Ukraine war: at G7, Blinken seeks European support to pressure China over alleged support for Russia
- At G7 meeting in Italy, a US official said China is ‘contributing to Russia’s ability to prosecute’ the Ukraine war in ways that threaten all of Europe
- US pressure comes as Secretary of State Blinken prepares to visit China, a trip Washington says will take place in the ‘coming weeks’
The United States urged European powers to increase pressure on China at a G7 foreign ministers meeting in Italy on Thursday, as Washington accuses Beijing of helping Russia’s military expansion.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who arrived on the Italian resort island of Capri on Wednesday, raised his concerns during a working session devoted to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, according to a US diplomatic source.
China is “contributing to Russia’s ability to prosecute” the war in ways that threaten all of Europe, a senior US official told reporters on condition of anonymity.
“In creating this industrial base they are expanding Russia’s ability to produce equipment, produce munitions, and it ought to give one pause about what that capacity is going to be” later, he said.
There is a “growing awareness” of the challenges linked to China’s support and the warning is expected to appear in the final communique on Friday, the official added.
On Thursday, after meeting Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, Blinken stressed the “urgent” need to step up support for Ukraine, after another Russian strike on Wednesday left 18 people dead.
