Chinese arms supply to Russia would cross 'red line', says EU top diplomat

Possible arms supplies from China to Russia in support of its invasion of Ukraine would be a "red line" for the European Union, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell warned on Monday before the start of a Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels.

Borrell was in contact with US Foreign Minister Antony Blinken and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, the High Representative said before the meeting. In his conversation with Wang, Borrell expressed the EU's "strong concern" and asked to refrain from supplying arms to Moscow. “He told me that they’re not going to do it,” The European Union’s top diplomat said, “But we will remain vigilant.”

On Sunday, after meeting Wang Yi at the Munich Security Conference, Blinken told US media that China was "seriously considering" helping Russia in the war in Ukraine, including by supplying arms and ammunition. The Chinese government has denied this. 

^{The EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell before an EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Brussels on February 20, 2023 © Kenzo TRIBOUILLARD / AFP}