Zelenskyy Accuses China of Political Alignment with Russia, Warns of North Korean Risks in East

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed sharp disappointment with China’s diplomatic stance regarding the ongoing war, asserting that Beijing is not maintaining neutrality but remains politically aligned with Moscow.

"It is regrettable that China is not on our side in this war. It is not even about weapons, but about political will," Zelenskyy remarked during an interview with Japanese public broadcaster NHK.

According to the Ukrainian leader, China possesses the political leverage necessary to help bring an end to the conflict. However, he emphasized that Beijing does not occupy an impartial middle ground, stating it remains "more connected with Russia."

Zelenskyy also pointed to the prevalence of Chinese-manufactured components integrated into Russian military hardware. While confirming he lacks evidence pointing to direct shipments of finished Chinese missiles, he noted that substantial quantities of dual-use electronic components originating from China are consistently recovered from Russian missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles.

Turning to military ties between Moscow and Pyongyang, Zelenskyy stated that North Korea has deployed tens of thousands of personnel to active combat zones, allowing its forces to gain practical experience in modern, high-intensity warfare. He warned that the strategic ramifications of this partnership extend well beyond European battlefields, directly undermining the broader security architecture of East Asia.

Against this backdrop, Zelenskyy voiced Kyiv’s strong interest in expanding bilateral defense technology cooperation with Tokyo, identifying cybersecurity frameworks and advanced drone technologies as primary avenues for strategic partnership.

While Moscow and Beijing formally define their ties as a "no-limits" strategic partnership, Chinese officials consistently assert that Beijing is not a belligerent party in the war and continues to promote diplomatic resolutions.