Zelensky calls out Chinese support for Russia during surprise Singapore visit

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has condemned China for its support of Russia’s war in Ukraine during an unannounced visit to Singapore on Sunday.

At the Shangri-La Dialogue, a security forum for defence chiefs from across the Asia-Pacific region, including China and the US, Zelensky warned that China’s support for Russia would only make the war in Ukraine “last longer”, which he warned would be “bad for the whole world”.

While China has been at pains to appear neutral in the conflict, it has in fact massively strengthened its economic ties to Russia since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, cushioning the impact of Western sanctions. Zelensky said that China has also provided “elements of Russia’s weaponry” in the war.

Earlier on Sunday, Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun had categorically denied that China was sending weapons to either Russia or Ukraine in his address to the conference, and stressed that “strict controls” had been placed on the exports of dual-use technology, or components that have both civilian and military applications. “We have never done anything to fan the flames,” Jun said.

In his speech, Zelensky also encouraged Asian countries to send delegates to an international peace summit due to be held in Switzerland later this month. He said the peace conference, to which Russia was not invited after its officials indicated they were not interested in participating, would focus on avoiding nuclear conflict, food security and the release of prisoners and Ukrainian children held in Russia.

China announced last week that it would not send a delegate to the peace summit, which Zelensky said was proof that China was “an instrument in Putin’s hands.” He also said that China had joined Russia in its effort to undermine the conference and was “working hard” to keep other countries from attending.

Russia has been actively discouraging countries from attending, Zelensky said, adding that 106 countries had already pledged to send high-level representatives to the conference.