China-Russia-Ukraine: May 2025
China and Russia pledge to deepen “no limits” partnership: In a joint statement ahead of Russia’s Victory Day military parade, Presidents Xi Jinping and Vladamir Putin outlined new avenues for China-Russia cooperation, including forthcoming economic, diplomatic, and military agreements. In individual statements, the two also used notable language condemning the United States’ “unilateralism, hegemonism, bullying, and coercive practices” and accusing “certain countries” of “attempting to tamper with the results of the victory of the second war.” Xi and Putin’s pledge to “strengthen coordination and jointly respond firmly to the United States’ policy of ‘dual containment’ against both countries” marks some of the strongest language used since the onset of the Russia-Ukraine war.
The statement given by both leaders underscored Russia’s firm support for “the measures taken by the Chinese government to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity and achieve national reunification,” a clear reference to Taiwan. In fact, both countries condemned U.S. foreign policy in the Indo-Pacific more harshly in that statement than in others, asserting, “The United States and its allies are trying to promote NATO’s eastward expansion into the Asia-Pacific region, build ‘small circles’ in the Asia-Pacific region, and win over countries in the region to promote their ‘Indo-Pacific strategy,’ undermining regional peace, stability and prosperity.” Xi and Putin even made appeals to international law, accusing the United States of “unilateral coercive measures, including economic sanctions, that bypass the UN security council, violate the UN Charter and other international laws, and undermine international security interests.”
Accompanying the joint statement was Putin’s announcement that he will visit China at the end of August and beginning of September for the commemoration of Japan’s defeat in World War II.
Despite language suggesting greater cooperation and coordination than in the past, analysts still note hesitancies on China-Russia relations. For example, China published a May 12 white paper on national security that did not use the phrase “alliance” but instead stated the relationship had “unique strategic value”: “China-Russia relations have strong endogenous driving force and unique strategic value. They are non-confrontational and not directed against any third party, and are not affected by any third party, nor are they interfered with or coerced by external parties.”
After four hours of talks, “friends of steel” ink deals expanding economic, diplomatic, military, and cultural ties: On May 8, Xi and Putin agreed to deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership between both countries, signing “a solid package of documents.” Putin added, “Mr. Xi Jinping and I have set ambitious goals.” Both countries signed nearly three dozen agreements, ranging from enhancing interbank ties and expanding settlements in national currencies to strengthening cooperation in education and the arts and student youth exchanges. The two set lofty goals for 2030, including increasing trade in high-tech goods and expanding mineral resources processing.
Deals to expand interbank ties and settlements in national currencies suggest Russia is acknowledging the economic asymmetry between the two countries. Those deals reference expansion of yuan-based trade settlement and supply-chain coordination with China. By the end of May, thirty Russian banks had connected to the national Chinese bank transfer system, the Cross-Border Interbank Payment System, which facilitates payments in Yuan.
China and Russia expand cooperation in liquified natural gas (LNG) projects: Chinese and Russian leaders held talks about increased Chinese involvement in Russian LNG projects. According to Russian Energy Minister Sergei Tsivilev, both parties discussed opportunities for Chinese companies to enter projects in Ust-Luga, Russia, among other locations. Discussions built on an already robust and growing energy cooperation relationship between China and Russia. For example, the China National Petroleum Corporation and Silk Road Fund hold stakes in Russia’s Yamal LNG project, and the China National Offshore Oil Corporation is involved in the Arctic LNG-2 project. Russian officials have previously expressed support for Chinese companies participating in the construction of an LNG plant in Ust-Luga.
China and Russia also resumed talks on the proposed Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline, slated to channel fifty billion cubic meters of Russian gas annually from Yamal in northwest Siberia through Mongolia and into China. Negotiations hit roadblocks in the past due to discrepancies in urgency. For Russia, striking a deal has been of vital importance, as the Kremlin is increasingly dependent on sales to China. Beijing, on the other hand, has sought to diversify energy sources to protect against geoeconomic tumult. Now, with sanctions, tariffs, and broader trade headwinds complicating energy and adjacent markets, cheaper gas has been a priority for China. In practice, that means China is entertaining a higher sale price in negotiations than it previously considered. The Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline is especially pressing, as Russia expects to ship only thirty-eight billion cubic meters of pipeline gas to China this year.
