Russia’s hopes to secure a boost in military provision from China have reportedly crumbled amid Beijing’s concerns surrounding “secondary sanctions” from the United States. Since Ukraine was invaded in February, President Zelensky has received ample military aid from allies in Europe and America; by comparison, President Putin has remained largely isolated from international support. As a deal with China appears to have fallen flat, US intelligence reports that the Kremlin has turned to North Korea to buy millions of rockets and other artillery supplies.
Speaking on CNBC, security strategist and former CIA officer Matthew Kroenig analysed China’s decisions to pull back on support for Russia.
He said: “What China is really worried about is not the court of world opinion on this, I think they are worried about the United States secondary sanctions.
“They are worried that if they are seen as directly supporting Russia, that they could become victim to US sanctions and they want to avoid that.”
The US, like Europe, has already imposed strict sanctions on Russia as a consequence of President Putin’s “special military operation” in Ukraine.
Newly declassified American intelligence suggests President Putin has moved to fill Russia’s void of artillery with military equipment from North Korea.
Mr Kroenig said: “I think this shows that US sanctions are working and Russia really have joined the ranks of the world’s worst rogue states.
“Russia is out of munitions, it can’t get the munitions from other countries, even China is refusing to help Russia’s military effort.”
He suggested President Putin’s negotiations for military equipment had grown increasingly desperate as he added: “It shows that Russia is at the end of its rope.”
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