Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused China of helping Russia build weapons by sending equipment and materials that support its war effort. He urged Beijing to stop such actions and instead use its influence to convince Moscow to end the war in Ukraine.
Speaking in Kyiv during a meeting with Dutch Foreign Minister David van Wiel, President Zelenskyy said he had earlier spoken with Chinese President Xi Jinping, who assured him that China would not supply weapons to Russia. However, Zelenskyy said recent developments show that China has not kept that promise.
“We had telephone conversations with Xi Jinping. He assured me that weapons would not be sold to the Russians,” Zelenskyy said. “But we see that China gave machine tools for weapons to the Russian Federation. We see that China helps to avoid sanctions. We also see Chinese fighters who have joined the war against our soldiers.”
The Ukrainian leader said China should play a positive role by pressuring Russia to stop its aggression rather than supporting its military activities. He added that continuing such actions only worsens the conflict and prolongs the suffering of Ukrainians.
Zelenskyy’s statement came just days before U.S. President Donald Trump’s scheduled meeting with President Xi in South Korea on October 30. Trump said he plans to discuss the war in Ukraine with the Chinese leader, urging him to use his influence over Russian President Vladimir Putin and to stop buying Russian oil.
China has repeatedly denied supplying weapons to Russia but continues to face criticism from Western countries for providing equipment that can serve both military and civilian purposes. Analysts say these “dual-use” items, such as industrial machinery and electronic parts, have helped Russia maintain its weapons production despite international sanctions.
Zelenskyy’s remarks reflect growing concern in Kyiv that China’s indirect support could make it harder to bring the conflict to an end. He called on Beijing to act responsibly and help restore peace rather than deepen the crisis.
