Russia-Ukraine war: China warned of US sanctions for 'destabilising heart of Europe'

The United States on Wednesday (May 29) accused Chinese leadership of supporting Russia's war efforts in Ukraine that began in February 2022 when President Vladimir Putin launched an invasion of the former Soviet Republic. Washington warned that Beijing could face further sanctions from the US and its NATO alliesin response to its support for Russia.

Speaking to reporters on a visit to Brussels, US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell said there was an urgent need for European and NATO countries "to send a collective message of concern to China about its actions, which we view are destabilising in the heart of Europe."

The US sanction warning coincides with a summit in Beijing with Arab States where the Chinese leader Xi Jinping called for deepening energy cooperation with Arab states.

"China will further enhance strategic cooperation with the Arab side on oil and gas, and integrate supply security with market security," Xi said, according to a readout of his speech by the foreign ministry.

The Biden administration has stepped up warnings about China's support for Russia and issued an executive order last year in December that threatened sanctions on financial institutions helping Russia evade Western sanctions.

In Brussels, Campbell said he had briefed NATO's main political decision-making body, the North Atlantic Council (NAC), about the US concerns on Tuesday.

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Campbell alleged that Chinese support was helping Moscow reconstitute elements of its military, including long-range missile, artillery and drone capabilities, and its ability to track battlefield movements.

"What we have seen from China to Russia is not a one-off or a couple of rogue firms involved in supporting Russia," Campbell said. "This is a sustained, comprehensive effort that is backed up by the leadership in China that is designed to give Russia every support behind the scenes."

Campbell said the Chinese actions had created capacities for Russia not only on the battlefield in Ukraine, but to be "able to pose a strategic challenge to others in Europe".

"We see this as a matter of utmost urgency," he said.