China aiding Russian military industry, says Ukrainian intelligence agency: On May 26, Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service disclosed that China is aiding Russian military industry by supplying materials to Russian military factories. In an interview with Ukrinform, Oleh Ivashchenko, the intelligence agency’s head, said that “China supplies tooling machines, special chemical products, gunpowder, and components specifically to defense manufacturing industries.” A report released by the agency confirms data on twenty Russian factories receiving Chinese aid, as well as at least five cases of aircraft industry cooperation between China and Russia in the last year. Moreover, the agency found that 80 percent of critical electronic components used in Russian drones were of Chinese origin, and that China is supplying chemicals, gunpowder, and components to twenty Russian military-industrial manufacturing facilities across the country.
Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Services’ decision to release that information comes after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused China of providing direct military assistance to Russia’s arms industry last month. Ukraine also imposed sanctions targeting Chinese-based entities involved in producing Russian drones and missiles.
China denied the allegations that it supplies Russian defense factories. On May 27, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said, “China has never supplied lethal weapons to any party to the conflict and strictly controls dual-use goods. Ukraine understands this well. China resolutely opposes groundless accusations and political manipulation.” Ukraine’s accusations are the most specific claims on the nature of bilateral military support China is providing to Russia, stating clear evidence for “product substitutions,” “deceptive product names,” “shell companies,” and other data points.
Zelenskyy accuses China of curbing drone sales to Europe, Ukraine: On May 29, Zelenskyy charged China with cutting drone sales to the West, adding “Chinese Mavic is open for Russians but is closed for Ukrainians.” He also said that “there are production lines on Russian territory where there are Chinese representatives.” Reports released in May confirm that China curtailed the delivery of drones and drone parts—including magnets, motors, and other key components—to Western buyers. European officials confirmed that China decreased deliveries to Western buyers of drone components while increasing deliveries to Russia. China’s Foreign Ministry issued a issued a statement in response to those allegations, saying, “China’s stance on the Ukraine Issue has been consistent and clear: we have been committed to stopping the war and promoting peace talks.” The spokesperson added, “China has never provided any side with lethal weapons and strictly controls dual-use items.” Other outlets have reported extensively on Chinese and Russian companies cooperating to develop attack drones.
China and Russia sign a deal to build a power plant on the moon: A memorandum of cooperation released by the Kremlin shows China and Russia will construct a nuclear power plant on the moon by 2035. The nuclear reactor will support a jointly developed International Lunar Research Station that will be built by 2036. The reactor’s construction will likely be carried out autonomously, according to Russia’s space agency, Roscosmos, and the China National Space Administration. Coincidentally, NASA revealed a 2026 budget proposal that axes the agency’s plan for a lunar base.
The decision to cooperate on a nuclear power plant come after both countries criticized Trump’s proposed Golden Iron Dome missile defense system for being “deeply destabilizing” and turning outer space into an arena for high-tech military competition.
European diplomats warn of growing China-Russia relationship: Kaja Kallas, vice president of the European Commission, warned that the world should be “extremely worried” about China-Russia cooperation. Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue, a global security conference in Singapore, Kallas called China-Russia collaboration “the greatest challenge of our time.” She added, “When China and Russia speak of leading together changes not seen in a hundred years and of revisions of the global security order, we should all be extremely worried.” Both Kallas and French President Emmanuel Macron called on China to stop North Korean troops from deploying alongside Russian forces in Ukraine.
Europe’s warnings happened several days after the European Union accused China of being responsible for roughly 80 percent of the circumventions of sanctions against Russia. The Chinese Embassy in Berlin declined to comment on the allegations.
