Russia’s ambassador to the United Kingdom, Andrei Kelin, stated in an interview with Al Jazeera that Beijing does not supply military aid to Moscow and has no plans to do so. He emphasized that China officially maintains that it does not provide military support to Russia, and he asserted there is no credible evidence that contradicts this position. Kelin argued that Russia possesses a robust military-industrial complex and does not rely on foreign arms shipments to sustain its defense capabilities. He stressed that the alliance between Moscow and Beijing does not hinge on external arms transfers, pointing to Russia’s own production capacity and strategic autonomy in defense matters.
Separately, remarks by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, made at a press conference in New Delhi following a G20 Foreign Ministers meeting, warned that any Chinese military assistance to Russia linked to an operation would trigger sanctions. His comments underscored Washington’s posture that outside support would face significant consequences under existing sanctions regimes and allied policies.
In Europe, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz also asserted that China is not supplying weapons to Russia. He added that peace in Ukraine would remain elusive if Western weapon flows were halted, signaling a belief that a broader peace process requires continued engagement from Western and European partners while avoiding unilateral escalations.
The evolving discussions reflect ongoing tensions over arms dynamics in the conflict, with Western officials and their allies urging restraint and accountability, while Moscow continues to highlight its military self-sufficiency. Analysts monitor how these statements influence diplomatic channels, defense planning, and international sanctions regimes as the conflict persists.