Ukraine has information that shows that China provides weapons to Russia, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday, when he announced significant progress towards a mineral agreement with the United States.
“We believe that Chinese representatives are engaged in the production of certain weapons in the territory of Russia,” he told journalists in kyiv.
He did not specify if he meant artillery or shell systems.
The allegation is likely to continue relations between kyiv and Beijing following the capture of Chinese nationals who fight for Russia. China has so far attempted to maintain an external perception of neutrality in the three -year war caused by the invasion of Russia on a large scale of Ukraine.
Ukraine has already called China to use its influence on Russia to push it towards peace.
“We already have facts on this work of China and Russia to strengthen their defense capacities,” said Mr. Zelensky, expressing his dismay when he said that Chinese President Xi Jinping had promised him that Beijing would not sell or provide weapons to Moscow.
Meanwhile, he said that Ukraine and the United States were about to sign an intention protocol on the mineral agreement negotiated by the two countries.
Donald Trump was pressure for an agreement that would allow the United States to have privileged access to natural resources and critical minerals from Ukraine in what it throws as a reimbursement for military aid provided by Washington to Ukraine under the previous presidency of Joe Biden.
The Ukrainian delegation went to Washington at the end of last week for negotiations after the Trump administration offered a larger new agreement. The initial framework agreement that has been agreed has never been signed.
“This is a protocol of intention. And we have positive and constructive intentions,” said Zelensky.
He added that the offer to sign the memorandum before the full agreement, which would require ratification in the Ukrainian parliament, came from the American side.
The Minister of the Economy of Ukraine said that Kyiv and Washington had made significant progress while discussing the agreement.
Meanwhile, European and Ukrainian officials launched a day of talks in Paris to plead the Kyiv case to the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Mr. Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff.
Diplomacy reflects the growing concerns of Europe against the openings of the White House towards Moscow, after the failure of Mr. Trump to organize a cease-fire in the three-year-old Ukraine war so far.
Trump, who said that he was aiming to end the Ukraine war quickly, said he was frustrated by Moscow and kyiv, even if his administration has moved rhetoric to the Russian story of the conflict.
Ukraine accepted a proposal from Trump last month for a cease-fire, which Russia rejected. The parties have agreed that the limits of the attacks on energy targets and at sea, which both accuse to rape.
Reuters and Associated Press contributed to this report.
