China Affirms Continued Support for Russia on the Ukrainian Issue

Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun stated that Beijing will continue to support Moscow regarding the Ukrainian issue, despite American pressures and the threats faced by defense cooperation between China and the European Union, according to the "Novosti" agency. During talks with his Russian counterpart Sergey Shoigu, he said, "We have supported you on the Ukrainian issue, even though the United States and Europe continue to pressure China. Even defense cooperation between China and the European Union is under attack, but we will not change or abandon our existing policies because of that. They should not and cannot interfere in the normal Russian-Chinese cooperation." He pointed out that "the United States and other Western countries have tried in recent years to isolate Russia, and China understands this and is attempting to provide strong support to the Russian Federation." Dong Jun emphasized that "as the most important and main powers in the world, we must respond decisively to comprehensive global challenges." The negotiations between the defense ministers of the Russian Federation and China took place via video conference on Wednesday.