Ukraine bans Chinese firms for helping Russia make missiles

KYIV - Ukraine imposed sanctions on three Chinese companies on April 18 claiming they were involved in production of advanced Iskander missiles, a day after President Volodymyr Zelenskiy alleged that

China had been supplying weapons to Russia

.

China’s foreign ministry earlier on April 18 dismissed Mr Zelensky’s accusation as groundless. While maintaining close economic ties with Russia during Moscow’s three-year war in Ukraine, China has sought to project an image of neutrality and denies any involvement in the war.

Mr Zelensky’s administration on April 18 published an updated list of sanctioned entities. The list, which also includes Russian companies, named Beijing Aviation And Aerospace Xianghui Technology, Rui Jin Machinery, and Zhongfu Shenying Carbon Fiber Xining, all described as registered in China.

Mr Zelensky said that the Chinese companies hit with sanctions were involved in the production of Russian Iskander missiles. Russia widely uses the nuclear-capable short-range ballistic missile system in the conflict.

On April 18, Ukraine said Iskander missiles had struck Kharkiv, a city in northern Ukraine, killing one and injuring more than 100 people.

“Today, we have expanded our Ukrainian sanctions against nearly a hundred more entities - natural and legal persons - most of whom are involved in the production of such missiles - Iskanders - like those that struck our Kharkiv,” Mr Zelensky said in a statement on X.

“Many of these entities are Russian, but unfortunately, some are also from China,” he said.

Sanctions ban companies from doing business in Ukraine and freeze their assets there.

Ukraine exported US$8 billion (S$10.5 billion) worth of goods to China in 2021, mostly raw materials and agricultural products, while it imported from China just under US$11 billion, mainly in manufactured goods, according to the Ukrainian government.

On April 17, Mr Zelensky told reporters in Kyiv his government had evidence that Chinese firms were supplying what he described as artillery and gunpowder to Russia, and that Chinese entities are making some weapons on Russian soil.

He did not offer any evidence for the assertion.

A week earlier, Mr Zelensky had said

Chinese nationals were fighting on Russia’s side

in the war with Ukraine, including two who had been taken prisoner. A Chinese diplomat was summoned to the Ukrainian foreign ministry to provide an explanation.

Ukrainian and US officials later said the men had signed up to fight of their own free will for money. REUTERS