NATO’s chief warned on Monday that the Western alliance must impose consequences on China for its support of Russia, and emphasized that a continuous supply of weapons to Ukraine is essential to ending the war.
Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg was in Washington to prepare for NATO’s 75th anniversary summit next month.
The July summit aims to convey a strong, long-term message of support for Ukraine as President Joe Biden faces a challenging reelection campaign against Donald Trump, who is skeptical of Western support for Kyiv.
Speaking before a meeting with Biden, Stoltenberg accused China of exacerbating the conflict by aiding Russia’s defense industry through significant exports, according to US officials.
President Xi Jinping “has tried to create the impression that he is taking a back seat in this conflict, to avoid sanctions and keep trade flowing,” Stoltenberg said at the Wilson Center. “But the reality is that China is fueling the largest armed conflict in Europe since World War II, and at the same time, it wants to maintain good relations with the West,” he added.
“Beijing cannot have it both ways. At some point—and unless China changes course—allies need to impose a cost. There should be consequences.”
China denies sending lethal assistance to either side, unlike the United States and other Western nations. Beijing also avoided a weekend summit in Switzerland, promoted by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, that reaffirmed Kyiv’s demands for Russia to withdraw from Ukrainian territory for any peace.
Russia has expressed interest in talks but insists Ukrainian forces withdraw from territories seized by Moscow.
Trump, who has previously expressed admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin, has claimed he could quickly end the war, likely by pressuring Ukraine to accept demands.
In an unstated effort to “Trump-proof” future actions, Stoltenberg aims for the Washington summit to position NATO as the leader in coordinating support for Ukraine and to establish long-term military assistance.
“The more credible our long-term support, the quicker Moscow will realize it cannot wait us out,” Stoltenberg said. “It may seem like a paradox, but the path to peace is more weapons for Ukraine.”
The US Congress approved $60 billion in new military funding for Ukraine in April, though it was delayed for months due to political disputes and opposition from some of Trump’s Republican allies.
