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EU urges China to halt material support for Russia’s war machine

July 25, 2025
2 mins read
EU urges China to halt material support for Russia’s war machine
EU urges China to halt material support for Russia’s war machine

At the EU–China summit in Beijing on July 24, European leaders called on China to use its influence over Russia to help end the war against Ukraine. Top officials from Brussels urged Beijing to refrain from providing any material support that could reinforce Russia’s military-industrial base and enable its continued aggression.

European Council President António Costa appealed to the Chinese government to play a constructive role in stopping the war. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen added a direct call for Beijing to avoid transferring dual-use goods or technologies that could contribute to Russia’s military capabilities.

EU warns of China’s indirect support for Russian aggression

During the summit, the EU highlighted that any material or technological assistance to Russia — even if not directly weaponized — would violate the principles of international law and undermine global stability. European leaders emphasized that shipments of North Korean military aid to Russia already pose serious threats not only to European but also East Asian security.

They also warned that by supporting Russia through economic, logistical or technological means, China risks enabling Moscow to prolong its invasion. Despite publicly distancing itself from the conflict, Beijing has continued deepening ties with Moscow, bolstering Russian resilience against sanctions through expanded trade, energy imports and industrial cooperation.

Brussels questions China’s neutrality

As noted in an iPress report, EU officials reiterated that China’s actions contradict its stated neutrality. Instead of using its leverage to de-escalate the war, Beijing has leveraged the conflict to gain concessions in EU-China relations — notably on trade terms and political positions on issues like Taiwan. EU sources noted that China is simultaneously pursuing deeper market access in Europe while weakening the bloc’s internal consensus on sanctions and defense posture.

The European side underlined that, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China bears unique responsibility to uphold the UN Charter and international order — principles blatantly violated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

China resists pressure, calls for “strategic decisions”

Responding to the EU’s appeal, the Chinese leadership stressed the need for “correct strategic decisions” and reiterated its position that cooperation with Russia is not directed against third parties. However, EU analysts view Beijing’s diplomatic and economic engagement with Moscow as a strategic hedge against Western influence — one that poses risks to the rules-based international order.

Although China has avoided supplying arms directly, it has facilitated Russia’s defense production through the export of critical components, such as dual-use electronics, drone technology and machinery. These measures — while formally within legal boundaries — effectively bolster Russia’s ability to wage a prolonged war, EU officials warned.

By promoting rhetoric around a “multipolar world” and rejecting “bloc thinking,” China positions itself as a counterweight to the West, while implicitly legitimizing Russia’s claims about needing security guarantees. This narrative, the EU argues, blurs international condemnation of Russian aggression and obstructs efforts to isolate the Kremlin diplomatically and economically.

Concerns mount over circumvention of sanctions

The EU is increasingly concerned that the growing China–Russia economic relationship is undermining coordinated international sanctions. Expanded energy exports from Russia to China provide the Kremlin with a crucial financial lifeline, while shared production chains offer pathways to bypass restrictions on military-industrial components.

European diplomats fear that this dynamic not only extends the duration of the war in Ukraine, but also destabilizes the broader international system. The message from Brussels was unequivocal: China cannot maintain a position of neutrality while supporting, directly or indirectly, a regime that has launched a war of conquest on European soil.

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