The EU warns China that the delivery of arms to Russia is a "red line"

BRUSELAS, 20 Feb. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Policy, Josep Borrell, has sent a warning message to China on Monday, assuring that the delivery of arms to Russia would be crossing a "red line" in relations.

In statements prior to the meeting of EU foreign ministers, Borrell has stated that he had a conversation with the Chinese State Councilor, Wang Yi, at the Munich security conference in which he warned that this step would be a " Red line".

"I expressed not only our concern but the fact that for us it would be a red line in our relationship. He told me that they are not going to do it, that they are not going to do it, but we are going to be vigilant," the High Representative said about the possibility that Beijing will help Moscow militarily in the context of the war in Ukraine, a scenario that the United States has warned about, whose Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, said that China is studying the possibility of supplying weapons and ammunition to Russia.

Blinken claimed that Chinese companies provide non-lethal support to Russia for use in Ukraine but now there are concerns that there may be other assistance. "We are concerned that the information we have is that they are considering providing lethal support," he said.

Upon arrival at the meeting, several European ministers have spoken on this issue, expressing concern that Beijing could assist Moscow militarily in its aggression against the neighboring country.

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis has indicated that the EU's united response with sanctions and political isolation must be maintained, insisting that this position deters third countries from supporting Russia. "They will think twice", he has said and stressed that the Twenty-seven have to send a "strong signal" that they can agree on sanctions.

"I think that in a holistic approach, secondary sanctions are a reasonable case to study," said his Estonian counterpart, Urmas Reinsalu, about those actors who help circumvent Russian sanctions, while in the specific case of the alleged support of China has called for "doing everything necessary" to prevent Russia from gaining access to military aid.