EU prepares sanctions against China for helping Russia evade sanctions

Politico reported the information, citing sources in EU diplomatic circles.

The push for sanctions followed a July Reuters report that exposed how Chinese drone engines were secretly sent to Russia using shell companies. These shipments were labeled as refrigeration equipment to bypass Western restrictions.

An EU diplomat said the bloc had evidence of this cooperation even before the Reuters investigation. He pointed out that China’s role in the war is expanding, both in scale and technical capability, and that without this support, Russia’s invasion would look very different.

The EU has already asked Beijing for clarification but received either silence or official denials.

They want dialogue, but also concrete actions, the diplomat said.

After August, the EU may push forward with sanctions targeting Chinese entities. Officials in Brussels believe they have enough economic leverage to act.

Meanwhile, Chinese companies continue to expand into the EU. Baidu and U.S.-based Lyft have announced plans to launch Chinese-made drones in Germany and the UK starting in 2026. Uber and Momenta have similar intentions.

Despite steep import tariffs, Chinese electric vehicles remain the cheapest on the European market.

• China’s Foreign Ministry has said it won’t change its energy policy under outside pressure, responding to U.S. calls to stop buying oil from Russia and Iran.