China May Provide Artillery And Drones To Russia—Despite Public Calls For Peace Deal

Topline

China is considering supplying Russian military forces with drones and artillery in its war with Ukraine, multiple outlets reported Friday on the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, amid fears Russia could wage a large-scale attack to mark the second year of the war.

Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the … [+] Communist Party of China CPC Central Committee and director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, in Moscow, Russia, Feb. 22, 2022. (Photo by Cao Yang/Xinhua via Getty Images)

Xinhua News Agency via Getty Images

Key Facts

U.S. officials have gathered intelligence suggesting Beijing and Russia are currently in negotiations about the price and scale of the exchange, sources told CNN.

The weapons could be used to help Russian forces battle a Ukrainian counteroffensive expected this summer, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing U.S. officials who are familiar with the intelligence.

Chinese leadership began seriously considering Russia’s repeated requests for ammunition and drones over the past several months, according to CNN sources, though it’s unclear why Beijing recently became open to the deal.

Details about the potential aid come after Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in an interview with CBS News on Sunday that U.S. intelligence believes China could provide “lethal aid” to Russia, including “everything from ammunition to the weapons themselves.”

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin denied Blinken’s claims earlier in the week and said Beijing “will continue to firmly stand on the side of dialogue and peace.”

What To Watch For

U.S. and Ukrainian officials warn that Russia could wage a new offensive against Ukraine as it enters the second year of the war. Putin is “not preparing for peace,” but for “more war,” NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Friday. Russia has escalated attacks along Ukraine’s eastern, southern and northern borders in recent days and shelled dozens of towns and cities on Friday.

Key Background

China has sought to fortify its relationship with Russia even as Beijing claims it is advocating for peace talks. Chinese and Russian leaders touted the strength of their alliance earlier this week following a meeting between Chinese diplomat Wang Yi, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow, though Russian officials said that there was no talk of a peace plan. Meanwhile, the Biden Administration marked the one-year anniversary of the war in Ukraine by announcing new sanctions against Russia’s metal and mining sector and financial institutions, along with sanctions against 200 Russian individuals in cooperation with the G-7 countries. The White House also announced two separate aid packages, totalling $12 billion, to Ukraine on Friday that include military aid, financial support to the Ukrainian government and assistance for its power grid and infrastructure.

Tangent

Russian customs data shows China’s state-owned defense companies have already sent tens of thousands of shipments to Russia’s military, including military technology, navigation equipment and parts for fighter jets, The Wall Street Journal reported earlier this month.

Crucial Quote

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Friday his country would win the war against Russia this year, but only with the help of its western allies. Zelensky commended Ukrainians for withstanding ““shelling, cluster bombs, cruise missiles, kamikaze drones, blackouts and cold” over the past 12 months and said “we will do everything to gain victory this year.”