On the one-year anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, reports have surfaced that China is considering supplying Russian military forces with drones and artillery. U.S. officials have gathered intelligence on the matter, suggesting Beijing and Russia are in negotiations about the price and scale of the exchange. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has commented on the potential aid, saying U.S. intelligence believes China could provide “lethal aid” to Russia, including “everything from ammunition to the weapons themselves.” China has denied the claims and said they are “firmly stand on the side of dialogue and peace.”
However, Russian customs data has indicated that 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. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said Ukraine will win the war against Russia with the help of its western allies and praised Ukrainians for withstanding “shelling, cluster bombs, cruise missiles, kamikaze drones, blackouts and cold” over the past 12 months.
The Biden Administration has announced 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. In addition, the White House has announced two separate aid packages, totalling $12 billion, to Ukraine that include military aid, financial support to the Ukrainian government and assistance for its power grid and infrastructure.