‘Without China, Russia is nothing’: Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Beijing could pressure Moscow to end war; criticizes silence

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told the UN Security Council on Tuesday that China has the potential to pressure Russia to end the war, following US calls for Beijing to halt its oil purchases from Moscow.“China is also represented here, a powerful nation on which Russia now depends completely,” Zelensky told the council, noting China’s status as a permanent member.“If China truly wanted this war to stop, it could compel Moscow to end the invasion. Without China, Putin’s Russia is nothing. Yet too often China stays silent and distant instead of active for peace.”Although China is not directly involved in the conflict, Kyiv has long criticized Beijing for providing Moscow with goods that could support its war effort and for continuing to purchase Russian energy.Beijing firmly denies providing Russia with materials for its military campaign in Ukraine and positions itself as a neutral mediator willing to assist in resolving the conflict.“Since the first day of the crisis, China has been upholding an objective, impartial position calling for a cessation of hostilities and advocating for peace talks towards a political settlement,” deputy Chinese ambassador to the UN Geng Shuang said.Zelenskyy had earlier dismissed the possibility of China acting as a security guarantor in any future peace agreement with Russia to end the war in Ukraine.“Why is China not in the guarantees? First, China did not help us stop this war from the beginning,” Zelenskyy was quoted as saying by the Kyiv Post. “Secondly, China helped Russia by opening the drone market,” he added.Zelenskyy also reiterated his assertion that, according to information collected by his government, Chinese nationals are allegedly involved in fighting on behalf of Russia.The US has also accused China of helping Russia make weapons, armored vehicles, and missiles, and of allowing technology like computer chips and drones, which can be used for both civilian and military purposes, to be sent to Russia.Despite close political and economic ties with Russia, China has presented itself as neutral in the conflict and denies supplying Moscow with military equipment, as cited by the BBC.