“Now, as the Kremlin is engaged in intense bargaining with the United States over a ‘settlement’ of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Xi Jinping’s presence at the May 9 Victory Day parade in Moscow provides Putin with an opportunity not only to showcase Beijing’s political backing — but to secure it.

In reality, China’s stance will significantly influence the Kremlin’s readiness either to embark on a peace process or, conversely, to continue the war. This is tied to the need for consistent political, diplomatic, and — most importantly — economic support from Beijing.

Russia’s economic dependence forces the Kremlin to concede to China in many areas, and the continuation of its military adventurism against Ukraine directly depends on Beijing’s willingness to sustain the Russian war machine.”

Nataliya Butyrska, Associated Senior Fellow at the New Europe Center, analyzes China’s role in Russia’s war against Ukraine in the Mirror of the Week. She highlights Beijing’s increasingly visible involvement in Moscow’s diplomatic and information efforts and stresses the need for a critical reassessment of China’s so-called neutrality.

More via the link here (Ukrainian).