China is allegedly providing Russia with weapons and gunpowder, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
For the first time, he has publicly charged Beijing with providing direct backing for the invasion.
At a press conference, Mr. Zelenskyy added that his government had information that China was constructing weapons on Russian soil and that he would have further details to provide the following week.
China, the second-largest economy in the world, has attempted to look impartial in the Ukraine war despite its developing ties with Russia.
Zelenskyy made reference to artillery when he claimed, “We finally have information that China is supplying weapons to the Russian Federation.”
Mr. Zelenskyy publicly disclosed earlier this month that Ukraine had apprehended two Chinese nationals who were fighting for Russia, and he indicated last week that 155 Chinese people were fighting for the Russian military.
He claimed that Beijing officials were aware at the time that Russia was using social media to attract Chinese nationals.
Ukraine was attempting to determine whether the recruits were getting orders from Beijing, he added.
The State Department reports that Mr. Zelenskyy’s most recent remarks coincide with the arrival in Paris of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff to explore strategies for resolving the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
