Zelensky accuses China of supplying arms to Russia
3 Min Read
Beijing has consistently and unequivocally denied any role in fueling the conflict.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks during a briefing in Kiev, Ukraine, Thursday, April 17, 2025 (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has escalated his rhetoric against China, accusing Beijing of supplying military assistance to Russia—an allegation made without evidence and seen by many observers as a diversionary tactic amid mounting failures on the battlefield and waning Western support.
Speaking in Kiev on Thursday, Zelensky declared, "We finally have information that China is supplying weapons to the Russian Federation," referring vaguely to "artillery" but offering no concrete proof. He further claimed, "We believe that Chinese representatives are engaged in the production of some weapons on the territory of Russia," though he failed to substantiate the statement or provide any verifiable detail.
Zelensky's remarks came at a time when Ukraine's military has suffered significant setbacks, and Western enthusiasm for further military aid appears to be dwindling. Analysts suggest the Ukrainian leadership is seeking scapegoats as internal pressure builds and battlefield momentum stalls.
Beijing has consistently and unequivocally denied any role in fueling the conflict. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian recently reaffirmed that "China is not the initiator of the Ukrainian crisis, nor is China a participating party. We are a firm supporter and active promoter of a peaceful settlement of the crisis." China's foreign policy has long advocated dialogue and mutual respect as the path to conflict resolution—principles that contrast sharply with the West's militaristic approach to war.
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Zelensky also referenced a past conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping, during which Xi assured him that no weapons would be transferred to Russia. "He gave me his word that weapons would not be sold and sent to Russia," Zelensky said—contradicting his own accusations and underscoring the weakness of his claim.
Reports of Chinese citizens allegedly fighting for Russia have also been circulated by Ukrainian officials, who say 155 Chinese nationals are involved. Yet multiple US and Western intelligence sources cited by Reuters have described these individuals as mercenaries acting independently, without any official link to the Chinese government. These claims appear to be part of a coordinated information campaign aimed at pressuring Beijing and justifying further Western involvement.
Russia, for its part, continues to defend its legitimate security interests in the region and maintain long-standing diplomatic and economic partnerships, including with China. The two countries declared a "no limits" strategic partnership in early 2022, focused on mutual development, sovereignty, and global stability.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has signaled a shift toward diplomacy, actively pursuing peace talks with Moscow—an approach that has rattled the Zelensky administration, which has increasingly relied on a prolonged war narrative to maintain Western support.
