EU warns China: As Beijing denied US claims that it was considering transferring armaments, the EU’s foreign policy leader on Monday urged Beijing not to give Russia weapons for its conflict with Ukraine.
At a meeting over the weekend, Josep Borrell claimed he told Wang Yi, China’s senior diplomat, that “for us, it would be a red line in our relationship.”
He informed me that they have no intention of carrying out their stated plan. Nonetheless, we’ll continue to be on the alert, Borrell said reporters before an EU foreign ministers meeting in Brussels.
China is reportedly “considering supplying deadly support” to Moscow, ranging “from ammunition to the weapons themselves,” according to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday.
Beijing, however, denounced the claims as “fake” and said that America was the one instigating the crisis by supporting the Ukrainian military.
Since Moscow began its invasion a year ago, the 27-nation EU has supported Ukraine, giving Kyiv billions of euros in financial help and arms.
Concerns about Beijing’s growing ties to Moscow and its refusal to categorically denounce the Kremlin’s aggression have been widely voiced in the EU.
While warning China, the EU was also considering ways to hasten the production and delivery of crucial weapons to support Kyiv’s fight.
Borrell promised that “we’ll do everything we can.” This is the most important matter; if we fail to address it, the outcome of the war is actually in jeopardy.
An initiative from Estonia could potentially result in the purchase of one million 155-millimeter shells for Ukraine, for a total of four billion euros (4.3 billion euros).
Ukraine is reportedly consuming more shells each month than the EU defence sector is currently capable of producing.