China is ramping up support for Putin's war in Ukraine by supplying tank ... trends now
China has increased its support for Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine by sending military equipment to Russia, American officials have said.
The alarm was sounded as the Kremlin's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov arrived in China for an official visit on Monday, his ministry said, with the two countries looking to strengthen diplomatic ties as Russia's invasion of Ukraine grinds on.
US officials anonymously told Bloomberg that Beijing has sent rifle scopes, tank components, rocket fuel and satellite images to Russia.
They also said that China was providing 'geospatial intelligence' to Moscow to help in its war in Ukraine, as well as sending propellants used in missile production, microelectronics and turbojet engines - bypassing Western sanctions on Russia.
The publication added that it had been told US secretary of state Anthony Blinken had briefed European allies this week on China's ramped-up support.
China has increased its support for Vladimir Putin 's war in Ukraine by sending military equipment to Russia, American officials have said. Pictured: A Russian missile launcher fires rockets in the direction of Ukrainian troops in this image released on April 4
Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a meeting at the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing, China, October 18, 2023. Moscow and Beijing declared a 'no limits' partnership in February 2022 when Putin visited Beijing just days before Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine
Putin has regularly courted Chinese support since before he launched the invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022.
Western nations regularly urge Beijing to play a greater role in restoring peace in Ukraine by using its influence over the Kremlin.
While China sees itself as a neutral party in the Ukraine conflict, it has become Russia's leading trade partner in the last two years and favours a political settlement to end the fighting - offering a lifeline to Russia's economy in the face of sanctions.
However, it has appeared reluctant to actively prop up the Russian president's armies who suffered a series of defeats in the first year of the war.
With Moscow's forces now making gains in the east of Ukraine, this appears to have changed - based on the briefing from US officials.
With Putin's forces out-gunning Kyiv's armies, Russian forces are on the offensive.
Ukraine warned on Friday that a key frontline town was coming under 'constant fire' from advancing troops as Moscow said it had captured another small village.
The Ukrainian town of Chasiv Yar in the eastern Donetsk region appears to be their next major target. Both Ukrainian and Russian military bloggers with links to the armed forces said Friday
