Ukraine has evidence of China supplying Russia with weapons, Zelensky says

Ukraine has intelligence that shows China is supplying artillery and gunpowder to Russia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday.

“We have finally received information that China is supplying weapons to the Russian Federation,” Zelensky said at a press conference in Kyiv.

“We believe that Chinese representatives are engaged in the production of some weapons on the territory of Russia ,” he said.

He did not specify whether he meant artillery systems or shells.

The allegation is likely to upend relations between Kyiv and Beijing , already strained by Ukraine’s making public its capture of Chinese nationals fighting for Russia.

Liu Pengyu, a spokesman for the Chinese embassy in Washington, said in a statement on Thursday night that China “has not – and will not – provide weapons to any party involved in the conflict. This position has been consistent and clear”.