US sanctions Chinese firms behind Russian drones, as Zelensky calls for ‘pressure’

Volodymyr Zelensky said, “China is still actively helping Russia drag out this war.”

The United States has sanctioned two Chinese companies it claims are involved in the production of aerial drones used by Russia in its war against Ukraine.

In a statement, the US Treasury said it was also targeting a Russian company and its owner, Artem Yamshchikov, who serves as an intermediary between the Chinese firms and a Russian state-owned weapons company.

The sanctions mean their property and interests within US jurisdiction have been frozen.

This move came as Zelensky outlined his “victory plan” in a speech to the EU Council, in which he claimed that Ukraine had intelligence showing “China is still actively helping Russia prolong this war.”

The US Treasury sanctioned Xiamen Limbach Aircraft Engine Co, which manufactures engines powering Russia’s Garpiya long-range drones, and Redlepus Vector Industry Shenzhen Co for its involvement in shipments to Russia.

US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said the drones, referred to as “suicide drones,” have “been used to destroy critical infrastructure and have caused mass casualties.”

Thousands of these drones have been produced since last year, according to the Reuters news agency.

“Russia increasingly relies on foreign expertise and the import of sophisticated technologies to sustain its weapons program,” US Treasury official Bradley Smith said.

Speaking to the EU Council on Thursday, the Ukrainian president also accused North Korea and Iran of aiding Russia’s war effort.

“[Russian President Vladimir] Putin aims to match your countries’ ammunition production by next year,” Zelensky told European leaders.

“Please, do not ease the pressure of sanctions on Russia — they are truly effective.”

Elsewhere in his speech, Zelensky outlined the five-point victory plan he revealed to the Ukrainian parliament on Wednesday.

He said that Ukrainian forces could hold the front line within the country while continuing to attack Russian territory if allies provide the weapons Ukraine has requested.

Zelensky emphasized that applying military pressure on Russia while defending Ukraine is essential for achieving a just peace, including using long-range missiles on Russian soil.

“We propose placing a deterrence package on Ukrainian land that would either force Russia into real peace negotiations or allow for the destruction of their military targets,” Zelensky said.

Describing this as a “peace through strength” approach, he added, “Putin should respect our strength, not have the free world tremble at his threats.”

Ukraine’s allies, including the UK and US, have so far refrained from allowing their long-range missiles to be launched at targets inside Russia.

Putin has argued that Ukraine using these Western-supplied weapons would amount to NATO countries directly engaging in combat with Russia, though Western nations have previously crossed his “red lines” without provoking retaliation.

Kyiv contends that not being able to target the bases from which many of the airstrikes on Ukraine originate since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022 limits its self-defense capabilities.

In his speech, Zelensky highlighted the Ukrainian offensive in the Kursk region of Russia, which caught both Russia and Ukraine’s allies off guard, as evidence that “Putin does not have enough strength to hold on when we apply real pressure.”

He proposed that military operations inside Russia continue to prevent the creation of “buffer zones” within Ukraine.

Zelensky also noted that another point in his plan—an invitation for Ukraine to join NATO—would strengthen its negotiating position but acknowledged that this would not mean immediate membership in the military alliance.

“Russia has exploited the geopolitical uncertainty caused by Ukraine not being in NATO,” Zelensky told the EU Council, suggesting that “an immediate invitation for Ukraine to join NATO would be decisive.”

He added, “Of course, membership would follow later.”

Ukraine’s allies have expressed support but have not yet fully endorsed Zelensky’s plan.

NATO’s new Secretary-General Mark Rutte said the plan was a “strong signal” but committed only to Ukrainian NATO membership “in the future.”

Following Zelensky’s speech, EU Council President Charles Michel said providing more financial and military support to Ukraine was “urgent.”

Credit: BBC

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