China-Russia Relations: February 2025

Strengthening Ties: A Russian press release on February 20 shared that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met during the Group of Twenty (G20) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, discussing the Asia-Pacific and Middle East as well as the war in Ukraine and relations with the United States. They also spoke about building “an equal dialogue between representatives of the Global Majority and the West in the financial and economic sphere” in the G20. Finally, they addressed their cooperation in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and BRICS.

After a video call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 24, Chinese President Xi Jinping described the two countries as “true friends who have been through thick and thin together.” He emphasized that both history and present-day relations demonstrate a strong commitment to each other. The Kremlin released a statement supporting that narrative and emphasizing the point that together, they serve as a stabilizing force. It was the second call the two leaders had had in a little over a month. Russian news outlet TASS shared that Xi will be attending the celebration of the eightieth anniversary of the Soviet Union’s World War II victory on May 9 in Moscow. On a February 24 China Central Television broadcast, Xi said that “China is pleased to see that Russia and relevant parties have made positive efforts to resolve the crisis.” The Kremlin stated that China also voiced support for the U.S.-Russia dialogue.

Despite close Chinese and Russian ties, on February 17, Voice of America reported that China had initiated increased diplomatic activities with Europe. At the Munich Security Conference, Wang spoke with European officials including European Commission Vice President Kaja Kallas, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte. Wang stated, “There is no fundamental conflict of interest or geopolitical conflicts between China and the EU,” and again expressed interest in peace negotiations in the Ukraine war. Kallas called on China to stop exporting dual-use items to Russia but did express interest in furthering cooperation on trade, climate change, and the economy.

Economic Cooperation: On February 13, Reuters wrote that China has reduced its seaborne imports of Russian crude oil, going from an average of 1.05 million barrels per day (bpd) in the past three months to about 500,000 bpd. China is looking to import from other places, including Angola and Brazil.

Russia’s Nornickel, a leading producer of nickel and palladium, is working on a joint venture in China. The company vice president stated, “We are currently in active negotiations with our Chinese partners, so we cannot disclose the details yet. However, we are including the relevant funds in our financial models for 2025–2026.” Their cooperation, says Reuters, could include Chinese conglomerate Xiamen C&D refining Nornickel’s copper raw materials into metal. Though Nornickel has not been directly sanctioned, it has suffered from the West refraining from purchasing its metal, issues with payment, and limited availability of Western equipment.

Surveilling Japan: On February 11, U.S. Naval Institute News reported that, in February, both Russia and China were conducting surveillance close to Japan’s southwestern islands. Russia’s surveillance ship Kareliya came as close as twelve miles off Japan’s coast. In response, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force tracked the ship with a destroyer escort, fleet oiler, and patrol aircraft. At the same time, a Chinese surveillance craft travelled through the Miyako Strait; it is not unusual for Chinese military crafts to use that route. On February 11, a Chinese unmanned aerial vehicle flew through the airspace between Yonaguni Island and Taiwan before entering the Philippine Sea, resulting in the Japan Air Self-Defense Force scrambling their fighter jets.

Military Cooperation: Estonia’s foreign intelligence agency released a report on February 12 saying China is facilitating Russia’s military drone production by helping smuggle Western components into the country. The report stated that 80 percent of such components come from China. An earlier investigation by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) supports that assessment. RFE/RL found that Chinese companies constitute at least one-third of suppliers providing Russia with three critical minerals—antimony, gallium, and germanium—typically used in drone and missile production. The report highlights three such companies—Hynhe Technology, VITAL Technology Group, and Yunnan Xinyuan Germanium Industry—each of which are directly linked to the Chinese government. Meanwhile, on February 13, U.S. President Donald Trump spoke of restarting a dialogue on nuclear arms control with China and Russia.

Shipwreck: On February 9, a Chinese cargo ship ran aground off the southwest coast of the Russian island of Sakhalin, and its government declared a state of emergency. Ultimately, there was no fuel spill, and no one was harmed.

In Ukraine

China Pushes for Peace: In a meeting with British Foreign Minister David Lammy on February 13, Wang indicated China’s willingness to engage with “all parties” to achieve peace in Ukraine, including Europe. Wang further stated that advancements in the Russia-Ukraine war “have validated the rationality and constructive nature of China’s stance” and indicated China’s desire to continue playing a “constructive role” in the conflict.

In recent weeks, China offered to hold a summit between Trump and Putin and help coordinate peacekeeping efforts once a cease-fire deal is reached, according to the Wall Street Journal. In an apparent response to the Chinese proposal, American officials reportedly suggested including non-European troops in any future peacekeeping force, including those from Brazil and China. In a press conference before the U.S.-Russia bilateral talks in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on February 18, China’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun expressed support for dialogue between the United States and Russia. However, he declined to comment on sending peacekeeping forces to Ukraine. In a response to a question on China’s future role in brokering peace, he said, “China is not the creator of the Ukraine crisis nor a party to it,” and repeated its statements on China’s important role in ending the conflict, including the formation of the Friends for Peace group and Xi’s’ four-point plan from last April. He did not focus on Russia but rather China’s general support for peace efforts.

At International Forums: Speaking at the Munich Security Conference on February 14, Wang stated China’s support for efforts to achieve peace between Russia and Ukraine and reemphasized the importance of including Europe in any negotiations. The following day, Wang met with his Ukrainian counterpart, Andrii Sybiha, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s Chief of Staff Andriy Yermak. During the meeting, they reportedly discussed their countries’ shared interest in territorial integrity and Ukraine’s desired path to peace in its war against Russia. In a post on X afterward, Yermak stated that “China has a crucial role to play in achieving peace” and indicated that Wang had “expressed confidence that Ukraine must be a party to any peace negotiation, just as Europe’s participation in them is also essential.” In an interview with Bloomberg on February 17, Igor Brusylo, deputy head of the office of the president of Ukraine, reiterated Yermak’s comments, saying that China could serve as a “good mediator” in negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.

Chinese Ambassador to the United Nations Fu Cong echoed Wang’s statements at the UN Security Council. Cong reiterated his country’s approval of the U.S.-Russia agreement to begin peace talks and indicated their hope to reach “a fair, lasting, and binding peace agreement acceptable to all parties.” Following the adoption of a UN resolution calling for a quick end to the a resolution of the war, for which he voted in favor, Cong further stated that the conflict is at a critical point for a negotiated settlement and called on the United Nations and the UN Security Council to “play a constructive role in forging consensus for peace among member states.”

At the G20 meeting on February 20, Wang once again emphasized China’s support of “all efforts conducive to peace” in Ukraine. Notably absent from his remarks was any mention of his earlier statements at the Munich Security Conference underscoring the importance of all stakeholders’ participation in any negotiations. Indeed, on February 21, following U.S.-Russia talks in Saudi Arabia, the Chinese Foreign Ministry released a statement in support of the “recent consensus” reached by U.S. and Russian officials, which failed to include mention of future talks with Ukraine.

Chinese Drones: Ukrainian weapons manufacturers have reportedly developed upgraded Mavic drones, a type of drone used for aerial reconnaissance by Ukraine and originally designed by a Chinese drone company. They did so in response to increasing export restrictions imposed by China in December 2024 on critical components in drones used by the Ukrainian military.