China has offered Ukraine humanitarian energy assistance, although a senior US official said Beijing had the power to stop Russia's invasion but decided not to.
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“China could call Putin and stop this war tomorrow by cutting off the dual-use technologies they’re selling to Russia,” U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker said during a panel discussion on U.S. foreign policy at the Munich Security Conference, moderated by Bloomberg. “China could stop buying Russian oil and gas. You know, this war is completely China-led,” Fox News reported.
Whitaker's remarks came after Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga on the sidelines of the conference and pledged what both sides called humanitarian energy assistance to help Ukraine cope with ongoing Russian attacks on its energy infrastructure.
Sybiga wrote on social media that he was grateful to China for its decision to provide an additional energy aid package. Reports from Kyiv and Beijing described the meeting as focused on peace efforts, bilateral ties and support for Ukraine's energy system, which has repeatedly been targeted by Russian missile and nuclear attacks.
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Beijing has repeatedly said it seeks a constructive role in resolving the crisis and maintains that it is not a party to the conflict. Chinese officials deny providing lethal military aid to Moscow and say they support dialogue and a political settlement.
However, American officials are increasingly calling China Russia's most important external mediator.
Whitaker said in Munich that China provides “decisive support” to Russian aggression.
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Moscow depends on China for critical parts and components used in drones and other military equipment, Western officials say, even as Beijing publicly distances itself from direct arms supplies.
China and Russia have deepened their partnership since the start of the war, expanding trade and financial cooperation.
In January, Chinese ports unloaded about 1.65 million barrels of crude oil per day — the highest level since March 2024 and the second-highest monthly figure since Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
These purchases provide Moscow with a critical revenue stream as Western governments try to limit Russia's war funding through sanctions and price caps.
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By maintaining diplomatic channels with Ukraine and offering humanitarian aid, Beijing maintains its position in potential negotiations on post-war reconstruction, even as its economic ties with Moscow deepen.
For European governments considering additional measures against Chinese organizations accused of supplying dual-use goods to Russia, Beijing's humanitarian activities complicate the diplomatic picture.
Earlier, political scientist Vadym Denysenko's opinion was reported about a very bad signal for our country. He believes that the war in Ukraine is beneficial for Europeans.