Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba asserted that China pledged not to supply weapons to Russia, a claim he shared during an interview with the Financial Times. He described Beijing as being cautious and deliberate, choosing to test the waters to determine what role, if any, it might play in the ongoing conflict. According to Kuleba, China is leveraging a moment of strategic weakness in Russia to press for concessions that could advance Beijing’s own interests, shaping a more favorable balance of power in its favor. He emphasized that the assurances from Chinese leadership appear to indicate a clear stance against arming Moscow, a point he regards as significant given the broader regional dynamics and the potential implications for international security architecture. (Finance Times)
Kuleba further noted that Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang had reaffirmed to him that Beijing would refrain from supplying arms to Moscow. This reassurance comes amid close scrutiny from Western allies regarding China’s possible support for Russia and the effects such support could have on the trajectory of the war and global stability. The Ukrainian minister framed China’s position as a strategic posture rather than a definitive pledge, suggesting that Beijing seeks to preserve room for maneuver while signaling restraint. (Finance Times)
Earlier developments included statements from NATO officials indicating that Beijing had not provided weapons to Russia, a claim publicly echoed by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg when presenting the alliance’s latest annual report on his official social media channel. Stoltenberg said NATO possessed information indicating that Russia had sought assistance from China and that Beijing was weighing that request. This characterization underscores the intense interest within NATO and allied capitals about China’s possible influence on the conflict and the international response it could provoke. (NATO briefing)
At the same time, Stoltenberg highlighted a trend of growing proximity between Russia and China across multiple dimensions, including economic ties, military cooperation, and strategic alignment on several global issues. The alliance views this convergence as a meaningful shift in the security landscape, one that could affect deterrence calculations, supply chains, and geopolitical stability for North America and allied partners. Observers stress that the evolving relationship between Moscow and Beijing adds complexity to diplomatic efforts, with many urging cautious engagement by Western capitals to deter further escalation while seeking to uphold international law and support for Ukraine. (NATO briefing)