Russia receives lethal aid from China for war against Ukraine — UK Defense Secretary

The Independent reports.

"Today I can reveal that we have evidence that Russia and China are collaborating on combat equipment for use in Ukraine. US and British defence intelligence can reveal that lethal aid is now flying from China to Russia and into Ukraine," Shapps said.

The head of the British Ministry of Defence noted that other facts also testify to the strengthening of China's cooperation with Russia.

"That recent visit we saw, the I think 64% increase in trade that we’ve seen between the two countries, reveals that there is actually a much deeper relationship there. And this is new intelligence which leads me to be able to declassify and reveal this fact today. I think it’s quite significant.," Shapps said.

The British minister also called on allies to increase defence spending.

"It’s time for the world to wake up. And that means translating this moment to concrete plans and capabilities. And that starts with laying the foundations for an alliance-wide increase in spending on our collective deterrent," Shapps said.

Shapps made his remarks after US Ambassador to NATO Julianne Smith said that China continues to supply Russia with drone technology and gunpowder ingredients.

"The PRC (People’s Republic of China) cannot claim to be entirely neutral in this case, (and) they are in fact picking a side. If they were not providing some of these components, or this materiel support, Russia would be in a very different situation and would have trouble pursuing some of these acts of aggression," Smith told Politico.

• On May 15, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin arrived in China. There he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping, after which they issued a joint statement on Ukraine
• US Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Robert Wood said that Russia could not have continued the war in Ukraine without the support of China, the DPRK and Iran.
• US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that Russia imports 70% of its machinery and 90% of its microelectronics from China.