harm China's interests. In no case do we intend to tolerate threats and pressure from the United States," Mao said.

"China adheres to an objective and fair position on the Ukrainian issue, and Washington is constantly supplying Kiev with lethal weapons worth more than $32 billion, and in violation of the agreements reached with Beijing, it is selling weapons to the island of Taiwan," Mao underlined.

She explained that Washington's actions of such lead to endless wars and conflicts, saying it was very hypocritical. "We urge the United States to think, take into account the interests of all countries, facilitate negotiations, and also lift sanctions on Chinese companies."

🇨🇳🇺🇲🇺🇦🇷🇺 China won't tolerate US threats - Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman

US has no right to attack China-Russia relations, Washington constantly supplying Kiev with lethal weapons - Spokeswoman. pic.twitter.com/ohdB5VpyKL

— AZ 🛰🌏🌍🌎 (@AZgeopolitics) February 27, 2023

This comes after US National Security adviser Jake Sulivan said Sunday that it was up to China whether it assists Russia in Ukraine, but if Beijing were to decide on the provision of military aid to Russia, that would come with a price.

"Beijing will have to make its own decisions about how it proceeds, whether it provides military assistance, but if it goes down that road, it will come at real costs to China," Sullivan told CNN's "State of the Union" show.

According to US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned Chinese Central Foreign Affairs Office Director Wang Yi "about the implications and consequences if China provides material support to Russia or assistance with systemic sanctions evasion."

Equivocally, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced a day later that China would never accept that US "finger-pointing" target China-Russia relations and called on Washington to work toward a political settlement of the Ukraine crisis instead of deteriorating the situation.

Wang Yi and Blinken held a meeting on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.

"We never accept the US's finger-pointing or even coercion targeting China-Russia relations," the foreign ministry said in a statement published after the meeting.

The United States, as a major power, should "work for a political settlement of the [Ukraine] crisis instead of fanning the flames or profiteering from the situation."

According to a January report by CNN, Washington raised concerns with China over evidence found that indicates that firms in Beijing are sending non-lethal military assistance to the Russian military fighting in Ukraine.

However, US officials claim that the military assistance is coming directly from China's government.

The officials noted that it is not yet clear whether the assistance violates existing sanctions, nor if the United States will adopt new sanctions on China, however, according to sources close to the Biden administration, Washington will not hold back on targeting those who violate Western sanctions on Russia.

China released on Friday a 12-point document titled "China's Position on the Political Settlement of the Ukraine Crisis," promoting, among other things, respecting the sovereignty of all countries, abandoning the Cold War mentality, ceasing hostilities, resuming peace talks, resolving the humanitarian crisis, protecting civilians and POWs, keeping nuclear power plants safe, reducing strategic risks, facilitating grain exports, stopping unilateral sanctions, keeping industrial and supply chains stable, and promoting post-conflict reconstruction.

Because the plan did not specify that Russia must withdraw its troops from Ukraine, the West said the 12-point document was an attempt to undermine Ukraine's sovereignty at Russia's expense. Beijing has already dismissed these claims as false. 

The document calls on all parties to "support Russia and Ukraine in working in the same direction and resuming direct dialogue as quickly as possible," as well as to refrain from using nuclear weapons.

The position paper is mostly a reiteration of China's previous position, which includes an appeal to both parties to resume peace talks. "Dialogue and negotiation are the only viable solution to the Ukraine crisis," it said, adding that China will play a "constructive role," without offering details.

The document also read that "the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of all countries must be effectively upheld."