With reports from the U.S. government that China is considering selling arms to Russia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed that such a move could spark World War III.
Zelensky said that it is important for China to take a “pragmatic” stance because “if it allies with Russia, there will be a world war, and China is aware of that”
U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said that China is actively considering providing lethal aid to Russia, including weapons and ammunition. However, Ukraine’s leader appears dismissive of these claims. In an interview with German daily Die Welt, Zelensky said that there were no indications that China would provide military assistance to Russia.
Zelensky said he really wants China to stand by Ukraine, but he does not think that is possible “at this moment.” He indicated that China could play a role as a supporter of Kyiv’s so-called 10-point peace plan, above all in guaranteeing nuclear security, together with the U.S. and some EU member states.
Zelensky stressed that it would be “useless” to engage in dialogue with Russia because Ukraine cannot change Russia’s attitude. In Russia, “they have decided to isolate themselves from the rest of the world and dream of rebuilding the old Soviet empire,” and “we can do nothing about that.” He claimed that change can only come from the Russian side.
“It is up to them to cooperate with the community of nations on the basis of mutual respect,” said Zelensky.
He said that when economic sanctions were imposed on Russia, Ukraine was accused of trying to isolate Russia, whereas the reverse was true: Zelensky said that it was Russian President Vladimir Putin who isolated his country in the international community by launching a war against Ukraine.
He also said that Putin will not achieve his goal of “rebuilding the Soviet Union.”
He continued by saying millions of Poles “do not want Russian troops in their country,” and Putin “will not be able to tell the Slovaks what to do.” He cannot occupy Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania, and he cannot invade Ukraine.
“We don’t want to be conquered, we don’t want to be part of the Soviet Union, and we don’t want to be part of the Russian Federation,” Volodymyr Zelensky said, underlining that this was not just three or four Ukrainians saying this, but 40 million.
