It’s A Pity: Zelenskyy Says China Can Push Putin To End Ukraine War But Has Never Done So

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday said China has significant influence over Russia and could push President Vladimir Putin towards negotiations to end the Ukraine war, but accused Beijing of never using that leverage.

“I don’t see China pushing Russia to stop the war. I never saw that,” Zelenskyy said in an interview with Japan’s NHK, sharing a transcript on X.

“Of course, China can find a way to push Putin toward negotiations. I’m sure, but they didn’t do it. And if you can and don’t, is it supported or not?” he said.

Zelenskyy said China’s influence over Moscow had grown amid Western sanctions, energy restrictions and pressure on Russia’s shadow fleet. He said his criticism was less about weapons and more about Beijing’s political position.

“It’s a pity that China is not on our side in this war, politically. It’s not even about weapons. It’s about political will,” he said.

Zelenskyy also rejected the idea that China was positioned between Moscow and Kyiv.

“The problem is that they are not in the middle. Because they are a little bit more with Russia,” he said, adding that even a small tilt mattered because of China’s size and influence.

“For such a big country, a little bit is a lot,” he said.

The Ukrainian president also said Kyiv had identified a North Korean missile in Ukraine but had not seen a Chinese missile. However, he alleged that Chinese machinery, technology and expertise were reaching Russia.

“I saw a real missile made by North Korea in Ukraine. I did not see a Chinese missile. But I know that their technologies get to Russia,” he said.

China has maintained that it controls exports of dual use goods and has rejected accusations that it is supplying weapons to Russia.

Zelenskyy’s comments came as the fighting intensified. Russian missile and drone attacks on Kyiv and the surrounding region injured at least 19 people, including a 10 year old girl and a 12 year old boy. Ukraine said it destroyed or suppressed 131 Russian aerial targets.

In Odesa, seven people were injured, including two children. A Russian drone also struck a Tanzanian flagged civilian vessel in the Black Sea, killing its captain and injuring three crew members.

Zelenskyy said Ukrainian forces meanwhile struck targets in Russia, including the Yaroslavl oil refinery and a military airfield in the Rostov region.

Peace efforts remain stalled, with territorial concessions and security guarantees among the key issues. Ukraine also received the bodies of 252 fallen soldiers on Thursday as part of continuing exchanges with Russia.